Does anyone else find it amazing how there were literally tens of very creditable announcers across ITV's regional bases, and yet hardly any of them have transitioned to national duties, meanwhile sub-standard personnel like this new announcer make it straight to BBC1?
Young, inexperienced staff are much easier to pay.
Speaking of announcers I finally got round to catching up on this series of the Graham Norton Show (recorded on Sky+) and on one of the intros Becky Wright said 'now kick ass comedy on BBC Two'. Is that allowed to be said by announcers even after the watershed? I thought no sort of language that may be deemed offensive was allowed to be said by the announcer.
I'm not saying I was offended - if I was why would I be watching Graham Norton?!
I heard the new announcer one afternoon this week when there was a problem with Doctors. She tried to apologise and got the words completely mixed up, like she was reading one thing and saying another; then she went back to reading her script. But before that she did something I've never heard an announcer say before, she said 'er!' Now that might seem a very small thing but I've never heard an announcer on any of the channels say that before going into an announcement. It came across as unprofessional.
They should train them up fully before throwing them in at the deep end.
No-one, and I mean no-one, can be worse than UTV announcer Lynda Fulford. Here's just two examples, the first I haven't a fecking clue what she's doing; the second, she's on the phone!!
Both clips awful - saying that though UTV is not renowned for excellence in presentation - even the lovely Marc Mallet has fallen into the 'on your screens next' script writing naffness.
Whilst that is regional UTV we should expect better from Network BBC!
In fairness, Bill Steel used to erm and err occasionally through links, but that didn't stop him reaching almost legendary status in the North East. Of course that is more forgivable when you have to ad-lib your way through a 30-second piece to camera without an autocue!
UTV is a funny station -- their links are either brilliant or dire -- never anywhere in the middle. I'm guessing that they write their own scripts in Havelock House.
To be fair to the announcer in question we don't know the circumstances behind that particular howler. It is just as likely that she was talking to the gallery immediately before she went on air (not unusual) and the transmission controller faded her up too early. TV Continuity 101 -- give the announcer control over their own mike feed -- doesn't seem to happen in Belfast...
I agree though that the first example is utterly inexcusable. Her job consists mainly of spending a considerable amount of time making damn sure she is fully prepared to go on-air for a very short period. How could she forget the next programme like that? Unbelievable.
