David was born in 1954. He joined the BBC in 1975, working initially as a studio manager in Bush House. He was a trainee announcer on BBC Radio 4 (1980 – 1981). He had an attachment as a BBC TV network announcer from April 1983; he later performed the same role on contract (February 1984 – 1987 and 1988 – 1995).
Just before 1.10am on 12th June 1995, David bowed out of BBC TV continuity, closing down BBC One with these words: “…but as I say, BBC One has come to an end for another night and I’ve come to the end of this channel for the present. Many thanks for your company now and in the past. And on behalf of everyone working at Television Centre, this is David Miles wishing you a very peaceful night. Goodnight.”
And upon closer inspection, the words “…the end of this channel for the present…” sounded very much like “the end of this channel 4 the present…” – undoubtedly an intentional reference to his new job. He moved to Channel 4, taking on a similar out-of-vision announcing role (1995 – 1996) – minus the vision mixing which he would’ve been used to in his BBC role. Incidentally, at the time of his departure from the BBC, the network control areas had just been replaced and the new regime meant that continuity announcers no longer performed any vision mixing. From a technical perspective, fading up/down the microphone in the announcing booth or cueing breakdown music was about as complex as it got.
David was also a presenter on Noticeboard (1986 – 1987). Later, he was a presentation director/assistant editor and relief in-vision newsreader on BBC South. He also voiced BBC TV presentation trails (1990).
David left Channel 4 to return to BBC Radio 4 as an announcer (1996 – present). He has also announced on BBC Radio 5. In addition to his radio announcing, David has announced on the UK versions of the History Channel and Military History (dates TBC) and has also narrated documentaries for the History Channel, Discovery, National Geographic and Biography.
Personal Information
Online Presence
Video Clips on the Internet
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Acknowledgements
- 24th May 2019 at 1.03pm
- Updates Required
- A&E Networks UK, BBC, BBC One Network, BBC One South, BBC Two Network, Biography, Channel 4, Channel 4 Television Corporation, DIscovery, Discovery Networks Northern Europe, History, National Geographic, Walt Disney Television
- Continuity Announcer, Continuity Announcer/Director, Narrator, Presenter
- Factual, News, Non-Programme: Continuity
- Announcers: A+E Networks (UK), Announcers: BBC Network, Announcers: Channel 4, Announcers: Discovery Networks Northern Europe