Michaela studied at the London College of Music.
Her first job was with Molinare (1987 – 1989), where she managed a large sound effects and music library and was a client liaison regarding programme requirements, sourcing classical and popular music and recording bespoke effects/foley.
Next up was a role as a studio manager with Legion (1989 – 1992), a multi-language recording studio, which produced programmes for large publishing agencies such as IPC magazines.
Michaela was responsible for employing, managing and training new staff and producing sessions in many languages.
She also voiced a wide range of programmes – including band interviews and chart shows – as well as coordinating client bookings, studio maintenance and studio upgrades.
In 1992, she moved to BBC Television Centre, where she took up a job as a network announcer, initially covering BBC One and BBC Two. But she would later appear on other channels, such as BBC Prime, UKTV (various channels), BBC World Service TV and BBC Showcase.
Michaela left continuity in 2003 to focus on her BBC Radio 7 (now BBC Radio 4 Extra) presenting role, which she took on in late-2002 when the channel launched.
She presented Peter Coke and the Paul Temple Affair (BBC Radio 7, 2008) and Radio Heads (BBC Radio 4, 2008).
In May 2008, in addition to her radio work, she freelanced as an announcer for the BBC’s new HD TV channel, BBC HD. She continued providing announcements on the channel until 2013.
Michaela finished up with BBC Radio 7 when it was rebranded as BBC Radio 4 Extra, in spring 2011.
Since June 2010, she has worked as a freelance voiceover artist. Clients include: BBC America; M&S; Discovery; Saab; Nintendo; Barclays Bank. Her portfolio includes corporate online videos, TV/radio promotions, continuity, character and animation.
For a time, Michaela was the owner of Michaela’s Cakes, but she has hung up her apron for now.
For two-and-a-half years from February 2020, Michaela freelanced as a BBC Radio 4 announcer.
She is now known as Michaela Harris.
Correspondence
Paul R. Jackson corresponded with Michaela in April 2020.
How did you get the job in BBC TV Presentation?
“I got the BBC announcing job through The Guardian. One of those things that took me somewhat by surprise. I only found out after I was in that they always have about 500 applications and they only take 2 or 3 at a time.
“I hadn’t been on air before at all. I’m sure I was an experiment – Alan Yentob was the controller at the time.
“My last broadcast officially I think was c. February 2003, but I popped back for a couple of shifts and was also doing UKTV announcements all the time and BBC HD in the next studio from 2008. By that time we’d moved out of TVC and up the road.”
Any memorable moments during her career to date?
“The fire in TVC – I was evacuated from the studio by a fireman in full kit. Spent a lot of the night running up and down fire stairs that I hardly knew existed. Smoky corridors and everything!!
“I seemed to cop the obits for the Queen Mother and was also on air when Jill Dando was killed (26th April 1999) – training Sasha Twining on her first day and had to say ‘it’s not always like this’.
“The death of Diana, Princess of Wales (31st August 1997) – I was in on the morning it was announced and was requested to cover the junction out of the funeral the following Saturday sometime in the afternoon.
“The whole BBC management (including head of department Pam Masters) were hovering just outside the voice booth. A long menu pointing the schedule chaos and then into Meerkats. No pressure at all.
“Whilst at BBC Radio 7 the day of the London bombings (7th July 2005), I usually travelled on the Hammersmith and City line going through Edgware Road at approx 8.35am.
“I was delayed that day, as I had to make packed lunches for the kids and by the time I arrived at Hammersmith tube, 15 minutes later than usual, they were shutting the gates having closed the line.
“At the time I was annoyed that I was going to be later than ever, but that 15 minutes may have saved my life. We did no work that day, just watched the news in horror.”
Do you still keep in touch with any former continuity announcer colleagues?
“Since going freelance, I’ve stayed in touch with Peter Offer and on occasion Jayne Contantinis, Malcolm Eynon, Rosanne (Macmillan) and Manju (Malhi).
“Sadly a few older announcers have passed away as you know. I have heard Matthew on air but haven’t spoken to him for a while.”
Personal information
Clips of Michaela on The TV Room
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Online presence
Acknowledgements
PICTURED: Michaela Saunders. COPYRIGHT: BBC.
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