The Yorkshire and Lincolnshire Thread

Nick Oliver was an occasional continuity announcer at YTV / GMG North, and was the first voice on Tyne Tees after the C3NE branding was ditched, as you can hear on this page...

http://www.transdiffusion.org/tv/cityroad/presentation/leeds

I'm pretty certain you're right though about that clip never having made it to air. I would guess it's only from an off-air test.

Having said that, I do remember Nick Powell often used to present Calendar without a tie, back in his pre-Sky, beardy days. Looked a right scruff.

Loraine Kelly has just tweeted that Mike Morris has died.

I did wonder as from the various clips, they all have the same camera angle, meaning there was only one studio in the 'gods', which wouldn't have been used for East when West were using it.

The studios on high were a really good location, even now that technique is rarely used in TV, most newsroom studios are on the newsroom floor.

Re Mike Morris

It seems it's been out there on Twitter for half an hour or so - wa sit mentioned on the North (assumed live) version of late news of Calendar.

Not mentioned on the South/East version which is usually recorded I think

Such sad news about Mike Morris. I thought he was a great presenter and had a good on-screen chemistry with Christa (almost like the chemistry between her and Richard Whiteley)

I'm not sure if they made reference to his passing on the late news, but I would hope that they mention him tomorrow. How long did he present Calendar for, was it seven years?

Rest in Peace Mike

They might dig out a few old clips of him hosting Calendar for tomorrow night's edition, presumably Gaynor will have presented alongside him at some point.

Christine presented with him as well.

It was probably a tryout/test from the Emley position done in the evening - hence the lack of light in the newsroom below.

It's such a coincedence that this has happened just as we were having a bit of discussion about the old days. Those old clips of Mike Morris & co on Calendar will be even more worth watching now.

I think he presented from Jan 1996 to Mar 2002, although he was missing for a long time in those last few weeks/months due to an illness. Calendar was then in a state of flux for a number of months with mainly Geoff co-presenting until Duncan Wood joined at the end of May 2003

Indeed - I seem to remember them dithering around for a while before finding a permanent replacement for Mike, didn't they also bring back Austin Mitchell for a short period before settling on Geoff (and finally Duncan)?

Yes they brought him back for a week I think, but because he is an MP, he could't officially co-present so Christine presented alone and he just joined her for the light features at the end.

Jonathan Morrell from Tyne Tees was around for a bit as well, Frazer Maude stood in as well plus of course John Shires.

All the clips they played this evening were from the lilac and pink era (which was the back end of his shift). Mainly with Christine but also with Christa which was good to see. In fact they had a mini interview with her as well, so not totally erased from history! Also Christine featured.

John referred to the fact that Mike had a few good times in the YTV bar which happens to be the studio they now broadcast from.

I doubt very much that "ITV Yorkshire" has a bar now!