Leslie Mitchell (broadcaster)
- Leslie Mitchell (broadcaster)
Leslie Mitchell (born October 4, 1905 in Edinburgh, died November 23, 1985 in London) was famous in the United Kingdom as the first voice heard on BBC Television at its inception on November 2, 1936, and also for making the first announcement on Associated-Rediffusion, the first ITV company, on September 22, 1955. His voice was perhaps most recognised, however, from his long association with British Movietone News, for whose newsreels he was commentator during the Second World War and for many years afterwards.
Educated at The King's School, Canterbury, he was prevented from joining the Royal Navy by ill health, which also prevented him from serving in the Second World War. He began as a stage and film actor, but suffered from multiple injuries in a road accident, which kept him out of work for over a year, as the play he was appearing in was about to transfer to the West End.
He began appearing on BBC Radio in 1932 and joined the Corporation's staff in 1934, working as a general announcer and a producer of variety programmes. In 1936 he became one of the three announcers for the BBC's fledgling Television Service, along with Jasmine Bligh and Elizabeth Cowell, which was then available only in London.
During the war he provided the commentary for the Movietone News and appeared as himself in the comedy film "The Black Sheep of Whitehall" in which comedian Will Hay drives him to a nervous breakdown.
In 1946, suspecting that commercial broadcasting would eventually come to the United Kingdom, he travelled to the United States and gained experience of the methods of publicity used there. In the post-war years he had a stint as Sir Alexander Korda's director of publicity, but was mainly a freelance writer, commentator and producer.
In 1955 he joined Associated-Rediffusion, where he became senior announcer, and was also in charge of Talks and chairman of discussion programmes. He went freelance again in 1958. Much of his later work was on programmes concerning the early days of British television, such as a celebration of 25 years of BBC TV which he jointly narrated with Richard Dimbleby in 1961, and a 40th anniversary documentary in 1976. He also presented the nostalgic Tyne Tees Television series "Those Wonderful TV Times" (1976–1978).
Wikimedia Foundation.
2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
Pete Mitchell — Infobox Radio Presenter name = Pete Mitchell imagesize = caption = birthname = birthplace = flagicon|England Crumpsall,North Manchester] , London deathdate = deathplace = show = Pete Mitchell station = BBC Radio 2 timeslot = 3:00 ndash;7:00 am… … Wikipedia
2008 New Year Honours — The New Year Honours 2008 for the Commonwealth Realms were announced on 29 December 2007,[1] to celebrate the year passed and mark the beginning of 2008. The recipients of honours are displayed here as they were styled before their new honour,… … Wikipedia
Continuity announcers in the United Kingdom — In the United Kingdom, continuity announcers are people who are employed to introduce programmes on radio and television networks, to promote forthcoming programmes on the station, to cross promote programmes on the broadcaster s other stations… … Wikipedia
BBC — For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Industry Broadcasting Predecessor British Broadcasting Company Founded 1 January 1927 … Wikipedia
The Black Sheep of Whitehall — Infobox Film name =The Black Sheep of Whitehall director =Basil Dearden Will Hay producer =Michael Balcon caption =film poster writer =John Dighton Angus MacPhail starring =Will Hay John Mills Basil Sydney Felix Aylmer Thora Hird Leslie Mitchell… … Wikipedia
Jasmine Bligh — Jasmine Lydia Bligh (May 20 1913 ndash; July 21 1991) was one of the first three BBC Television Service presenters in the 1930s, along with Leslie Mitchell and Elizabeth Cowell, providing continuity announcements and introducing programmes in… … Wikipedia
performing arts — arts or skills that require public performance, as acting, singing, or dancing. [1945 50] * * * ▪ 2009 Introduction Music Classical. The last vestiges of the Cold War seemed to thaw for a moment on Feb. 26, 2008, when the unfamiliar strains … Universalium
Media and Publishing — ▪ 2007 Introduction The Frankfurt Book Fair enjoyed a record number of exhibitors, and the distribution of free newspapers surged. TV broadcasters experimented with ways of engaging their audience via the Internet; mobile TV grew; magazine… … Universalium
2000 New Year Honours — The insignia of the Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George: Andrew Wood was awarded the Grand Cross in this Honours list. The New Year Honours 2000 for the United Kingdom were announced on 31 December 1999, to celebrate the year… … Wikipedia
List of British Jewish entertainers — This is a List of British Jewish entertainers that includes entertainers (actors, directors, screenwriters, musicians and others) from the United Kingdom and its predecessor states who are or were Jewish or of Jewish descent. Film actors* Felix… … Wikipedia
