David Gell
Encyclopedia
David Gell was a DJ on Radio Luxembourg, and later on the BBC Light Programme, Radio One
, and Radio Two
.
Born in Canada
on 23 August 1929, he worked for radio station CFAC in Calgary
before relocating to Europe.
He presented many popular programmes for the BBC
, including the Top Ten Game produced by Johnny Beerling
, a midweek show which toured the country inviting audiences of 200 to vote for their favourite discs of the week from 1965. Each week David would play ten new releases, followed by the ten most popular songs from the previous week, together with a Second Chance Disc, which had previously been played but did not register enough votes to make the Top Ten. The show ran until it was dropped in early 1966.
Around 1958-1959 he was the host of Manchester-based Granada Television
's quiz show Concentration
and also hosted the children's quiz show Junior Criss Cross Quiz
. From 1968-1970, Gell was the commentator for the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest
, he had previously provided the BBC Radio commentary for the 1965 Contest
.
Gell later presented another 'voting' show for the BBC on Radio Two
, namely European Pop Jury, where teenagers from several European countries would sit in judgement of two songs from each participating nation. The programme aired monthly and would typically feature the UK, Ireland
, Germany
, Spain
, Norway
, Sweden
and Finland
.
David had a toned down mid-Atlantic accent, and a warm, professional style, with strong audience rapport.
By 1980 David Gell had returned to broadcasting in his native Canada where he remained until retiring in the 2000s.
Although no longer broadcasting, David is involved with his daughter Rosemary. C. Gell's company Golden Muse Productions, which specialises in musical theatre.
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
, and Radio Two
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
.
Born in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
on 23 August 1929, he worked for radio station CFAC in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
before relocating to Europe.
He presented many popular programmes for the 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...
, including the Top Ten Game produced by Johnny Beerling
Johnny Beerling
John William Beerling is a veteran radio producer and station controller.-National Service:He began his radio career during his national service from 1955-7 when he ran a radio station for the Royal Air Force station British Forces Aden in the Aden Protectorate, acting as its station manager,...
, a midweek show which toured the country inviting audiences of 200 to vote for their favourite discs of the week from 1965. Each week David would play ten new releases, followed by the ten most popular songs from the previous week, together with a Second Chance Disc, which had previously been played but did not register enough votes to make the Top Ten. The show ran until it was dropped in early 1966.
Around 1958-1959 he was the host of Manchester-based Granada Television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
's quiz show Concentration
Concentration (game show)
Concentration was an American TV game show based on the children's memory game of the same name. Matching cards represented prizes that contestants could win...
and also hosted the children's quiz show Junior Criss Cross Quiz
Criss Cross Quiz
Criss Cross Quiz was a quiz programme that combined the game Noughts and Crosses with general knowledge questions and aired on the ITV network from 1957-1967. It was produced by Granada Television....
. From 1968-1970, Gell was the commentator for the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1970
The Eurovision Song Contest 1970 was the 15th Eurovision Song Contest, held on 21 March 1970 at the RAI Congrescentrum in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Amsterdam contest is regarded as one of the most significant in Eurovision history for a number of reasons....
, he had previously provided the BBC Radio commentary for the 1965 Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1965
The Eurovision Song Contest 1965 was the 10th in the series. Luxembourg's win was their second. Belgium, Finland, Germany, and Spain each scored "null points" for the second time. The 1965 contest marked the debut of Ireland, a country which later went on to dominate the competition. This was also...
.
Gell later presented another 'voting' show for the BBC on Radio Two
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
, namely European Pop Jury, where teenagers from several European countries would sit in judgement of two songs from each participating nation. The programme aired monthly and would typically feature the UK, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
.
David had a toned down mid-Atlantic accent, and a warm, professional style, with strong audience rapport.
By 1980 David Gell had returned to broadcasting in his native Canada where he remained until retiring in the 2000s.
Although no longer broadcasting, David is involved with his daughter Rosemary. C. Gell's company Golden Muse Productions, which specialises in musical theatre.