British and Irish TV talent BBC South Presenters
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Mike Bushell
Mike started out as an actor and was also the lead singer in a band. He later decided that journalism was the right path for him and joined the Hampshire Chronicle newspaper in Winchester. He also had spells at newspapers in Windsor and Derby.

BBC Radio Solent gave Mike his first broadcasting break in 1990; he was a trainee reporter at the station. Television was next: Mike was a news, sport and entertainment reporter/presenter with the BBC's 'South Today' programme.

Mike was one of the first faces to appear on BBC News 24 when it launched in 1997. He still presents the sports news there and on BBC World.

Anne Dawson
Long serving anchor for 'Central News' (South), who joined the station after a TV reporting/presenting career which included BBC TV South and TVS. During her time with Central and its successor Carlton, Anne has presented 'Central Post', regularly reported on 'Heart Of The Country' and presented 'Lifeline', broadcast to the whole Carlton Central region. Anne and her on-screen partner, Wes Smith, became the longest running anchor duo of any ITV region. She recently left the station to train as a teacher.

Roger Finn
Roger joined RTHK in Hong Kong as a radio reporter in 1980. Until 1985, he worked on various radio and television productions in Hong Kong.

In 1985, he switched to UK TV: he became a reporter with 'John Craven's Newsround'. In the mid-1980s, he began to present the programme in rotation with John; he stayed on as a presenter following John's departure. In 1992, he moved to 'South Today' as a reporter (environment correspondent) and presenter.

Harry Gration
Harry started doing match reports for BBC Radio Leeds in 1971. At the time, he was a history teacher. He joined the radio station full time in 1978; he became sports editor on 1980.

C. 1983, Harry became a regular face on BBC North's regional news programme, 'Look North'.

He also worked on the 'Today' programme for BBC Radio 4, presented 'Grandstand' a few times and was a regular on BBC Network sports programmes for 25 years.

In 1994, he became Public Affairs Executive for the Rugby League. A year later, he returned to broadcasting and presented the BBC's 'South Today'.

In 1999, Harry returned to 'Look North' after a five year break.

Jane Hill
Jane's first job in broadcasting was with BBC local radio at the age of 16.

She studied politics at London University and joined the BBC full time in late-1991. She was a producer with BBC Radio Five Live for 18 months. On completing the BBC Regional News Trainee Scheme, Jane moved into television.

She was a presenter on BBC Southampton's 'South Today' in 1997. Later that year. she joined BBC News 24 when it launched. She is still with the channel today.

During her time with the 24 hour news channel, Jane has anchored live coverage of many key news stories: the aftermath of September 11th; the first anniversary commemorations at Ground Zero in New York; the war in Iraq - broadcasting for nearly eight hours continuously.

As well as her BBC News 24 role, Jane also occasionally presents BBC One weekend bulletins and the weekday 'One O'Clock News'.

Jenny Hull
Started her television career as a news reader and announcer on HTV West in the early-1980s. She then moved to TSW as a continuity announcer in the mid-1980s before moving to BBC TV South as their early morning news reader. Jenny is probably best known for her time as co-presenter with Des Lynam of 'How Do They Do That?'. She now presents 'ITV West News' from Bristol.

Alina Jenkins
Alina joined the BBC through BBC Talent. Previously, she was a performer on a cruise ship and acted in TV commercials and some TV shows, including 'Preston Front', 'Crime Traveller' and 'Red Dwarf'; she also did some voluntary work for Southampton's hospital radio.

Following training at the Met Office, she became a regular weather presenter on BBC 'South Today'.

Roger Johnson
Roger's broadcasting career began in local radio in 1988. He has worked on BBC local radio in Suthampton and Manchester.

Since 1997, he has been a sports presenter with BBC South's 'South Today', He also acts as stand-in for Sally Taylor.

Roger has also appeared on screen on BBC News 24 and BBC 'Final Score'.

David Miles
David was born in 1954. He joined the BBC in 1975. He was a trainee announcer, BBC Radio 4, 1980 - 1981. He had an attachment as a BBC TV announcer from April 1983; he performed the same role on contract from February 1984 until 1987 and also between 1988 and 1995.

He was a presenter on 'Noticeboard', 1986 - 1987. He also voiced BBC TV presentation trails in 1990. Later, he was presentation director/assistant editor and relief in-vision news reader on BBC South. He was an announcer for Channel 4 in 1995.

David currently works as an announcer on BBC Radio 4 (freelance since 1991)..

Jenni Murray
(OBE). Jenni joined BBC Radio Bristol in 1973. In 1978, she moved to BBC 'South Today' where she was a reporter and presenter.

In 1983, she joined 'Newsnight'; she also presented on 'London Plus' in the mid-1980s. Jenni moved back to radio in 1985, joining the presenting team on BBC Radio 4's 'Today' programme.

In 1987, she became the regular presenter of BBC Radio 4's 'Woman's Hour'.

She contributes to a number of newspapers, including the Daily Telegraph; she was a columnist for the Daily Express from 1998 until 2000. Jenni also writes for Eve magazine.

Valerie Pitts
BBC TV national continuity announcer from 1963 to 1965 who also announced at Tyne Tees Television from 1959 to 1960. Valerie also interviewed for regional news magazine 'North East Roundabout'. She left the programme in 1960 to marry James Sargent who was stage manager of the Sadler's Wells Opera Company.

Much later, she married the famous conductor Sir Georg Solti. She was also a presenter on BBC regional TV's 'Town And Around' and 'South Today' in 1964; presenter, BBC TV's 'Play School', 1965 to 1969, and a panellist on BBC TV's 'Face The Music' between 1975 and 1984.

She returned in November 1986 as an in-vision announcer on BBC Two to celebrate TV50, the 50th anniversary of BBC Television.
Image courtesy of Paul R Jackson.

Mike Powell
Mike originally studied to be a Catholic priest and produced a video about world religions. When he realised that the priesthood wasn't for him, he turned his attentions to airlines and became cabin crew with British Airways.

In 1998, he joined BBC South as a weather presenter. He later presented the breakfast bulletins at BBC South as well as presenting the drivetime slot on BBC Radio Solent.

In 2004, Mike joined BBC West as a reporter and presenter on 'Points West'.

Other broadcasting roles: presenter, BBC Radio 5 Live.

Caroline Richardson
Caroline is a reporter and presenter with BBC 'South Today'.

Kim Riley
Kim gained a BA from the University of London in 1972.

He went on a training scheme run by Beaverbrook Newspapers and got a job as a reporter for the Falmouth Packet newspaper. He won the Pfizer Award for Young Journalist Of The Year in 1976.

In 1978, he joined the newsroom at BBC Radio Brighton. Kim also had stints on various national programmes such as BBC Radio 1's 'Newsbeat' and the 'Today' programme on BBC Radio 4.

In 1982, he crossed into the world of television, working initially with BBC 'South Today' in Southampton. Later that year, he moved to BBC East. During his career there he has been a reporter and presenter.

Kim is currently the chief reporter on BBC East's 'Look East'.

Among other awards he has picked up over the years: he was named Presenter Of The Year by the Royal Television Society in 1995; he has twice won its News Reporter Of The Year Award (1998 and 2000).
Image courtesy of Paul R Jackson.

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