Chris Howland
Encyclopedia
John Christopher Howland (born 30 July 1928 in London) is a British radio and TV presenter
who opened German radio programmes for English music. Hereby he has changed German radio broadcast which has been dominated by English music ever since.
and became a professional beekeeper.
The British programmes were an insider tip for German youths who would rather listen to British music than to the comparatively slow contemporary German pop music. So his popularity subsequently soon exceeded his actual target audience.
On the other hand Chris Howland also got acquainted with German language. In 1952, when he already spoke German fluently, he was hired by a German broadcaster.
Because of him British music prevails on German radio up to now.
Still, when he debuted six years later as a singer
, he did it in German and had two hits. But in 1959 he stopped doing radio shows and returned to England.
So after two years he continued his career in Germany.
Here he got a show called Studio B .
which featured pop stars in a new way that included a lot of humour. The show was broadcasted more than sixty times. Chris Howland's next coup was a version of Candid Camera
for German TV.
. In 2007 he appeared in a parody on German Edgar Wallace feature films.
He acted mainly in comedies which were carried out in a style quite alike the British Carry On films.
and the American musician, actor and journalist Bill Ramsey
(who also appeared as guest in Howland's show "Studio B") he made his accent his trademark.
and appears occasionally as an actor or talker on TV. In 2009 he has published his memoirs Yes, Sir. The book was well received.
who opened German radio programmes for English music. Hereby he has changed German radio broadcast which has been dominated by English music ever since.
Youth in England
Chris Howland was raised in Southern EnglandSouthern England
Southern England, the South and the South of England are imprecise terms used to refer to the southern counties of England bordering the English Midlands. It has a number of different interpretations of its geographic extents. The South is considered by many to be a cultural region with a distinct...
and became a professional beekeeper.
Radio career
In 1948 he started working for the British Forces Broadcasting Service in Germany.The British programmes were an insider tip for German youths who would rather listen to British music than to the comparatively slow contemporary German pop music. So his popularity subsequently soon exceeded his actual target audience.
On the other hand Chris Howland also got acquainted with German language. In 1952, when he already spoke German fluently, he was hired by a German broadcaster.
Because of him British music prevails on German radio up to now.
Still, when he debuted six years later as a singer
, he did it in German and had two hits. But in 1959 he stopped doing radio shows and returned to England.
TV career
On British TV Chris Howland had a show called Peoples and Places but he was not as popular as in Germany where the audiences loved his British accent.So after two years he continued his career in Germany.
Here he got a show called Studio B .
which featured pop stars in a new way that included a lot of humour. The show was broadcasted more than sixty times. Chris Howland's next coup was a version of Candid Camera
Candid Camera
Candid Camera is a hidden camera/practical joke reality television series created and produced by Allen Funt, which initially began on radio as Candid Microphone June 28, 1947...
for German TV.
Cinema career
Since 1954 Chris Howland has acted in more than twenty films, including six European Karl May filmsKarl May movies
Karl May films are films based on stories and characters by German author Karl May . The characters Old Shatterhand, Winnetou, and Kara Ben Nemsi are very famous in Central Europe....
. In 2007 he appeared in a parody on German Edgar Wallace feature films.
He acted mainly in comedies which were carried out in a style quite alike the British Carry On films.
Accent as trademark
Like the Dutch TV presenter, singer and actor Rudi CarrellRudi Carrell
Rudi Carrell , born Rudolf Wijbrand Kesselaar, was a Dutch entertainer. Along with famous entertainers such as Johannes Heesters, Linda de Mol and Sylvie van der Vaart, Carrell was one of the most successful Dutch personalities active in Germany.He worked as a television entertainer and hosted his...
and the American musician, actor and journalist Bill Ramsey
Bill Ramsey (singer)
Bill Ramsey is German - American jazz and pop singer, journalist and actor. Famous for his German-language hits.- Biography :...
(who also appeared as guest in Howland's show "Studio B") he made his accent his trademark.
Recent activities
Currently Chris Howland lives outside Cologne and works again as a radio presenterand appears occasionally as an actor or talker on TV. In 2009 he has published his memoirs Yes, Sir. The book was well received.