The continuity announcers soon became firm favourites with the viewers of North Scotland.
Take a trip down memory lane and see if you remember the weel kent faces that graced Grampian screens for over three decades.
CONTINUITY SUITE
Douglas Kynoch was the first voice of Grampian Television. Prior to going on air in September 1961 a record was made of Douglas voicing the programmes that viewers could expect to see when the station launched. After leaving Grampian Douglas moved to BBC Scotland. Douglas now lives in Aberdeen and has written several books in Doric the dialect of Northeast Scotland.
June Imray was a former teacher and one of the first announcers at Grampian.June went on to join the BBC in London as an invision announcer until 1963 then returned to Grampian. June remained at Queens Cross until 1979 she never returned to announcing after the ITV strike but appeared on Grampian’s 21st Birthday show in 1982 and did a wee spot as the torry quine. June also Presented Grampian’s Hogmany Show in 1984.
Jimmy Spankie was a Continuity Announcer, Reporter and Presenter. Jimmy Presented Top Club and the ITV Telethon in 1990 from Dundee. Jimmy still announced for Grampian until 1979 and never returned after the ITV strike.
Elizabeth Mackenzie was appointed by Grampian Television as one of their three new continuity announcers. However the day before Grampian went on air Elizabeth resigned from the company due to personal reasons. Her post was filled by James Sleigh who had previously announced for STV. James had also worked as a broadcaster for the BBC. James had ambitions to become a TV Director and eventually left his announcing role to work behind the scenes at Grampian. He was replaced by Jimmy Spankie.
Daphne Penny trained as an actress she joined Grampian as a continuity announcer not long after the station opened in 1961. She then moved on to Present The Rogies and Romper Room. She married Ian Randerson a Grampian Transmission Controller and left Grampian in 1965. Sadly Daphne died a few years ago.
Elizabeth Burns from Saint Andrews was crowned Miss Scotland in 1962. Elizabeth joined Grampian Television as a Continuity Announcer and Presenter of the talent show Pick of The North in 1962 she left Grampian in December 1963 to get married.
Sadly Elizabeth died on February 27th 2009.
Many thanks to Elizabeth’s husband John Rust for the Picture and Information.
Former Archers actor Graham Roberts announced for Grampian in the sixties he also announced at Yorkshire TV. Sadly Graham died in 2004.
Kate Matheson was an actress and announced for Grampian in the sixties she was married to fellow actor and announcer Graham Roberts. Kate moved back to Glasgow and worked as an announcer for STV and eventually married Rikki Fulton. Sadly Kate died in 2005 just a year after her husband Rikki.
Actor James Copeland announced for Grampian in the sixties.
Actor Colin Bower was a freelance announcer at Grampian in the late sixties he also worked for TWW, Tyne Tees and Anglia. Colin is now an after dinner speaker.
Christene Burn was a continuity announcer at Grampian in 1973. She had taught speech and drama and also Presented TV in Amsterdam before arriving at Queens Cross. Christene left Grampian the same year and joined the BBC in Manchester as an announcer and newsreader she also went on to work for BFBS.
Pirate Radio DJ Jack McLaughlin joined Grampain as a Continuity Announcer and also Presented Junior Try For Ten. Jack went on to work for STV and became fondly known as the Laird of Cowcaddens hosting Thingummyjig in the seventies and early eighties.
Lesley Blair was a girl in a million she replied to Grampian’s advertisement looking for a Presenter for Romper Room she got her break at 18. Lesley was also a continuity announcer at Grampian she left the station after a few years and moved to STV as an Announcer/Newsreader she also Presented programmes from the Edinburgh Festival for STV and appeared on Glen Michaels Cavalcade. In 1969 Lesley joined BBC Scotland as a Reporter/Presenter. Sadly Lesley died in 2007.
James O’Hara was a Continuity Announcer and Newsreader he left Grampian in the mid seventies and joined BBC Scotland where he announced and read the Scottish News in and out of vision. James left BBC Scotland in 1988 and is now the managing editor for ITFC’s audio description department.
Pirate Radio DJ, Broadcaster, Voiceover Artist and Continuity Announcer. Tony worked at Grampian in the late sixties he went on to announce for Granada and LWT and later returned to Radio. Sadly Tony Died in 2004.
Anne Duguid was a continuity announcer at Grampian in the early seventies .Anne was working for North Of Scotland TV in 1993 when the company put in a bid for the Grampian Television franchise.
Lyn Cunningham trained as a commercial artist and fashion model. She was the Scottish winner of GPO’s Interflora competition Girl With The Golden Voice. Lyn joined Grampian as a continuity announcer in 1971 she also presented several Hogmanay shows and was a Panelist on Grampian’s quiz show Who Are You. Lyn remained at Queens Cross until 1979 and never returned after the ITV strike. Sadly Lyn died in 1982.
David Strachan was a continuity announcer at Grampian in the mid seventies. David also Presented Scene On Saturday, Summer Scene On Saturday and Wings and Things.
David is co founder and joint Managing Director Of Tern Television In Aberdeen.
Gordon Radley was a freelance announcer at Grampian in the late seventies. Before arriving at Queens Cross he worked at HTV and Anglia as a Promo Producer. Gordon joined TVS as an announcer in 1982 and then moved to Anglia as an announcer. He went on to Present SKY News.
Kennedy Thomson taught speech and drama before joining Grampian in 1970 as a continuity announcer and newsreader.
He also presented the school series Oil, Granite, Bricks and Mortar, Wonder Weekly, Wings and Things and The Electric Theatre Show. Kennedy was a guest at Grampian’s 21st Birthday show he was Grampian’s senior and longest serving announcer. Sadly, Kennedy died shortly after his retiral in 1996.
Former teacher Lesley Macleod joined Grampian Television as a continuity announcer in 1977. Lesley also Presented Wings and Things and Summer Scene On Saturday. Lesley eventually went freelance and left the company in 1984.
Before arriving at Queens Cross in the late seventies David Bennett had announced for Anglia, ATV, HTV, and BBC 2. David had also worked for BBC Radio Leeds and was involved with Grampian Hospital Radio in Aberdeen. He also Presented The Electric Theatre Show, About Britain, By Appointment, Cuir Car and the schools series Mathman, and Thinkin An Talkin. David always wished Grampian viewers a ginger peachy goodnight at closedown he left the station in 1983.
Maggie Palmer joined Grampian Television as a continuity announcer and newsreader after the ITV strike in 1979. Maggie is a graduate of Independent Theatre School in North Sydney and she is an established actress and had presented the weekly documentary This Week In Britain. Maggie added the glamour when she officially opened the new Grampian Studios at Albany Road in Dundee in December 1979. Maggie left Grampian in 1980 and joined STV as an announcer/newsreader. Maggie now lives and works in Austrailia she is an Author, Artist and Poet. Maggie is also a Feng Shui Consultant and Australian Civil Marriage Celebrant.
Read more about Maggie on our interview section of the site.
Barrie Redfern joined Grampian in 1980 as a continuity announcer /newsreader. Barrie began his career as a student broadcaster he moved to BBC Radio then BBC TV in London as a network announcer. Barrie joined the BBC in Leeds as an announcer /newsreader in 1979. After leaving Grampian in 1983 he went onto work for UTV and Central as a Director. Barrie now works in TV Management.
Read more about Barrie on our interview section of the site.
Ann Brodie joined Grampian in 1971 as a continuity announcer and newsreader she left the station in 1975 and joined STV as an announcer/newsreader. Ann left STV in 1978 and rejoined Grampian in 1980 she left the station in 1987.
Off air photo taken by me on a visit to the studio in 1984.
Former teacher and lecturer Margaret Donald joined Grampian as a continuity announcer and newsreader in 1980. Margaret had worked for Grampian in the late seventies presenting Summer Scene on Saturday. Her broadcasting career began at BBC Radio Scotland she also worked at Radio 4 and The World Service before taking her seat in the continuity suite at Queens Cross. Whilst working at Grampian Margaret also wrote produced and presented a children’s series for STV in 1984 called Seumus. Margaret left broadcasting to take up the role of Public Relations Officer at Aberdeen City Council for seven years then launched Mallard Media Services. Margaret is now retired.
Susan Calland joined Grampian as a continuity announcer/newsreader in 1982 she left the company in 1984.
Actress Isabelle Jarrett arrived at Queens Cross in 1983 she had worked for Border Television as an announcer/newsreader before joing Grampian. Isabelle left the station in 1984 and has appeared in Taggart, Take The High Road, Dr Findlay, Two Thousand Acres of Sky and many theatre productions.
Anna Maria Ashe joined Grampian as a continuity announcer/newsreader in 1983 she left the station in 1986 to work for BBC Scotland. Anna moved to TVS in 1987 as an invision announcer and eventually joined LWT as a newsreader she went on to be one of the main anchors on London Tonight and London Today.
Actress Daphne Neville joined Grampian as a relief announcer/newsreader from April to July 1983. Daphne had announced for Border TV and Preseneted various programmes for HTV and BBC. Daphne has also starred in The Old Curiosity Shop, Three Men and a Little Lady, Diana her True Story, Londons Burning, Minder, Miss Marple, House Of Elliott Prime Suspect, Crossroads and The Archers as well as many Theatre Productions.
Read more about Daphne on our interview section of the site.
John Jason joined Grampian as an announcer /newsreader in 1983. John had worked as a presenter and newsreader for LBC before joining the station. He left Grampian in 1988 and went onto work for TVS and Yorkshire. He now works as a newsreader for the BBC World service.
Colin Lamont arrived at Queens Cross in 1984 as an announcer/newsreader. He left the station in 1985 and joined STV. Colin went onto enjoy fame as the controversial DJ Scottie McLue.
Kay Duncan joined Grampian Television as a continuity announcer/newsreader in 1985. She also presented Summer at Six, the summer edition of North Tonight. Kay eventually went freelance and left Grampian in 1992 she is now a Drama Teacher in Aberdeen.
Diana Speed replaced Anna Maria Ashe in 1986. She graduated from the RSAMD in 1984 and went on to work in Rep, Television and Film before taking her seat in the continuity suite at Queens Cross. Diana Presented the Grampian optout of the ITV Telethon in 1990 and 1992. She remained at the station until June 1998 when Grampian’s presentation department was closed and continuity was moved to STV in Glasgow. Diana now works for BBC Radio 4 as an announcer /newsreader.
Northsound DJ Robin Galloway joined Grampian in 1987 as a continuity announcer/newsreader. Whilst at the station Robin also Presented, Put It In Writing and the ITV Telethon. He continued to DJ for Northsound whilst working at Grampian and left the station in 1995. You can hear Robin do his wind up’s on the Real Radio breakfast show in Scotland. CD’s of his hilarious wind up’s are available to buy.
John Jason left Grampian in 1988 and Arlene Stuart joined the continuity team replacing him. Whilst at the station Arlene also Presented Country Matters, Grampian’s part of the ITV Telethon, The River shown on the ITV network and the Hogmanay Show in 1988. Arlene left Grampian in 1993 to join BBC Scotland, she now presents on Forth 1.
Tracey Crawford joined Grampian in 1989 from Northsound.She remained at the station until 1995. Tracey went on to join Granada as a Continuity Presenter. As part of the ITV centralisation the presentation department at Granada was eventually closed and Tracey then moved to Yorkshire TV as Senior Announcer.
Kate Fraser replaced Arlene Stuart in 1993. Whilst working at the station Kate also presented The Buck Stops Here and Wize Up. SMG took over Grampian in 1997 and it was decided that continuity would be centralised and come from Glasgow. Grampian’s presentation department was closed in June 1998. Kate was the only Grampian announcer to accept the offer of a move to STV. She provided out of vision announcements on both Grampian and STV until leaving the company in 2005.
Fiona Pagett was a DJ at Northsound and freelanced for Grampian in 1993 she went on to Present Eikon for STV.
Radio Tay DJ Scott Brown joined Grampian in March 1995 replacing Robin Galloway. Scott also Presented Wize Up for Grampian with Kate Fraser and Rachael Robertson and Under The Hammer with Fiona Armstrong. After invision announcers were no longer required and continuity was moved to Glasgow Scott started up Midas Multimedia a production company based in Aberdeen.
Rachael Robertson joined Grampian in 1996 replacing Tracey Crawford she also Presented Wize Up. SMG took over Grampian in 1997 and it was decided continuity would be centralised and come from Glasgow the Grampian presentation department was closed in June 1998 and invision announcers were no longer required. Rachael continued at Grampian for a short time and presented features for Scottish Passport she eventually moved to BBC in London as an announcer.
Northsound DJ Gary Stein was the last invision continuity announcer to join Grampian in 1996. He replaced Kennedy Thomson. Gary was freelance and continued to work at Northsound. The presentation department at Grampian closed in June 1998 and that was the end of invision announcers at Grampian. Gary went on to work for Clyde 1.
In August 1997 Scottish Media Group merged with Grampian Television. By August 1998 SMG restructured it’s broadcasting division.
This was the end of an era for the Grampian viewers as invision continuity announcers were no longer required.
Continuity was to be made from SMG headquarters in Glasgow out of vision initially voiced over the Saint Andrew’s Flag Ident.
In 2000 Grampian defended it’s decision to drop the Saint Andrew’s flag ident the instantly- recognisable emblem which Grampian had carried since 1961 was to be replaced by a more modern dynamic image which reflected the region and it’s people.
The continuity set in it’s glory days this was the look in 1991.
and sadly out of use here in June 2003.
The view in front of the camera at the news desk.
Kate Fraser the only Grampian Announcer to join the SMG continuity team in Glasgow. Kate left STV in 2005.
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