BBC TV Announcers 2020 - a line up of voices from Past and Present.

What started as a bit of Twitter banter between @DuncanNewmarch, one of the current on-air announcers on BBC One, and @regsanders, an old school BBC TV announcer - has ended in a nostalgic and lighthearted trip down TV continuity Memory Lane! Reg has managed to track down over half a dozen legendary TV voices from the BBC - from the 70's, 80's, 90's and 00's!
with a lot of scouring through old VHS tapes and some careful editing we now have a unique collection, never before seen on British television.
Specially recorded for 2020 - Here's a 7 minute video of those Voices from the past!
Thanks to the following:
David Allan - BBC TV Announcer
Malcolm Eynon - BBC TV Announcer
Richard Straker - BBC TV Senior TV Announcer
Mark Waddington - BBC TV Announcer
Bruce Hammal - BBC TV Announcer (test card intro.)
David Miles - BBC TV Announcer
Rosanne MacMillan - BBC TV Announcer
Jayne Constantinis - BBC TV Announcer
Manju Malhi - BBC TV Announcer
Matthew Jackson - BBC TV Announcer
Reg Sanders - BBC TV Announcer
Peter Offer - BBC TV Announcer
Duncan Newmarch - BBC TV Announcer
Kate Walsh - BBC TV Continuity (present day)
Nick Spilman - BBC TV Producer
Paul R. Jackson - Researcher
Written and Directed - Reg Sanders.

[@markwaddington6402]

Worth pointing out that Reg - who devised this - was not only a notable announcer who brought a fresh style to the networks, he was also an award winning promo director and producer. I'm really pleased he managed to get this together, with the help I think of Paul Jackson who's maintained contacts. The tv audiences in the early 80s were huge as the digital multi-channel revolution was creeping in - and BBC TV when I joined had disbanded regional opt-out continuity in favour of London presentation, so there was a lot of exposure for the TV centre announcers. It was an amazing place to work. Well done indeed. Hope you are all keeping safe.

[@arthurvasey]

I remember hearing you on what at the time was called BBC Radio Cleveland - it’s now named after the station it used to compete with - Radio Tees - what was Radio Tees is now TFM - but it’s actually Metro Radio! I think you used to do Sunday Requests! The only programme worth listening to on Radio Cleveland!

[@alexwiddowson3756]

When BBC1 closed down in the early hours of 25th December 1992 (Richard Straker was the CA), Jonathan Powell (controller of BBC1 at that time) deemed the 1992 Christmas ident to be "too jolly", and therefore asked the network control team to use a photo of Queen Elizabeth II after the clock (whilst being accompanied by the national anthem). You were the on-duty announcer in the early hours of 26th & 27th December 1992.

[@markcallum]

Lovely compilation Reg! As a BBCTV Network Director from 1986 to 2010 I worked with all of these wonderful folks - not just voices to me, but lovely professional people too. Memories!

[@mrhammadmossop1988ul-haq]

Wow you must have been very lucky to do such an amazing job I have got a question for you?

[@alexwiddowson3756]

Were there any network directors who likened the "Firecracker" ident to be shown at closedown after the clock from 1994-1998?

[@robalexander8065]

So many great voices. Three other names, sadly no longer with us, who made watching such a pleasure were Peter Brook, Andy Cartledge and Michael Maine.

[@drewwhite6865]

I'll never forget the one time I spoke to Richard Straker. I was a kid. It was Christmas Day and I was put through to NC1 by someone who didn't know better. Richard was not very happy about having a call directly in the continuity suite! :| Still I got to wish him a Happy Christmas.

[@hungrywolffilms]

I'm pretty sure he has forgiven you now... he's not a man to hold a grudge!

[@prjacko66]

do you recall what year that was? I was in the TVC Duty Office on 31st January 1992 & rang Thames TV on their last night and spoke to Philip Elsmore who was delighted to hear from me.

[@electragaming4140]

prjacko66 I was watching Thames, on their last night. Absolute crime, to take their license away from them! ITV in London wasn’t the same, once they’d gone!

[@danielferris7960]

I absolutely love this (and I can't imagine how the KZbin algorithms have kept it from me for so long). So many familiar voices - and giving namechecks too, which you used to have to wait until Closedown to hear. David Miles was always a favourite, and it's nice that I can still hear him regularly on Radio 4 Extra.

[@juniorcoke5703]

Absolutely ONEDERFUL Reg Sanders Rolling The Back Years Watching And Listening To The Announcers On BBC Television.

[@ADCTVCollection]

This is brilliant, well done for getting the announcers from the past to do this.

[@hungrywolffilms]

old announcers never die...the just fade...to black and cut. (announcer joke!)

[@chantingmammal]

@@hungrywolffilms I love your BBC1 announcing work and I am doing a Remake of any BBC Clock from the 1970s to the 1990s

[@TR3XProductions1stChannel]

This is a fascinating compilation Reg, thanks for linking your video in the comment section on my BBC One logo history video. I am intrigued that you managed to bring in the late 20th century announcers from BBC One and Two for this video, and hearing the memoirs by the announcers are a treat. This video made my day!

[@hungrywolffilms]

Thanks!

[@johnmacleod4481]

Memories dont get more etched in our minds than seeing these logos and hearing the voices of announcers again

[@mike6147]

Fabulous. The voices of the BBC broadcasting to millions but speaking as if it was just you. A warm and happy comfort blanket from the past. Bruce Hammal cutting it fine into the testcard!

[@geraldjacksonradio701]

Well that was lots of fun! Thanks for the memories Reg. 👏👍🎉

[@KeiranCounsellKC1994]

this is so sweet! would love to switch on the tv one day and see like a whole day dedicated to a specific era, complete with announcer and ident video and even to have a mock up start and end of transmission broadcast at the appropriate times, or even to have a special slot in the evening where its done and its era appropriate programming and all the rareties of the BBC archive

[@johnrauner2515]

This is entirely possible on KZbin and likely somebody with access to all that material may well be setting it up as a 12 hour upload.

[@howdoyousaythat]

This has had me totally geeking out - love it!

[@fraserkatie]

Me too took me straight back to my childhood! I remember all those announcers! Im now weeping its so cool hearing everyone again

[@paulburton9386]

This is wonderful! Thank you! I am going to add the link to my Facebook page, Remembering BBC Television Centre. Thanks again to all involved!

[@hungrywolffilms]

Glad you like it Paul!

[@KyleJBAwesomeness-OfficialChan]

This montage is pure television gold I was real curious of where all those older retired BBC continuity narrators sounded like now 50 years later as Duncan is one of the newer voices of BBC1 and BBC2

[@fraserkatie]

Thanks for all being part of me growing up! I remember all those voices of you all and thats amazing !

[@Amyz87]

I absolutely love this thank you so much for this wonderful video. It was brilliant to hear past voices. David Miles and Malcolm Eynon voices still sound the same after all these years.

[@jimmythebantam]

Wow, great memories and nostalgia. Just what we need in these strange times! Well done all!

[@robalexander8065]

Excellent nostalgic video. Great to hear all my favourite announcers from over the years.

[@KEITHMU]

Absolutely wonderful. What an amazing video. Some classic voices from the past and present. I feel so emotional watching all those idents and voices from the past Fifty years.

[@kennysyt]

Thanks so much for coming together to do this. Really lovely to hear all those voices. Although the first episode of Eldorado went out in 1992 and finished a year later.

[@hungrywolffilms]

I think my Wiki needs retuning! Thanks for the kind comments through...

[@kennysyt]

@@hungrywolffilms and sorry to be pedantic. The video is fantastic!

[@zetametallic]

@@kennysyt I thought exactly the same thing about Eldorado. It was actually the only soap I ever liked to be fair and the sole reason I decided to do GCSE at college (now a housing estate) after reading the Radio Times that day.😆 I got a C. Reg has done a brilliant job and the rest of the announcers, I used to imagine what they all looked like growing up; had a few 'vocal' crushes I admit. 😘

[@thefishwillbearmed7391]

​@@zetametalliclol. I used to love Eldarado as well!

[@kasterborous1701]

This was surprisingly fun. Good job to all involved! :)

[@patrickgallagherchannel1734]

Excellent work, Reg! Though I wouldn't have expected anything less from you!

[@mrhammadmossop1988ul-haq]

Thanks so much for uploading this to KZbin Reg

[@frazzleface753]

Well done Reg! This is wonderful!

[@joemclaughlin995]

Thanks for the memories folks!

[@charliemawer4806]

majestic work!!

[@fraserkatie]

I had chills up my spine listening to you all!

[@rich_in_paradise]

Fantastic memories from the days when everyone sat and watched the TV together, live and scoured the Radio Times to decide what to watch next. Just one small comment: Grandstand didn't use the iconic Keith Mansfield composed theme tune until 1975.

[@malhimanju]

Fantastic Reg, it's brilliant!

[@DaveNightingaleRADIO]

Aww... warm fuzzy feelings! The voices of our generation. Thank you all.. :-)

[@jackcrawford3921]

This is great!

[@mrhammadmossop1988ul-haq]

Thanks for this upload fantastic video

[@hungrywolffilms]

So nice of you

[@mrhammadmossop1988ul-haq]

@@hungrywolffilms I bet it brings back memories working at BBC Television Centre

[@KyleJBAwesomeness-OfficialChan]

This isn't even all of them Where's Jane Westrop, Paul Reed, Erik Alexander, Becky Wright, Dan Austin, Mark Chapman, Andy Taylor, Mikayla Sonders and James Horne?

[@dwho19951]

Bring back David Miles as a freelancer for 2024!!!

[@simonlumsden1103]

wonderful

[@MrKpsuk84]

6:26 - 6:40 Am I the only one who noticed that the wrong version of the Top Gear theme was used for this 1995 set of opening titles? It should have still been the original Allman Brothers recording, not the current 2002 remix.

[@the_creative_coach]

Great work Reg!

[@hungrywolffilms]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@antjarvis]

Lovely.

[@alexwiddowson3756]

I believe it was September 1994 that you started to use an announcer-less ident after the clock at Closedown, as the early hours of 25th September 1994 saw you giving the closing announcement and then using the Powder ident before fading to black. Your fellow colleague Jane Westrop began to do this in November 1994, with an example of the early hours of 12th November 1994 saw the Optic ident being used after the clock. After the NTA came into force (in the early hours of 31st March 1995 onwards), all network directors on the late turn BBC2 shift decided to pick an ident that would be used after the clock (which would continue until the early hours of 31st December 1998).

[@danielfennessey]

That's very cool.

[@imrustyokay]

You know, I'm from the United States, and I secretly want to experience what telly was like back in the 1980s, I can't really go back there, only through KZbin. Still, this was nice. Also no love for the Dancers?

[@electragaming4140]

Excellent! I wonder if the ITV crowd would be willing to do something like this, as well?

[@chantingmammal]

I can do a one with ITV announcers, I have to email Central's Gary Terzza and LWT's Trish Bertram.

[@evebaker7474]

@@chantingmammal For Thames, i guess Phil Elsmore and Mark Lipscomb?

[@alexwiddowson3756]

Corrections: David Miles should be in 1992 and Matthew Jackson should be in 1995.

[@carlwaring]

Look at all those lovely COWs; and other assorted on-screen idents.

[@KabarkadaTV681]

I MISS YOU BBC SPORT FA CUP BROADCAST!!!!!!!!

[@jasonwhitehurst4508]

any ideas what happened to former bbc annouser Peter brook?

[@prjacko66]

He sadly died in November 2006.

[@philward2538]

The snooker caption should have been a standard 1970s BBC1 Colour type..but a mid 1980s one was used in error

[@hungrywolffilms]

Ah - you guys have incredible knowledge on this stuff!

[@tortysoft]

I'd love it if someone could do a similar video with the voiceover artists from Horizon, Tomorrow's World etc. Any takers ?

[@robalexander8065]

The Keith Mansfield theme for Grandstand wasn't introduced until 1975. In 1970 it would be the last year of the original theme.

[@hungrywolffilms]

Thanks for that - will sack the producer!

[@robalexander8065]

A minor thing. This really is a very nicely put together video. Such a wonderful idea. Wishing all the continuity announcers past and present good health!

[@tortysoft]

What ? no public information film and National Anthem after the late night weather at closedown ? I used to try and get the Quad tape to spool off before the last note of the Anthem - then hot foot it to Late Night Transport ... which I once shared with that night's mystery voice :-) (DA)

[@martyn8999]

looking on who s there what ever happened to cathy stewart

[@stevehotspur]

Hi this is wonderful and please forgive me but..... The football clip is from ITV as it has Brian Moore on commentary. Also was Wogan not thrice weekly rather than weekly? I’m going to sit in pedants corner now.

[@hungrywolffilms]

to be fair he was the mainstay of the output in the 80's! I chose Wogan because that was the first time the BBC One Globe COW was used. Yes - hands up to the ITV clip - but I couldn't find any BBC clips of the FA Cup replay.

[@319metresMW]

Anorak alert: There's a tenuous link between Wogan and the great David Allan. I distinctly recall David sitting in on Radio 2 breakfast in the late 70s. The only other BBC1 announcer I know of also presenting breakfast radio is Ashleigh Whitfield when she was on Sun FM in Sunderland in the mid-00's!!

[@arthurvasey]

Wogan used to be on Saturday nights in the slot normally occupied by (Michael) Parkinson - proved so popular that it became thrice weekly - had a few deputies filling in - Kenneth Williams and Ronnie Corbett - still called it Wogan, though!

[@user-mw4bg1or9w]

Eldorado was 1992-1993?

[@BruceDanton-xw6eg]

Yes it was indeed so then too of course.

[@manfredweber2841]

👍

[@nowster]

Bruce Hammal at 02:43

[@hungrywolffilms]

Yes - he is now included in the credits. Thanks.

[@drewwhite6865]

I'm dubious about the swiftness with which it fades to Test Card F and Carry Me Back To Old Virginny begins, though!

[@hungrywolffilms]

@@drewwhite6865 you are right to be dubious...

[@manfredweber2841]

😀👍

[@FIVEBUNDLESOFFUN]

Dr who!

[@binagarten4667]

How sad is the loss of the Englsih accent. The BBC now has contiinuitty announcers where the T is replaced by an F. A deep forieng accent. Black but no Indian male continuitty announchers at all, in line with the BBC. No male Hindu or SIkh News, weather, CBBCies, no host, no judge, no hame show host, no Mastercher winners but Indian women are rife, over 70 News prsenenters, all the BBC on TV G.P's and medical consultants are Islamic women. Anita Rani, Nadia Shawliha, Naga Munchetty, Rita Chakrabhorrty, Sangetta Kandola, Darshani Shohal. Karthi Gurumurthy, and usually most of them have to have a white partner. The ITV is even worse. Both of them never got back to a Freedom of Information request into the number of male weather they be Hindu, SIkh, Islamic, Englsih, of no particular relgious belief are employed compared to the female of the same said! Then why dont you just say Hindu and Male do not need to pay the unfair TV Licence fee and they can opt out under Common Law?

[@garrysimpson1395]

Great video. The B.B.C. at it"s best. Ignore the Brexitiers. Keep the Licence fee at all cost!

[@controller14b73]

What the fuck is going on!?

[@gonightboat]

What an absolute catastrophe the BBC has now become .