Anthony Davis (comedian)
Encyclopedia
Anthony Davis is a broadcaster
, journalist
and entertainer. He first appeared in BBC
sitcoms and drama such as Grange Hill
and Tricky Business
in the 1980s as a child performer
, earning him a place in the Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy.
Since childhood Davis' talents encompassed music, magic
, impersonation and comedy
. After the downfall of variety in the mid nineties, he emerged as a host, compére
and quizmaster, presenting Stake Out
on Challenge TV and was the voice of the 2002 Commonwealth Games
opening and closing ceremonies. As a BBC events announcer and commentator he has voiced the Royal Variety Performance
(2004 & 2006), 2004 TV Moments, Eurovision: Making Your Mind Up
(2005 & 2007), and Comic Relief Night. Davis portrayed Hal in the 2001 television series pilot programme Kiss of Life. He also contributes voice work to Channel 4's comedy series Modern Toss
, and various commercial advertising campaigns. He was also a regular presenter on Visit London's satellite channel London TV
.
As a radio DJ, his daily national show Anthony Davis For Breakfast was heard every morning on Capital Life
(DAB) in the United Kingdom
until September 2006. He first appeared on London speech station LBC 97.3
in May 2006 and since June 2007 has been a regular presenter initially on the Saturday to Monday morning programme from 1am to 5am before moving to the same time slot from Monday to Friday in October 2009. He has also stood in for other presenters Clive Bull
, Steve Allen
and Nick Abbot
. Until March 2008 he was a jazz
music host in the mid morning slot on national DAB station theJazz
. In 2007/2008 he was heard announcing The Alan Titchmarsh Show
on ITV1
. From October 2008, after the demise of theJazz, he joined the line-up of the relaunched Jazz FM
as mid morning presenter. Anthony is one of the busiest British radio broadcasters, delivering 40 hours of original programming each week. Now also heard as the imaging voice for iTunes eighties station http://www.nonstop80s.net/
After five years Anthony Davis resigned from his LBC 97.3 overnight programme for health reasons presenting his last show on Friday 28 January 2011. He continued to DJ for Jazz FM (UK) between 10am and 2pm Monday to Friday. On 20 June 2011 it was announced that Anthony was returning to LBC 97.3 to succeed Clive Bull on the LBC Late Show, Sunday to Thursday at 10pm. In August 2011 Anthony stepped down from his mid morning programme on Jazz FM to concentrate on the LBC 97.3 Late Show. Programme Controller Mike Vitti told RadioToday.co.uk: “Anthony Davis has been an amazing servant to Jazz FM. His dedication to the station is unquestionable and through his talent, his contribution is undeniable. Jazz FM would be a much poorer place without him so I’m happy to say he’ll be taking over duties as the male station voice.”
In addition to radio broadcasting, Anthony makes regular appearances on Sky News as press reviewer and social commentator.
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and entertainer. He first appeared in BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
sitcoms and drama such as Grange Hill
Grange Hill
Grange Hill is a British television drama series originally made by the BBC. The show began in 1978 on BBC1 and was one of the longest running programmes on British television...
and Tricky Business
Tricky Business
Tricky Business was a British children's sitcom which ran for three series from 1989 to 1991. It featured Anthony Davis and Sally Ann Marsh and Una Stubbs in the first series, David Wood, Anthony Davis, Patsy Palmer and a puppet rabbit called Crabtree in the second and Bernie Clifton and Leslie...
in the 1980s as a child performer
Child actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
, earning him a place in the Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy.
Since childhood Davis' talents encompassed music, magic
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
, impersonation and comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
. After the downfall of variety in the mid nineties, he emerged as a host, compére
Master of Ceremonies
A Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
and quizmaster, presenting Stake Out
Stake Out
Stake Out was a game show which originally aired on Challenge TV between 12 November and 21 December 2001. It was hosted by Anthony Davis.-Gameplay:...
on Challenge TV and was the voice of the 2002 Commonwealth Games
2002 Commonwealth Games
The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in the UK, eclipsing London's 1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating.After the 1996 Manchester...
opening and closing ceremonies. As a BBC events announcer and commentator he has voiced the Royal Variety Performance
Royal Variety Performance
The Royal Variety Performance is a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom, which is attended by senior members of the British Royal Family, usually the reigning monarch. In more recent years Queen Elizabeth II and The Prince of Wales have alternately attended the performance...
(2004 & 2006), 2004 TV Moments, Eurovision: Making Your Mind Up
Making Your Mind Up (TV series)
Eurovision: Your Country Needs You was a BBC TV show broadcast annually to select the United Kingdom's entry into the Eurovision Song Contest...
(2005 & 2007), and Comic Relief Night. Davis portrayed Hal in the 2001 television series pilot programme Kiss of Life. He also contributes voice work to Channel 4's comedy series Modern Toss
Modern Toss (TV series)
Modern Toss is a partly animated British comedy programme based on characters from Modern Toss, a profanity-ridden series of cartoon booklets...
, and various commercial advertising campaigns. He was also a regular presenter on Visit London's satellite channel London TV
LONDON TV
LONDON TV was a British digital television channel shown on Sky Digital channel 199 and is also narrowcast on many planes and hotels within London, in Black cabs via Cabvision and also over the internet...
.
As a radio DJ, his daily national show Anthony Davis For Breakfast was heard every morning on Capital Life
Capital Life
Capital Life, also known as Life, was a digital radio station broadcasting across the UK on the Digital One network and streamed online.-About:...
(DAB) in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
until September 2006. He first appeared on London speech station LBC 97.3
LBC 97.3
LBC 97.3 is a London-based talk and phone-in radio station. It is one half of the latest incarnation of LBC, the news and speech service which was Britain's first commercial radio station when it went on air in October 1973...
in May 2006 and since June 2007 has been a regular presenter initially on the Saturday to Monday morning programme from 1am to 5am before moving to the same time slot from Monday to Friday in October 2009. He has also stood in for other presenters Clive Bull
Clive Bull
Bull Clive is an award-winning radio talk show host, best known for presenting a late-night show on LBC 97.3 in London, England.-Background:...
, Steve Allen
Steve Allen
Steve Allen may refer to:*Steve Allen , American musician, comedian, and writer*Steve Allen , presenter on the London-based talk radio station LBC 97.3...
and Nick Abbot
Nick Abbot
Nick Abbot is a British radio presenter, who has presented on numarious radio station in the uk for past 20 years.-History:Nick Abbot was born 22 August 1960, and was educated at George Heriot's School, Edinburgh and Brunel University in Uxbridge where he gained a degree in psychology. Abbot's...
. Until March 2008 he was a jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
music host in the mid morning slot on national DAB station theJazz
TheJazz
theJazz was a British commercial jazz digital radio station. The station was run by GCap Media and launched on Christmas Day 2006. originally as a non-stop jazz station on the Digital One DAB ensemble, Sky Digital, Virgin Media and the Internet....
. In 2007/2008 he was heard announcing The Alan Titchmarsh Show
The Alan Titchmarsh Show
The Alan Titchmarsh Show is a British daytime TV chat show broadcast between 3 and 4pm weekdays on the ITV Network.-Format:The programme made its debut on ITV in 2007. It focused on the theme of "The Best of British" focusing on food, entertainment and celebrities in a mid-afternoon slot...
on ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
. From October 2008, after the demise of theJazz, he joined the line-up of the relaunched Jazz FM
Jazz FM
Jazz FM may refer to:*Jazz FM , a digital jazz radio station in the United Kingdom.*102.2 Jazz FM, a defunct radio station based in London, England.*100.4 Jazz FM, a defunct radio station based in Manchester, England....
as mid morning presenter. Anthony is one of the busiest British radio broadcasters, delivering 40 hours of original programming each week. Now also heard as the imaging voice for iTunes eighties station http://www.nonstop80s.net/
After five years Anthony Davis resigned from his LBC 97.3 overnight programme for health reasons presenting his last show on Friday 28 January 2011. He continued to DJ for Jazz FM (UK) between 10am and 2pm Monday to Friday. On 20 June 2011 it was announced that Anthony was returning to LBC 97.3 to succeed Clive Bull on the LBC Late Show, Sunday to Thursday at 10pm. In August 2011 Anthony stepped down from his mid morning programme on Jazz FM to concentrate on the LBC 97.3 Late Show. Programme Controller Mike Vitti told RadioToday.co.uk: “Anthony Davis has been an amazing servant to Jazz FM. His dedication to the station is unquestionable and through his talent, his contribution is undeniable. Jazz FM would be a much poorer place without him so I’m happy to say he’ll be taking over duties as the male station voice.”
In addition to radio broadcasting, Anthony makes regular appearances on Sky News as press reviewer and social commentator.