.gif)
Gerry Anderson (broadcaster)
Encyclopedia
Gerald Michael Anderson, known professionally as Gerry Anderson (born 28 October 1944), is a Sony Award-winning radio and television broadcaster from Derry
, Northern Ireland
who works for BBC Northern Ireland
, and is a member of the Radio Academy
Hall of fame. He refers to himself on his show as 'Turkey Neck', 'Puppet Chin' or 'Golf Mike Alpha'.
and the Hawks.
, he started in radio at BBC Radio Foyle
in 1985, the local station in his home city which he usually calls ‘Stroke City’ to reflect the difficulty regarding broadcasting the name of Derry/Londonderry (each name is preferred by a different part of the local community). Starting with Making the Tea, on with music but then also moving on to talk shows. His programme was picked up by BBC Radio Ulster
and given a wider audience. The Gerry Anderson Show is currently broadcast daily on BBC Radio Ulster from 10.30 am to 11.55am, and calls made to the show form the basis of BBC NI's animated TV comedy series On The Air. Show regulars include Geordie Tuft a farmer from Loughbrickland, who often offers advice to listeners on issues regarding farm animals (particularly goats), using Jeyes fluid
as a shampoo for dogs, and how to 'dung out a bed'. On the BBC Radio Ulster
show, referring to his earlier career in music, he claims to have met Elvis Presley
and touring with Kris Kristofferson
, including innuendoes about Rita Coolidge
which he refuses to expand upon.
Anderson's co-presenter on the show is Sean Coyle who has his own Wee Show on BBC Radio Foyle
. In addition, he presents television series for BBC Northern Ireland.
in the city's neutral designation), which became the title of one of his radio programmes from 1992 leading some of his friends to rename him "Gerry/Londongerry". The programmes were broadcast nationally on Radio 4.
contracted the broadcaster to present an afternoon magazine programme running from 2 to 3 pm. The audience reaction to Anderson Country was polarised with listeners divided over its shift in tone from the rest of Radio 4. After a year Anderson Country was dropped, though the programme basically continued as The Afternoon Shift
for another three years. Anderson returned to Northern Ireland where he remained popular, sometimes presenting television as well as radio, and continued to make new programmes for Radio 4 such as Gerry's Bar.
HEADS is a memoir not like others. It is no ordinary good-time showband tales filled with bonhomie, lies, warm stories about likeable characters and wholesome craic. This is the way it was, with harsh behaviour, singing dwarves, whip-wielding landladies, psychotic saxophonists, predatory trumpeters and chemically-enhanced drummers.
'Gerry Anderson is as darkly talented a writer as Pat McCabe
, as saucy as Russell Brand
, as irreverent and intellectual as Jimmy Carr
.' [***** Stars] Belfast Telegraph
'Gerry Anderson has written a serious yet laugh-out-loud book about one of the few cultural phenomena that straddled the border'. Irish Independent
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, Northern Ireland
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...
who works for BBC Northern Ireland
BBC Northern Ireland
BBC Northern Ireland is the main public service broadcaster in Northern Ireland.The organisation is one of the three national regions of the BBC, together with BBC Scotland and BBC Wales. Based at Broadcasting House, Belfast, it provides television, radio, online and interactive television content...
, and is a member of the Radio Academy
Radio Academy
The Radio Academy is a registered charity that is dedicated to 'the encouragement, recognition and promotion of excellence in UK broadcasting and audio production'....
Hall of fame. He refers to himself on his show as 'Turkey Neck', 'Puppet Chin' or 'Golf Mike Alpha'.
Career in Music
Anderson taught himself guitar and in 1963 relocated to Manchester where he worked in clubs, and eventually toured in Scotland, England and Canada with a showband called The Chessmen, and, from 1972, with a band called Ronnie HawkinsRonnie Hawkins
Ronald "Ronnie" Hawkins is a Juno Award-winning rockabilly musician whose career has spanned more than half a century. Though his career began in Arkansas, USA, where he'd been born and raised, it was in Ontario, Canada where he found success and settled for most of his life...
and the Hawks.
Broadcasting in Northern Ireland
Originally a touring rock musician in IrelandIreland
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...
, he started in radio at BBC Radio Foyle
BBC Radio Foyle
BBC Radio Foyle is a BBC Northern Ireland local radio station, serving County Londonderry in Northern Ireland. It is named after the River Foyle which flows through the city where the station is based. The station broadcasts from BBC's Northland Road studios on 93.1 FM and 792 MW in Derry, County...
in 1985, the local station in his home city which he usually calls ‘Stroke City’ to reflect the difficulty regarding broadcasting the name of Derry/Londonderry (each name is preferred by a different part of the local community). Starting with Making the Tea, on with music but then also moving on to talk shows. His programme was picked up by BBC Radio Ulster
BBC Radio Ulster
BBC Radio Ulster is one of two Northern Irish BBC radio stations, the other being BBC Radio Foyle located in the city of Derry. BBC Radio Ulster is located at Broadcasting House in the Ormeau Avenue area of Belfast city centre...
and given a wider audience. The Gerry Anderson Show is currently broadcast daily on BBC Radio Ulster from 10.30 am to 11.55am, and calls made to the show form the basis of BBC NI's animated TV comedy series On The Air. Show regulars include Geordie Tuft a farmer from Loughbrickland, who often offers advice to listeners on issues regarding farm animals (particularly goats), using Jeyes fluid
Jeyes Fluid
Jeyes Fluid is a brand of disinfectant fluid made by Jeyes Group Ltd. in Thetford, Norfolk, England. It is for outdoor use only.Patented by John Jeyes in 1877 the product was granted a Royal Warrant to the British Royal Family in 1896, and continues to supply the Royal household to this day.Jeyes...
as a shampoo for dogs, and how to 'dung out a bed'. On the BBC Radio Ulster
BBC Radio Ulster
BBC Radio Ulster is one of two Northern Irish BBC radio stations, the other being BBC Radio Foyle located in the city of Derry. BBC Radio Ulster is located at Broadcasting House in the Ormeau Avenue area of Belfast city centre...
show, referring to his earlier career in music, he claims to have met Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
and touring with Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson
Kristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"...
, including innuendoes about Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge is a multiple Grammy Award-winning American vocalist. During the 1970s and 1980s, she charted hits on Billboard's Pop, Country, Adult Contemporary and Jazz charts.-Career:...
which he refuses to expand upon.
Anderson's co-presenter on the show is Sean Coyle who has his own Wee Show on BBC Radio Foyle
BBC Radio Foyle
BBC Radio Foyle is a BBC Northern Ireland local radio station, serving County Londonderry in Northern Ireland. It is named after the River Foyle which flows through the city where the station is based. The station broadcasts from BBC's Northland Road studios on 93.1 FM and 792 MW in Derry, County...
. In addition, he presents television series for BBC Northern Ireland.
Stroke City
His contribution to solving the Derry/Londonderry name dispute was to popularise the jocular name "Stroke City" (from the "/"Slash (punctuation)
The slash is a sign used as a punctuation mark and for various other purposes. It is now often called a forward slash , and many other alternative names.-History:...
in the city's neutral designation), which became the title of one of his radio programmes from 1992 leading some of his friends to rename him "Gerry/Londongerry". The programmes were broadcast nationally on Radio 4.
Radio 4
In 1994 BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
contracted the broadcaster to present an afternoon magazine programme running from 2 to 3 pm. The audience reaction to Anderson Country was polarised with listeners divided over its shift in tone from the rest of Radio 4. After a year Anderson Country was dropped, though the programme basically continued as The Afternoon Shift
The Afternoon Shift
The Afternoon Shift was a magazine programme on BBC Radio 4 that replaced the ill-fated Anderson Country. Running between 2 and 3pm, it was broadcast from 1995 and 1998. The programme was presented on Mondays and Fridays by Laurie Taylor and on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays by Daire Brehan....
for another three years. Anderson returned to Northern Ireland where he remained popular, sometimes presenting television as well as radio, and continued to make new programmes for Radio 4 such as Gerry's Bar.
Awards
- Gold Sony Award 1990 for Best Regional Broadcaster
- Broadcaster of the Year at the Entertainment and Media Awards, 1991, 1992 and 1993
- Radio Academy Hall of Fame
- Royal Television Society Regional Presenter of the Year 2004
Publications
- Autobiography: Surviving Stroke City (Hutchinson, 1999).
- Memoir: 'HEADS - A Day in the Life' (Gill & Macmillan, 2008).
HEADS is a memoir not like others. It is no ordinary good-time showband tales filled with bonhomie, lies, warm stories about likeable characters and wholesome craic. This is the way it was, with harsh behaviour, singing dwarves, whip-wielding landladies, psychotic saxophonists, predatory trumpeters and chemically-enhanced drummers.
'Gerry Anderson is as darkly talented a writer as Pat McCabe
Pat McCabe
Patrick "Pat" J. McCabe is a retired professional lacrosse player from the United States. In 2006, McCabe was elected to the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame.-College career:...
, as saucy as Russell Brand
Russell Brand
Russell Edward Brand is an English comedian, actor, columnist, singer, author and radio/television presenter.Brand achieved mainstream fame in the UK in 2004 for his role as host of Big Brother spin-off, Big Brother's Big Mouth. His first major film role was in the 2007 film St Trinians...
, as irreverent and intellectual as Jimmy Carr
Jimmy Carr
James Anthony Patrick "Jimmy" Carr is an English-Irish comedian and humourist. He is known for his deadpan delivery and dark humour. He is also a writer, actor and presenter of radio and television....
.' [***** Stars] Belfast Telegraph
'Gerry Anderson has written a serious yet laugh-out-loud book about one of the few cultural phenomena that straddled the border'. Irish Independent
Irish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
Working Life in Brief
- 1963-1963: Guitarist in various clubs, ManchesterManchesterManchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, and with The Chessmen - 1972-1972: Guitarist with Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks
- 1974-1978: Student, University of UlsterUniversity of UlsterThe University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
- 1978-1984: Teacher, assistant social worker (Bowling Green, Strabane), community magazine writer and editor, occasional broadcasting.
- 1985–present: Daily radio show presenter, BBC Radio FoyleBBC Radio FoyleBBC Radio Foyle is a BBC Northern Ireland local radio station, serving County Londonderry in Northern Ireland. It is named after the River Foyle which flows through the city where the station is based. The station broadcasts from BBC's Northland Road studios on 93.1 FM and 792 MW in Derry, County...
/ BBC Radio UlsterBBC Radio UlsterBBC Radio Ulster is one of two Northern Irish BBC radio stations, the other being BBC Radio Foyle located in the city of Derry. BBC Radio Ulster is located at Broadcasting House in the Ormeau Avenue area of Belfast city centre...
. - 2008: Published critically acclaimed memoir of his career as a bass player with the showbands of the 1960s - 1970's