John was born in Aberystwyth. He attended the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth in the late-1940s and early 1950s, studying English and French.
He also performed there as an amateur actor and joined a local repertory company during the holidays.
After three years national service in the Royal Navy, he became a part-time teacher. He also worked in television, from 1956.
For 10 years, he was the chief announcer, interviewer and newsreader for ABC TV in the Midlands and the North regions.
He also worked as a continuity announcer with Associated Rediffusion in London, where he shared a flat with BBC TV’s Richard Baker.
He presented Three Little Words for TWW.
He worked as a theatre critic for the BBC’s Overseas Services, where he translated French classical plays into English verse and worked on educational programmes.
He presented BBC Children’s TV’s Top of the Form (19th October 1966 – 1967) and appeared in The Top of the Form Story (BBC Four, 17th April 2006).
In 1968, John replaced Michael Aspel on the BBC TV newsreading team. It was the first of three spells: 8th September 1968 – 13th September 1973, 5th – 13th October 1974 and 9th September 1979 – 17th June 1981.
He presented BBC One’s Midday News, Evening News, Main News, Nine o’Clock News, weekend news and BBC Two’s Newsroom, News Extra and News Review for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
He also presented BBC TV’s London regional programme Town and Around (1968 – 1969).
On radio, he was the launch presenter on BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours (1970 – 1973) and presented Start the Week (1972).
He was compére on a quiz on the BBC World Service, in which foreign students competed to improve their English.
In 1969, he returned to education teaching English at Brighton College, whilst doing freelance newsreading and writing.
In 1973 he left broadcasting, to establish the drama and theatre department at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth and was later head of drama (1979 – 1985).
In October 1974, he took a leave of absence to return to TV newsreading, but returned to the drama department in July 1981.
He left to be professor of drama for the University of Americas, Mexico and University of California, Santa Cruz (1985 – 1997).
John returned to England, appearing in several theatre productions including his own drama, verse and prose recitals.
His translations of works by French dramatists Racine and Molière were published by Penguin and performed on BBC Radio.
In his late-70s and 80s, John directed and performed many of his translations on the London Fringe at Pentameters Theatre, Hampstead, notably as his favourite Shakespearian role Prospero.
He had cameo roles in the following films:
- Lifeforce (1985);
- Love in Limbo (1993);
- Rendezvous with Zack (2000);
- The Faces of the Moon (2002).
He last performed in Aberystwyth for the Wardens drama company in October 2011, playing Newman Noggs in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.
Until four years before his death, John continued to inspire many adult lifelong learners, holding weekly classes on Shakespeare in Notting Hill, where he enjoyed reading all the main roles.
Showreel reader, Dave Lawrence, remembers John Edmunds from his time as a teacher:
“John had another occupation alongside his TV announcing work. He was a part-time teacher – English if I remember correctly. He worked at Battersea Grammar School in Streatham, London from the early to mid-60s and I believe he also did a spell of teaching at Henry Thornton’s Grammar School in Clapham before that.
“He was quite popular with the pupils as he was a bit more relaxed than some of the teachers. I left Battersea Grammar in 1966 and I am pretty sure he was still teaching there then.”
On 16th May 2023, John’s death was announced on Twitter by one of his former students, music broadcaster Neil Brand. He was aged 94 and living in Brighton. An official announcement was made by Aberystwyth University a few days later.
With thanks to Professor Jamie Medhurst, head of department of theatre, film and television studies at Aberystwyth University for the additional information on John’s later years.
Personal information
Clips of John on The TV Room
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Online presence
Acknowledgements
PICTURED: John Edmunds. COPYRIGHT: BBC.
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