- Sylvia Peters
Sylvia Peters (born Sylvia Lucia Petronzio [ [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/286784 BFI database - PETERS, Sylvia] ] in
Highgate ,London in 1926) was a British actress, and from 1947 to 1958 was a continuity announcer forBBC Television. [http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/tv/history/interludes.htm Whirligig TV] ]Career
She joined BBC television centre, then based at
Alexandra Palace , in June 1947 after answering a newspaper advertisement for a continuity announcer [http://tvpresenters.thetvroomplus.com/category-3.html The TV Room Plus] ] . She was part the team of continuity announcers headed byMcDonald Hobley and withPeter Haigh who joined in 1952. In 1954, Peters was chosen to host "Come Dancing " (the forerunner of "Strictly Come Dancing "), doing so until her retirement in 1958. In 1953, Peters introduced the live television broadcast of thecoronation ofQueen Elizabeth II . She was later be involved in teaching the Queen the broadcasting skills necessary for the Her Majesty'sRoyal Christmas Message broadcasts.In 1950, she married TV director Kenneth Milne-Buckley, who was responsible for the TV series "Compact".
After retiring from the BBC in 1958, Peters opened a dress-shop in
Wimbledon, London , and has rarely been seen on screen since, with a small number of appearances for special shows such as the BBC Television Service's 50th Birthday special. Sylvia did enjoy a brief return to television presenting in the late 1980s when she joined Robert (Bob) Dougall, Brian Johnston and the other hosts of theChannel 4 magazine programme for the over sixties " 'Years Ahead' " as one of the presenters.In popular culture, Sylvia Peters and the presentation style used by her has often been satirised. One example of this is in the 2006 "
Doctor Who " episode "The Idiot's Lantern ".References
External links
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* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/heritage/in_depth/70tv/memories/index.shtml BBC TV 70th Anniversary Site]
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