IS
They all went and got other jobs... often in the real world! Just because they were a continuity announcer doesn't mean that all they can do
Always amazes me how we had so many great announcers across the ITV network over the years, and yet so few of them have done anything since.
Every single region boasted some damn good talent that would, even now, not be too old for the job, so what happened to them all?
Every single region boasted some damn good talent that would, even now, not be too old for the job, so what happened to them all?
They all went and got other jobs... often in the real world! Just because they were a continuity announcer doesn't mean that all they can do
IS
Broadcasting like most other parts of life has 'casualised'. Formal announcers would sound very old fashioned today, it's just progress.
I'm surprised that so many channels still have continuity announcers, it's a convention that many other countries don't have and isn't as necessary these days as it once was... some channels do perfectly well without them
I think the problem is that for some some reason, traditional sounding authoritative announcers aren't what TV companies are after anymore.
There's probably some w@nky marketing theory somewhere that people 'relate' more to announcers who sound like someone dragged in off the street.
There's probably some w@nky marketing theory somewhere that people 'relate' more to announcers who sound like someone dragged in off the street.
Broadcasting like most other parts of life has 'casualised'. Formal announcers would sound very old fashioned today, it's just progress.
I'm surprised that so many channels still have continuity announcers, it's a convention that many other countries don't have and isn't as necessary these days as it once was... some channels do perfectly well without them
TO
The only decent announcer on ITV1 is Mark Manchester.
They used to have Paul Jamieson, but he recently left, he was my fave announcer with Mark being second fave, but since Paul left Mark is now top.
My least fave is Gina Mellotte (the main female). She always sounds boring, and never introduces the program just starting. She always seems to introduce programs on in 3 days or something random.
C4 and E4 have the best announcers. They can be funny, have good accents, don't mind saying silly stuff every so often etc.
They used to have Paul Jamieson, but he recently left, he was my fave announcer with Mark being second fave, but since Paul left Mark is now top.
My least fave is Gina Mellotte (the main female). She always sounds boring, and never introduces the program just starting. She always seems to introduce programs on in 3 days or something random.
C4 and E4 have the best announcers. They can be funny, have good accents, don't mind saying silly stuff every so often etc.
SP
Broadcasting like most other parts of life has 'casualised'. Formal announcers would sound very old fashioned today, it's just progress.
I'm not advocating a return to the days of announcers sounding like John Snagge, and I don't have a problem with casual. I just think there are some (and by no means all) really poor announcers out there who simply aren't very good at speaking, and don't seem to have the ability to make you priŠk your ears up and listen to what they're saying.
I think the problem is that for some some reason, traditional sounding authoritative announcers aren't what TV companies are after anymore.
There's probably some w@nky marketing theory somewhere that people 'relate' more to announcers who sound like someone dragged in off the street.
There's probably some w@nky marketing theory somewhere that people 'relate' more to announcers who sound like someone dragged in off the street.
Broadcasting like most other parts of life has 'casualised'. Formal announcers would sound very old fashioned today, it's just progress.
I'm not advocating a return to the days of announcers sounding like John Snagge, and I don't have a problem with casual. I just think there are some (and by no means all) really poor announcers out there who simply aren't very good at speaking, and don't seem to have the ability to make you priŠk your ears up and listen to what they're saying.
Last edited by Spencer on 19 January 2010 12:20pm
MI
Is that the same Paul Jamieson who was a voice actor with Celador Productions?
The only decent announcer on ITV1...They used to have Paul Jamieson, but he recently left,
Is that the same Paul Jamieson who was a voice actor with Celador Productions?
TO
Is that the same Paul Jamieson who was a voice actor with Celador Productions?
Oh I'm not sure.
He is scottish. Does that help?
If not, this is his website http://pauljamieson.mfbiz.com/#/listen/4517788438
The only decent announcer on ITV1...They used to have Paul Jamieson, but he recently left,
Is that the same Paul Jamieson who was a voice actor with Celador Productions?
Oh I'm not sure.
He is scottish. Does that help?
If not, this is his website http://pauljamieson.mfbiz.com/#/listen/4517788438
JJ
jjne
Always amazes me how we had so many great announcers across the ITV network over the years, and yet so few of them have done anything since.
Every single region boasted some damn good talent that would, even now, not be too old for the job, so what happened to them all?
Every single region boasted some damn good talent that would, even now, not be too old for the job, so what happened to them all?
They all went and got other jobs... often in the real world! Just because they were a continuity announcer doesn't mean that all they can do
Unfortunately Colin Weston got a job in Tescos ... his own choice, granted (I believe he was offered a job at YTV in Leeds) but just the sort of anno that would distinguish ITV from the crowd. I don't think anyone could accuse him of being stiff or formal
Most announcers now just go through the motions, just listen to that husky-voiced woman on BBC2. And yet I bet if Weston went up against her in an interviewing situation she'd beat him on most channels now.
If anything what we're seeing now is what announcers probably should be. In the 70s and 80s, good announcers were usually too good to be doing what they were doing. When you had Colin, who could have hosted gameshows I'm sure if he'd put his mind to it, or Bill Steel who was an experienced journalist and anchorman in his own right (and a damn good one as well) doing the announcements, TV stations must have felt compelled to give them their own space. Now though...
SP
They all went and got other jobs... often in the real world! Just because they were a continuity announcer doesn't mean that all they can do
Unfortunately Colin Weston got a job in Tescos ... his own choice, granted (I believe he was offered a job at YTV in Leeds) but just the sort of anno that would distinguish ITV from the crowd. I don't think anyone could accuse him of being stiff or formal
Quite a lot of the former ITV regional announcers are still working freelance as voiceover artists. IIRC, there was an airline which was using Maggie Mash for its recorded on-board safety announcements a while back IIRC.
A few others I know of are working as radio presenters, such as Neil Didsbury, Kathy Secker and Helen Aitken.
Always amazes me how we had so many great announcers across the ITV network over the years, and yet so few of them have done anything since.
Every single region boasted some damn good talent that would, even now, not be too old for the job, so what happened to them all?
Every single region boasted some damn good talent that would, even now, not be too old for the job, so what happened to them all?
They all went and got other jobs... often in the real world! Just because they were a continuity announcer doesn't mean that all they can do
Unfortunately Colin Weston got a job in Tescos ... his own choice, granted (I believe he was offered a job at YTV in Leeds) but just the sort of anno that would distinguish ITV from the crowd. I don't think anyone could accuse him of being stiff or formal
Quite a lot of the former ITV regional announcers are still working freelance as voiceover artists. IIRC, there was an airline which was using Maggie Mash for its recorded on-board safety announcements a while back IIRC.
A few others I know of are working as radio presenters, such as Neil Didsbury, Kathy Secker and Helen Aitken.
Last edited by Spencer on 20 January 2010 12:56pm
NW
Don't forget Maggie Mash's voice was heard in The Booze Cruise in English and in French, I remember Charles Foster appearing as a Judge in Hollyoaks a couple of years ago now.
It's a shame ITV is without voices like Bill Steel and Colin Weston, but I'd guess they both left on prinicpal and not wising to commute or live in Yorkshire, and I don't mean any disrespect to the YTV team at the time, as they did a fine job announcing.
Any ATV/Central pres buffs about should have a look on YouTube as there's a good couple of clips uploaded by Mike Prince of a reunion day with himself, Su Evans, Mark Lipscombe and Wesley Smith, it's favourited on my YT channel if you can't find it.
Quite a lot of the former ITV regional announcers are still working freelance as voiceover artists. IIRC, there was an airline which was using Maggie Mash for its recorded on-board safety announcements a while back IIRC.
A few others I know of are working as radio presenters, such as Neil Didsbury, Kathy Secker and Helen Aitken.
A few others I know of are working as radio presenters, such as Neil Didsbury, Kathy Secker and Helen Aitken.
Don't forget Maggie Mash's voice was heard in The Booze Cruise in English and in French, I remember Charles Foster appearing as a Judge in Hollyoaks a couple of years ago now.
It's a shame ITV is without voices like Bill Steel and Colin Weston, but I'd guess they both left on prinicpal and not wising to commute or live in Yorkshire, and I don't mean any disrespect to the YTV team at the time, as they did a fine job announcing.
Any ATV/Central pres buffs about should have a look on YouTube as there's a good couple of clips uploaded by Mike Prince of a reunion day with himself, Su Evans, Mark Lipscombe and Wesley Smith, it's favourited on my YT channel if you can't find it.