Frank Mitchell (presenter)
Encyclopedia
Frank 'the Silver Fox' Mitchell (born Francis McClory, 24 July 1963 is a Northern Irish
broadcaster and journalist. He is currently a weather presenter on UTV Live
and a presenter on the UTV-owned radio station U105
. Although his surname is McClory he obviously does not use it in broadcasting. He adopted the name Mitchell when working on the pirate radio station Carousel in Dundalk in the Republic of Ireland. He was given it by his radio boss and all his co presenters had special"presenter names". He has continued to use the name Mitchell since he was 17 and sees it as his lucky Irish charm. Recently in an interview he said he pitied the mindset of some very often, young narrow minded ill informed people who believe he took the name to sound "less catholic in a protestant working environment". He said "People who use that bigoted line know nothing about Dundalk when I was 17 and by thinking along those lines they display a lack of confidence in their own ability as young citizens of this country. He said "As Frank McClory I'm delighted to be recognised as Frank Mitchell the TV and radio presenter. The project that began in Dundalk has worked well and is continuing to flourish thank God"
, began his broadcasting career at the age of 17 at pirate radio station Carousel in Dundalk
. Mitchell later worked as a BBC radio producer for the Walter Love show Day by Day and presented the early morning weekday show and Saturday lunchtime shows on Downtown Radio
before he joined Ulster Television in 1987 as a continuity announcer and newsreader. Mitchell remained on the announcing staff until 1993 when he became the station's chief weather presenter and news programme features reporter.
Mitchell also co-hosted and reported for UTV's GAA discussion series End to End between 2001 and 2004. Mitchell also presented the entertainment series School Around the Corner ( created by the show's original presenter - Paddy Crosbie
© ) between 1996 and 2005, Ultimate Ulster in 2007 and the weekday magazine show UTV Life between 1999 and 2009. His Ultimate Ulster programme featuring an array of top tens in the locality was recently the most watched regional programme in the UK. He is very well known as the UTV weatherman famous for his weather watching camera, crazy clues, weather watchers and charming presentation style.
Mitchell's radio career has been revived in the last few years and he is the host of the very popular radio mid morning phone-in on the highly successful U105.8FM which broadcasts from the UTV Media HQ in Belfast.
Mitchell has broadcast on UTV's radio station, U105, in the 09.00-12.00 slot, since September 2006.
medal with his local club Burren.
and St Mary's University College, Belfast. Prior to becoming a broadcaster, he worked as a teacher.
Mitchell is married with one daughter, Laura. She studies Architecture at University of Ulster. She frequently is the recipient of weather jokes and other such banter.
Mitchell is a keen admirer of Northern Irish music, art, and entertainment and anyone listening to his radio show will know he's a Manchester City fan.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
broadcaster and journalist. He is currently a weather presenter on UTV Live
UTV Live
UTV Live is the name of the regional news service broadcast on UTV, the ITV region in Northern Ireland. The first edition of the programme was transmitted on Monday 4 January 1993.-Weekday bulletins:*13:55...
and a presenter on the UTV-owned radio station U105
U105
U105 is a Belfast based radio station, providing a mix of music and speech as well as hourly news bulletins. It is owned by UTV Radio and was launched at 6am on Monday 14 November 2005....
. Although his surname is McClory he obviously does not use it in broadcasting. He adopted the name Mitchell when working on the pirate radio station Carousel in Dundalk in the Republic of Ireland. He was given it by his radio boss and all his co presenters had special"presenter names". He has continued to use the name Mitchell since he was 17 and sees it as his lucky Irish charm. Recently in an interview he said he pitied the mindset of some very often, young narrow minded ill informed people who believe he took the name to sound "less catholic in a protestant working environment". He said "People who use that bigoted line know nothing about Dundalk when I was 17 and by thinking along those lines they display a lack of confidence in their own ability as young citizens of this country. He said "As Frank McClory I'm delighted to be recognised as Frank Mitchell the TV and radio presenter. The project that began in Dundalk has worked well and is continuing to flourish thank God"
Broadcasting career
Mitchell, whose parents ran a television shop in WarrenpointWarrenpoint
Warrenpoint is a small town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the northern shore of Carlingford Lough and is separated from the Republic of Ireland by a narrow strait. The town sprang up within the townland of Ringmackilroy...
, began his broadcasting career at the age of 17 at pirate radio station Carousel in Dundalk
Dundalk
Dundalk is the county town of County Louth in Ireland. It is situated where the Castletown River flows into Dundalk Bay. The town is close to the border with Northern Ireland and equi-distant from Dublin and Belfast. The town's name, which was historically written as Dundalgan, has associations...
. Mitchell later worked as a BBC radio producer for the Walter Love show Day by Day and presented the early morning weekday show and Saturday lunchtime shows on Downtown Radio
Downtown Radio
Downtown Radio is an Adult Contemporary music radio station based in Newtownards, County Down, that serves all of Northern Ireland using a network of FM and AM transmitters.- History :...
before he joined Ulster Television in 1987 as a continuity announcer and newsreader. Mitchell remained on the announcing staff until 1993 when he became the station's chief weather presenter and news programme features reporter.
Mitchell also co-hosted and reported for UTV's GAA discussion series End to End between 2001 and 2004. Mitchell also presented the entertainment series School Around the Corner ( created by the show's original presenter - Paddy Crosbie
Paddy Crosbie
Paddy Crosbie ,was the Irish creator of the radio and television programes The School Around The Corner and Back To School.-Life:...
© ) between 1996 and 2005, Ultimate Ulster in 2007 and the weekday magazine show UTV Life between 1999 and 2009. His Ultimate Ulster programme featuring an array of top tens in the locality was recently the most watched regional programme in the UK. He is very well known as the UTV weatherman famous for his weather watching camera, crazy clues, weather watchers and charming presentation style.
Mitchell's radio career has been revived in the last few years and he is the host of the very popular radio mid morning phone-in on the highly successful U105.8FM which broadcasts from the UTV Media HQ in Belfast.
Mitchell has broadcast on UTV's radio station, U105, in the 09.00-12.00 slot, since September 2006.
Gaelic Football career
Mitchell won an All-Ireland Senior Club Football ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament run since 1971, played between the thousands of senior football clubs in Ireland. The current champions are Crossmaglen Rangers of Armagh, who defeated St. Brigid's of Roscommon on March 17, 2011 to win their...
medal with his local club Burren.
Personal life
Mitchell attended St Colman's College, NewrySt Colman's College, Newry
St Colman's College is a Roman Catholic school in Newry, Northern Ireland. Now named in honour of St. Colman, it was founded in 1823 as the Dromore Diocesan Seminary by a Father J.S. Keenan. The College stands on Violet Hill, the same 60 acre site it has occupied since 1829, adjacent to the...
and St Mary's University College, Belfast. Prior to becoming a broadcaster, he worked as a teacher.
Mitchell is married with one daughter, Laura. She studies Architecture at University of Ulster. She frequently is the recipient of weather jokes and other such banter.
Mitchell is a keen admirer of Northern Irish music, art, and entertainment and anyone listening to his radio show will know he's a Manchester City fan.