- Fran Godfrey
Frances Helen Godfrey (born
29 June 19??) is aBBC Radio 2 newsreader, most famous for her appearances on "Wake Up to Wogan ", the highest-rated radio show in Britain. She is described by Sir Terry Wogan as "Fran Godfrey - Traffic Totty and Mimi (Me, me, me, me, me...)..." [Mustn't Grumble by Sir Terry Wogan (2006) (ISBN 0752874381)] Godfrey began contributing to "Wake Up to Wogan] " in 1993 and made her final appearance on the show onMay 9 2008 . Her affiliation with the show has ceased due to reasons known only to Radio 2 management.Born in
Hampstead ,London , Godfrey left England at the age of two to live inSouthern Rhodesia (nowZimbabwe ), returning four years later with parents and brothers Tony and Nick to live for a short time nearOxford , before moving toHighcliffe inDorset . Fran was educated at the Convent of the Cross, and the Polytechnic of Central London (nowWestminster University ), before moving into secretarial work for several years in London andBournemouth .In 1980 she approached the independent local radio station in Bournemouth - 2CR - and accepted a job as a Technical Operator. Godfrey then became Assistant to the Commercial Producer, which involved creative writing and producing. In 1984, Godfrey began presenting, and in time presented every type of programme on the station.
She joined the BBC network in September, 1990, but rose to prominence by being part of the team for "Wake Up to Wogan". She received many emails on air, including poetry which often began "I'm in love with Fran Godfrey", and tales of her "Cupboard under the stairs"; once again quoting Sir Terry:
"Fran's lavish penthouse has been the scene of many an unsavoury tale: honest artisans imprisoned for weeks in the cupboard under her stairs, lured there on the pretext of urgent plumbing, grouting, or rendering..." [Mustn't Grumble by Sir Terry Wogan (2006) (ISBN 0752874381)]
Godfrey's newsreader companions on Wake Up to Wogan were:
*Alan Dedicoat
*John Marsh - Now freelance, after retiring in February 2007.
*Charles Nove References
External links
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/wogan/biography_godfrey.shtml Godfrey's BBC biography]
* [http://www.community-net.co.uk/members/aircheck/FranGodfreytracker.htm Another biography]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
