The Continuity Booth
BBC North
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Brian Baines was a regular presenter of 'Look North' bulletins from Leeds during the late-1960s, 1970s and 1980s. In fact, Brian was the first voice to be heard on 'Look North'. He was also one of the main continuity announcers for BBC North TV during the 1970s and early-1980s when BBC English regions had their own continuity. He still provided continuity into local programming on BBC North until the late-1980s.
He retired from BBC Leeds on April 25 1988. Sadly, Brian passed away on 30 June 2006, aged 75.
Barrie was an announcer and news reader for BBC TV Leeds in 1979. In 1980, he moved to Grampian TV in Aberdeen; he had much the same role there, being one of the line-up of staff announcers, who also read the news.
He left Grampian for a career in production and cut his teeth as a rookie TV director at Ulster Television at the height of 'The Troubles'. When his agent got him the job he was asked if he wanted the good news or the bad news first. As a director, he worked for various ITV companies on networked promotions, religion, childrens' programming and news.
Barrie later moved into management, setting up and running departments for a variety of new stations across Europe. He still dabbles in presenting and does voice-overs. Once while working as a news director at Central television he stood in for a news reader. The director on duty said he was impressed and suggested he had a go at it for a living! The same thing happened while on a course at the National Film and TV School. But, Barrie tells us, a return to the screen is not on the cards.
Barrie last updated us in July 2008, at which point he was director of operations for a national TV channel in Asia. And yes, he will be casting a critical eye over the presentation!
Image courtesy of Paul R Jackson.
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