Whitting, Robin

After starting at the BBC in the Gramophone Library in 1966, Robin trained as a BBC studio manager working in network radio, local radio and the World Service.

He was a BBC Radio announcer from 1971 until 1979 and during this period he also voiced BBC TV trails (1971, 1975 1877 and 1979).

He then moved across to TV as a network announcer, on BBC One and BBC Two (c. December 1978 – 1987).

Among many announcements on BBC TV, perhaps one of note was a BBC Two closedown in the early hours of New Year’s Day 1982:

“Well now there’s our last look at the clock for this evening here on 2. The time is just after twenty-seven minutes to 2.

“On Radio 2, the New Year’s Eve Special is in full swing and that’s followed at 2 o’clock by You and the Night and the Music with Chris Aldred.

“Here on television’s BBC 2, it’s time for us to turn out the lights.

“And we do so tonight in the way that is rapidly becoming a tradition here on 2 – with the help of the complete compliment of people who are involved in bringing our programmes to your screens.

“So, from me Robin Whitting, it’s a very goodnight and a happy new year to you.

“And from everyone here, now’s your chance, the one chance of the year, the choir of BBC 2. One two, three…”

And then the voices of the Network Control staff were heard to say: “Goodnight from all of us and a very happy 1982 to all of you.”

The BBC Two ident appears; the ident fanfare plays; and the ident animates off screen.

Correspondence

In the early 2000s, Robin provided us with an update:

“I had been graded A1 vocally whilst training, and after some pretty intensive sessions with Peter Fettes and Aileen Macleod – the two BBC voice coaches – I was allowed to begin working relief announcer duties on the World Service in 1971, which I did for three years before moving to Southampton.

“After a short time in Radio Solent, the local BBC station, I resigned my staff post and moved to Television Centre in London, on a two-week contract, as a network announcer on BBC One and BBC Two.

“Initially, I covered the Trade Test Films, Schools programmes and children’s daytime transmissions, including subsequently, the early, single-handed Open University transmissions, before graduating to the full daytime and evening announcer duties.

“After over seven years of network announcing, an internal attachment to production as an assistant presentation producer/director allowed me to make trailers, vision mix and direct live programmes including, The Weatherman and Points of View.

“Towards the end of the 1980s I was presented with a personal award for services to the BBC, and two years later, partly as a result of medical problems, I took the decision to leave the BBC, eventually forming my own production company.

“These days, at the time of writing this some ten years later, I am still performing voiceovers, mainly for specialist video narrations and advertising, as well as producing video programmes.

“I vision mix for giant LED screens at cricket and rugby events covered by Sky Sports and I am very actively involved in a voice alarm company producing state-of-the-art fire and security products.”

Personal information

Clips of Robin on The TV Room

Robin may be featured in video/audio clips on our other websites. Click the links below to display a listing (a 404 error will appear if no clips are found):

Rewind | Clean Feed

Online presence

Acknowledgements