British and Irish TV talent
ITV 1 - Ulster Presenters
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Long serving Ulster Television announcer and news reader during the 1970s and well into the 1980s. Retired from this role c. 1986.
Pamela's broadcasting career started off in radio: she read the news on Downtown Radio from the early-1980s. She also presented on BBC Radio Ulster. Pamela's first appearance on Ulster Television as a continuity announcer was in 1984. As part of the continuing announcer's job, Pamela also read the news.
She left the announcing team around the start of the new franchise period in 1993 and went on to co-anchor the station's main news programme. She presented the lifestyle and leisure programme 'UTV Life' from 1999 to 2009. In May 2009, Pamela returned to UTV's continuity department, after seventeen years. She's also a relief weather presenter.
(Formerly Barbara Palmer). Barbara was an announcer and news reader with Ulster Television from 1980 to 1992. She graduated with a BA (Hons) First Class in English at Queen's University in 1997.
A former announcer at Ulster Television, Alan also worked as a journalist at the Belfast Telegraph. He later moved to New Zealand where he became a wine producer.A lecturer at Belfast 'Tech', Aidan took up part-time continuity announcing and newsreading duties at UTV around the time of the station's relaunch in June 1993. He continues to mix lecturing with his UTV role.
From summer 2006, Aidan appeared on screen minus his trademark moustache.
In the early days of her television career, Lynda spent a brief period as a television announcer with BBC Northern Ireland - c. late-1980s. She went on to become one of the regular presenters of the BBC's local news programme in Northern Ireland, 'Inside Ulster'.
She later appeared on national screens, presenting alongside Rolf Harris on 'Animal Hospital' in 1996 and also filing reports for the 'Holiday' programme.
In 1996, Lynda defected to UTV, where she co-presented the main news programme with husband Mike Nesbitt until February 2006, when Mike left the station. Lynda still co-presents the programme.
In 2004, Lynda was an occasional presenter on the ITV News Channel; she also presented on ITV 1's 'London Tonight'. From November 2005 to 2008, Lynda presented her own show on Belfast radio station, U105.8.
Image courtesy of Paul R Jackson.
Reporter and news reader for Ulster TV's 'Friday Sportscast' and then 'UTV Reports' in the early-1970s who moved to Granada later in the decade. After working on 'Granada Reports' as a reporter/presenter, Burns found national fame in 1977 as the host of the company's 'Krypton Factor' game show. The show had a successful eighteen year run.
In January 1997, he returned to the North West as host of the BBC's 'North West Tonight'.
Other TV radio credits include: 'World In Action' (Granada); 'Today' (BBC Radio 4).
Keith began announcing and news reading with Ulster Television in the early-1980s. He made the crossover to presenting in the late-1980s when he took over the 'Police Six' programme (later 'Crimecall') from Charles Witherspoon.
Keith was rarely seen in his announcing role after the station's relaunch in 1993. He is a partner in the Burnmac production company - which produced UTV's 'Crimecall' programme in its final years.
'Crimecall' was cancelled in 2001. Keith has been reading the news on radio since 2000: with Downtown/Cool FM until autumn 2002; currently with BBC Radio Ulster.
Latterly, Lynda-Jayne Campbell - an announcer/news reader at Ulster Television between 1975 and 1978 before moving to Downtown Radio as a presenter. Lynda, who overcame breast cancer after a long battle with the illness, sadly died from a heart attack in 2000.
Tina started out with the BBC, where she was the first presenter with BBC Radio Ulster's Traffic and Travel Unit. She later moved to the newsroom at Downtown Radio.
In 1994, she joined the UTV continuity announcing team. However, Tina quit her announcing role within a few years to focus on news reporting and various presenting roles. She presented the lifestyle programme 'UTV Life' and occasionally presented on the main evening news programme.
Since the departure of Kate Smith, Tina has become a regular presenter on UTV's main news programmes.
Dr Nigel Carr is a former rugby international (Ireland and the British Lions) who became popular through national appearances during ITV's World Cup coverage. He currently produces and presents UTV sports programme, 'Sport on Sunday'.
Paul's broadcasting career began with RTÉ where he was among the first batch of DJs on the newly launched Radio 2 - RTÉ's answer to BBC Radio 1, He was on the early shift with 'Paul Clark's Morning Show'.
C. 1984, Paul moved north to take up a news presenting role with BBC Northern Ireland. He became a familar face on the regional news programme, 'Inside Ulster'. Paul was also a regular presenter on Children In Need night. Indeed, Paul continued to show up on CIN after his departure to UTV in 1989.
Throughout his time with UTV, Paul has been one of the main presenters on the main news programme, UTV Live (and formerly 'Six Tonight').
(Later Audra Thomas). Audra joined UTV c. 1997 as a continuity announcer/news reader. She also occasionally presents the weather on the main evening news programme.
Audra was absent from UTV screens from early-2007 to November 2008.
Denise worked as an announcer for Ulster Television in 1962 and 1963, having previously worked at the Belfast Telegraph and for newspapers in her native New Zealand. She returned to her native country and worked for the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation.
Denise died in 2005, aged 63.
Sarah has been a continuity announcer and news reader with UTV since 2007. She was previously a presenter on the Q Radio Network, and read the news on UTV's radio station, U105.Ulster Television announcer/news reader in 1983/1984.Niall joined UTV in September 1994 as a news reporter. In the early-2000s, Niall was a regular presenter of news bulletins at the station.David began his broadcasting career at Ulster Television in the late-1960s, and was a regular host of evening news programme 'UTV Reports' and current affairs series 'Counterpoint'.
In 1981, he switched channels to BBC Northern Ireland, fronting its political coverage on TV and radio. David has hosted 'TalkBack', Northern Ireland's most popular radio programme, on BBC Radio Ulster since 1988, and was the first presenter of its TV spin-off, 'Let's Talk'.
Brian was a member of the original announcing team at Ulster Television. He had worked previously as a teacher, based in Newry. He was also a graduate of Queen's University, Belfast.
Brian also worked at Yorkshire Television and Scottish Television.
Brian died in April 1999, following a battle with cancer. He was 67.
Reporter and presenter with UTV since 1998. Alison has presented news bulletins and the lifestyle element of the main weekday UTV Live programme.(Formerly Lynda Wilson). Lynda joined UTV as a continuity announcer and news reader in 2007. In addition to reading the news on UTV, Lynda also appears as a news reader on GMTV Northern Ireland.One of Northern Ireland's best known presenters and a former Northern Ireland soccer star. Jackie's long career as a sports presenter began in the mid-1970s at Ulster Television, where he remained for almost 20 years, reporting for 'UTV Reports', 'Good Evening Ulster' and 'Six Tonight'. In 1992, he changed channels to BBC Northern Ireland, covering the daily sports news on 'Inside Ulster' and 'Newsline', as well as fronting many prestigious local sports events and co-presenting 'Children In Need'.
Since April 2004, Jackie's role in the 'Newsline' programme has switched to reporting only.
Gary is a former host of 'UTV Reports' (late-1970s), and then 'Good Evening Ulster' (1980s). He eventually moved behind the camera to become Head of News at UTV.
Since 1999, he made regular on-screen appearances both as a sports reporter and presenter.
Other TV credits: regular commentator on 'RPM' (motorsport programme, UTV, early-1990s - present).
One of the original announcing team at Ulster Television, Jimmy's duties as an announcer and news reader ran from 1959 to 1965. He also presented 'Roundabout' in 1962, replacing Ivor Mills.
Jimmy left the station in 1965 to pursue an acting career in London, and has since appeared in 'Casualty', 'Heartbeat', 'Holby City', 'William And Mary' and a Camay soap commercial, along with Nicola Paget.
Anne was a presenter on UTV's local news magazine programme 'Roundabout'; she was also an announcer at the station. She left Ulster Television to join Anglia TV's 'About Anglia' in 1962, before moving to the BBC in London where she was an in-vision announcer from 1963 until 1964.
She was well known for her work on the 'Holiday' programme from 1980 until 1991. She was also a BBC Radio 4 announcer in 1982.
Anne lost a battle against cancer on September 06 2006; she was 66.
Tracey-Anne started off with Downtown Radio as a news reader from the late-1980s. She moved into television c. 1992, becoming a continuity announcer and news reader on Ulster Television.
Tracey-Anne moved to London in 1996 to take up an announcing role with Channel 4; she is also heard on E4 and regularly voices FilmFour trails. Tracey-Anne has also worked for Sky News, Living TV and Discovery.
Anne began her broadcasting career with BBC Northern Ireland, contributing to radio programmes before establishing her own sixty-minute weekly magazine, 'At Home with Anne Hailes'. She was also involved in programmes for the BBC World Service.
Anne later joined Ulster Television, starting as a production assistant. She went on to produce and present 'Ask Anne', one of the station's highest-rating programmes at the time. After a number of years, she diversified into medical programming. Now a freelance journalist and columnist for the Irish News, and author of two books, she makes regular appearances as a guest on radio and television programmes and has made corporate programmes for local organisations.
Anne was educated at Belfast Royal Academy.
Continuity announcer/news reader with Ulster Television from the mid-1970s until the mid-1980s.Alyson was an announcer/news reader with Ulster Television for a short period in the early-1980s. She has also worked for BBC Radio Ulster.
Today, Alyson runs her own cosmetics company based in Antrim.
After studying journalism at Belfast College of Business Studies, Eamonn worked briefly for a trade magazine before joining Ulster Television in 1981 as a presenter/reporter on a farming programme, 'Farming Ulster'. He also reported on sport. In 1982, Eamonn took over from Gloria Hunniford on 'Good Evening Ulster' which he presented until his move to BBC Manchester in September 1986, to present 'Open Air'.
In 1989, Eamonn was asked to host BBC One's 'Holiday' programme. In the early-1990s, he was a sports news presenter on 'Breakfast Time'.
From January 1993, Eamonn was one of the original team of presenters at GMTV.
In October 2005, he joined the Sunrise team on Sky News, co-presenting with Lorna Dunkley. Eamonn had quit GMTV earlier in the year.
Eamonn also currently presents a radio show on BBC Radio 5 Live every Saturday; he has a column in the Sunday People newspaper; he presents an easy listening music show on London's 105.4FM every Sunday; and he hosts 'The National Lottery Jetset' on BBC One.
Eamonn launched his autobiography 'This Is My Life' in May 2006.
Other TV programmes that Eamonn has been involved with: 'Check It Out' (consumer affairs programme, UTV); 'All Mixed Up' (quiz, UTV).
Image courtesy of Paul R Jackson.
Gloria's broadcasting career began in 1969 as a news and current affairs reporter. She spent the 1970s and early-1980s working in that area for BBC Northern Ireland and Ulster Television. In 1979, she became one of the main anchors on Ulster Television's relaunched local news programme, 'Good Evening Ulster'.
In 1982, she moved across the Irish Sea to the BBC in London where she became the first woman to have her own daily show on BBC Radio 2. Gloria's show remained in the Radio 2 schedule until May 1995.
In 1994, Gloria became the regular presenter of ITV's flagship Sunday morning religious magazine programme 'Sunday' and 'Sunday Live'.
In April 1998, she hosted a regular weekday afternoon lifestyle show on Channel 5, 'Open House', delivering the channel some of its highest daytime ratings. 'Open House' continued until December 2002.
Gloria has presented and been involved with many TV programmes over the years - a sample: 'Time Off With...' (BBC); 'Through The Keyhole' (BBC); 'Celebrity Ready, Steady, Cook' (BBC); 'Today's The Day' (BBC); 'Shooting Stars' (BBC); 'Going Going Gone' (BBC); 'Call My Bluff' (BBC); 'Kilroy' (BBC); 'Esther' (BBC); 'It's Only TV And I Like It' (BBC); 'Countdown' (Ch 4); 'This Morning' (ITV); 'Wogan' (stand-in presenter, BBC); 'We Love TV' (LWT); 'Something For The Weekend' (BBC NI); 'Family Affairs' (co-hosted with daughter Caron Keating, BBC); 'Cashwise' (BBC); 'Good Fortune' (BBC); 'That's Showbusiness' (BBC).
She has won many prestigious awards during her 30 year career including TV Personality of the Year, Radio Personality of the Year and Best Dressed Female. She is a patron of a number of deserving charities and dedicates much time to the good causes she supports. Gloria was President of the Television and Radio Industries Club 1999 - 2000 and received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.
Gillian worked briefly as a continuity announcer with UTV c. 1996. She then disappeared off our screens, turning up again a few years later as a reporter on 'UTV Live' and presenter of 'UTV Life'. Since early-2002, Gillian has been reading the news on local radio stations Downtown Radio and Cool FM.Jeanie Johnston has been with Ulster Television since 1978. Much of her time with the station has been spent as a reporter within the news department. She has also occasionally presented UTV news bulletins.
Jeanie was features editor at UTV until 2009, when she left the station as part of a voluntary redundancy programme.
Ronan Kelly has worked for UTV on and off from the early-1980s, and was the first host of 'Six Tonight', from 1987 to 1988. He has also hosted a number of local series for UTV, including 'Ronan On The Road', 'Check It Out', and 'You're On'.
Ronan reported for the UTV religious affairs programme 'The Holy Ground'. He is married to BBC Northern Ireland news reader Donna Traynor.
Ronan has also been a presenter on Downtown Radio and U105.8.
Adrian joined UTV in 1985. During his time there, Adrian had been a sports reporter, presenter and commentator. He was also the station's sports editor. Adrian left UTV in May 2009 as part of a voluntary redundancy programme.Tracey joined UTV in April 1997 as a reporter. Since c. 2001, she has been a regular presenter on news bulletins.Before joining UTV as a continuity announcer and newsreader in 2007, Marc worked at Belfast-based radio station, Citybeat. He was a newsreader there for eight years, and also a presenter and reporter for its evening news programme, 'Belfast Tonight', from 2004 to 2007.
Marc was awarded Radio News Broadcaster of the Year at the 2007 CIPR Press and Broadcast Awards.
Announcer/news reader with UTV from the late-1960s. Later moved to RTÉ in Dublin, where he was one of the announcers appearing during the opening night of RTÉ Two.Claire's broadcasting career began in September 1997 with independent TV company Macmillan Media (run by ex-BBC journalist Michael Macmillan) where among many varied tasks she provided voice-overs for TV commercials and was a floor manager on a Sky News referendum results programme. Claire also worked for various foreign news networks, including CNN, working as a researcher covering Bill Clinton's visit to Northern Ireland.
She later moved to Downtown Radio, where she was a breakfast news reader.
Claire joined UTV in March 2000 as a sports reporter/presenter. In February 2009 she left the station as part of a voluntary redundancy programme.
(Later Adrienne Catherwood). One of the original announcing team at Ulster Television, Adrienne was an announcer and news reader at the station from 1959 to 1969. She also presented the station's version of 'The Romper Room', from 1964 to 1969 as 'Miss Adrienne'.
Adrienne was awarded an MBE in 2004 for her work with the charity Action Medical Research. She is the mother of journalist Andrea Catherwood.
Fermanagh man Fearghal McKinney's journalistic career began with the County Fermanagh newspaper Impartial Reporter. He then ventured into broadcasting, working in the newsroom at Downtown Radio.
In 1994, Fearghal took up a position within the news department at UTV, where he initially reported in general news before moving to specialise in politics and business.
In 1997, he was a triple award winner, as Northern Ireland’s broadcaster of the year, overall journalist of the year, and the UK regional journalist of the year.
As well as his reporting role, Fearghal was also a regular anchor on the main 'UTV Live' news programme.
Other TV productions that Fearghal has been associated with: presenter 'Sunday Issue' (current affairs, UTV, 2003/2004).
Fearghal left UTV in January 2009 as part of a voluntary redundancy programme.
Ivor started out as a music teacher. He later moved into broadcasting, initially with Ulster Television, where he was an announcer and news reader. He subsequently moved to national news broadcaster, ITN, where he was a reporter, from 1965 to 1967, and a newscaster, from 1967 to 1978.
Image courtesy of Paul R Jackson.
Frank began his working life as an English teacher. However, before long, he was making his first moves into the world of broadcasting. He worked initially at a radio station in Dundalk, before moving to BBC Radio Ulster, where he worked as a producer. He later took up a presenting role at Downtown Radio.
Television was next; in 1987, Frank moved to Ulster Television as a continuity announcer. He moved away from announcing to the new look 'UTV Live' in 1993, performing a reporting and presenting role.
Frank is currently one of the presenters on the early-evening lifestyle programme 'UTV Life'. During his time at UTV, he has also commentated on many Gaelic games and presented 'School Around The Corner', He has been the station's main weather presenter since the mid-1990s.
Ulster Television announcer/news reader during the 1970s. Well known for his acting work.
Rose was educated at The Mount School in York and The City and East London College, where she studied Dispensing Optics. In 1977, she joined Ulster Television as a children's TV presenter. She later became a news presenter and announcer at the station, as well as co-presenting the weekly 'Sportscast' programme, alongside Jackie Fullerton.
In 1985, Rose moved to BBC Northern Ireland, as a news presenter. For eighteen years, she co-presented the early evening TV news programme there, 'Inside Ulster' (later 'Newsline'). She also devised, wrote and presented three medical documentaries for the region.
During her TV career, Rose has presented on all of the daily BBC TV news bulletins, co-presented 'Children In Need', fronted various light-hearted documentaries and co-hosted 'Making A Difference' with Eamonn Holmes and Patrick Kielty. Rose also presented her own daily afternoon chat show on BBC Radio Ulster for four/five years.
For a three-year period, Rose was the youngest news reader in the UK; she is one of the longest-serving news presenters in Britain and Northern Ireland.
Rose is married to Ivan Wilson, who was a senior manager with the BBC. She has two sons from a previous marriage. Hobbies: ski-ing (snow and water); sailing; riding; travelling.
Rose left the BBC in 2008, making her final on-air appearance on a breakfast 'Newsline' bulletin in August. In June 2009, she returned to UTV as a relief news presenter.
Mike's journalistic career began within the BBC's sports department in the mid-1980s. In 1986, he became one of the regular presenters on BBC Radio Ulster's breakfast news and current affairs offering, 'Good Morning Ulster'.
In 1990, he moved to PR company Anderson Kenny. By 1992 he had moved back into regular TV presenting, becoming one of the main anchors on UTV's regional news programme, 'Six Tonight'. He quickly established himself as one of the key figures within the station's news department.
However, in February 2006 came the shock announcement that Mike was not renewing his contract with UTV.
He said: "I have decided to leave because I just feel very strongly that the time has come to move on.
"I believe it is time for a new challenge and I have several projects in the pipeline.
"I will be sorry to leave behind a very fine bunch of journalists, and above all, will miss working with my wife Lynda, who is a key factor in UTV's success story."
Other TV credits: 'Sunday Morning' - religious affairs programme, presented with his wife Lynda (Network ITV); 'Insight' - current affairs (UTV).
Since 2008, Mike has been one of the Victims Commissioners for Northern Ireland.
Began announcing with Ulster Television in the 1970s. John went on to become the station's senior announcer. He left UTV in the mid-1980s. His voice has remained 'on-air' ever since though: John has provided voice-overs for many local ads on TV and radio.
Since November 2005, John has been presenting a late night weekend music show on U105.
Gillian spent a brief spell on the BBC Northern Ireland announcing staff in 1992. She then moved on to UTV where she has been an announcer and news presenter ever since.
A regular presenter of BBC Northern Ireland's 'Today's Sport' and 'Sportswide' in the 1980s. Mark transferred to UTV in 1992. He now works as a commentator for British Eurosport.
Lata was a continuity announcer/news reader with Ulster Television for a brief spell in the early-1990s. She subsequently moved to national TV, where she worked on 'Holiday' (BBC) with the late Jill Dando.
In the late-1990s, Lata presented an early morning show on BBC Radio 2. She has worked as a freelance presenter ever since.
Lata is also now a singer/songwriter.
UTV's longest serving and certainly most charismatic announcer, Julian Simmons joined the station in 1984. Best known for his 'Coronation Street' links, Julian continues to make regular in-vision appearances on UTV.
He also read the news at the station during the 1980s and early-1990s.
Kate Smith transferred to UTV from Downtown Radio in 1983. She was one of UTV's main news presenters. Indeed, she is one of the station's longest-serving on-screen personalities.
Kate left UTV in December 2006. She is currently on the board of Northern Ireland Screen.
Bill's broadcasting career began in the late-1960s at BBC Northern Ireland. He was one of the original line-up of presenters on Downtown Radio at its launch in 1976, becoming the first presenter of 'Downtown Downbeat', as well as 'The Sunday Request Show', and various Big Band shows.
In 1978 he joined Ulster Television, where he was a newasreader and continuity announcer. He remained at the station until 1987, when he moved to Townland Radio in Cookstown. In 1995 he returned to Belfast to work at BCR/Citybeat, reading the news. He moved to rival radio station U105 in 2005 - again, presenting news bulletins. He also presented 'The Weekend Breakfast Show' on Carrickfergus FM. His last show was in June 2010.
Bill passed away at Belfast City Hospital on January 26 2011 after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 74.
Former Ulster Television announcer/news reader.
A teacher at Campbell College, Belfast, Robin Taylor joined UTV as a continuity announcer around the time of the station's relaunch in June 1993. Robin mixed his teaching career with weekend and holiday continuity/news reading cover at UTV. He also occcasionally presented weather forecasts in-vision. He last appeared on UTV in 2009.
Joanne was an announcer/news reader with Ulster Television in the late-1970s and went on to become senior announcer, following John O'Hara's departure. She gave up her on-screen role c. 1987 to become a transmission controller at the station.
Joanne has been heard on air again in recent times (early-2006) on Belfast radio station U105.
