Gordon Honeycombe
Encyclopedia
Ronald Gordon Honeycombe (born 27 September 1936) is an author, playwright and stage actor, well known in the United Kingdom
as a national television newscaster
.
Gordon Honeycombe was born in Karachi
, in British India
, and educated at the Edinburgh Academy
and at University College, Oxford
, from which he graduated with an MA
in English. He undertook National Service
with the Royal Artillery
, mainly in Hong Kong
, where he was also an announcer with Radio Hong Kong. Returning to the UK
, he embarked on an acting career which led to television and public prominence as a national newscaster.
As a newscaster
, Honeycombe always seemed warm but stern while on-screen. Off camera, he was a flamboyant, fun-loving character with a devilish sense of humour.
He has now settled in Perth, Western Australia
, where he continues to work for radio, TV and the theatre. He regularly does voice-over work for radio and television, and documentary narrations.
, working from 1962 to 1964 as an actor at Stratford-upon-Avon
and at the Aldwych Theatre
, London
. From 1965 to 1977 at ITN, he became nationally known as a newscaster. He was twice voted the most popular newscaster in Britain, by readers of the Daily Mirror and of The Sun
. From 1977 to 1984, he concentrated on writing, while continuing many other activities, such as presenting TV shows for Scottish Television
, Southern Television
and for the BBC
. He returned to regular newsreading from 1984 to 1989 as chief newsreader at TV-am
, becoming Britain's longest-serving TV newscaster. He was voted the most popular male TV newscaster by readers of Woman's Own magazine in 1986, and received the Television and Radio Industries Club
Newscaster of the Year Award in 1989.
While appearing on British television, he also recorded voice-overs or narrations of many TV and other documentaries, training films, commercials and cinema shorts, and has been involved in many industrial presentations, conferences, in-house videos and fund-raising charity events.
He produced and directed his own play The Redemption for the Festival of Perth in Western Australia
in March 1990, and has settled in that area.
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...
as a national television newscaster
News presenter
A news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
.
Gordon Honeycombe was born in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, in British India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and educated at the Edinburgh Academy
Edinburgh Academy
The Edinburgh Academy is an independent school which was opened in 1824. The original building, in Henderson Row on the northern fringe of the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, is now part of the Senior School...
and at University College, Oxford
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
, from which he graduated with an MA
Master of Arts (Oxbridge)
In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
in English. He undertook National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
with the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
, mainly in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, where he was also an announcer with Radio Hong Kong. Returning to the UK
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...
, he embarked on an acting career which led to television and public prominence as a national newscaster.
As a newscaster
News presenter
A news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
, Honeycombe always seemed warm but stern while on-screen. Off camera, he was a flamboyant, fun-loving character with a devilish sense of humour.
He has now settled in Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, where he continues to work for radio, TV and the theatre. He regularly does voice-over work for radio and television, and documentary narrations.
Career highlights
Honeycombe joined the Royal Shakespeare CompanyRoyal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
, working from 1962 to 1964 as an actor at Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
and at the Aldwych Theatre
Aldwych Theatre
The Aldwych Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Aldwych in the City of Westminster. The theatre was listed Grade II on 20 July 1971. Its seating capacity is 1,200.-Origins:...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. From 1965 to 1977 at ITN, he became nationally known as a newscaster. He was twice voted the most popular newscaster in Britain, by readers of the Daily Mirror and of The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
. From 1977 to 1984, he concentrated on writing, while continuing many other activities, such as presenting TV shows for Scottish Television
Scottish Television
Scottish Television is Scotland's largest ITV franchisee, and has held the ITV franchise for Central Scotland since 31 August 1957. It is the second oldest ITV franchisee still active...
, Southern Television
Southern Television
Southern Television was the first ITV broadcasting licence holder for the south and south-east of England from 30 August 1958 until the night of 31 December 1981. The company was launched as Southern Television Limited and the title Southern Television was consistently used on-air throughout its life...
and 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...
. He returned to regular newsreading from 1984 to 1989 as chief newsreader at TV-am
TV-am
TV-am was a breakfast television station that broadcast to the United Kingdom from 1 February 1983 to 31 December 1992. It made history by being the first national operator of a commercial television franchise at breakfast-time , and broadcast every day of the week for most or all of the period...
, becoming Britain's longest-serving TV newscaster. He was voted the most popular male TV newscaster by readers of Woman's Own magazine in 1986, and received the Television and Radio Industries Club
Television and Radio Industries Club
The Television and Radio Industries Club is a British institution chartered in 1931 to "promote goodwill in the television and radio industries"...
Newscaster of the Year Award in 1989.
While appearing on British television, he also recorded voice-overs or narrations of many TV and other documentaries, training films, commercials and cinema shorts, and has been involved in many industrial presentations, conferences, in-house videos and fund-raising charity events.
He produced and directed his own play The Redemption for the Festival of Perth in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
in March 1990, and has settled in that area.
Appearances
Beside the appearances listed below, he also presented, appeared in and narrated many TV programmes and appeared in many TV plays and series. He has also sung at major fund-raising events for various charities.Film
- The Sculptor (film)The Sculptor (film)The Sculptor is one of the first Australian feature films to be filmed using the new Red One camera, and has been funded by international private equity...
(2008) Gordon plays 'Gordon' in the supernatural thriller, shot in Perth, Australia.http://www.skyviewfilms.com/thesculptor.html - Bullseye! (1991)
- The Fourth Protocol (1987)
- The Medusa TouchThe Medusa TouchThe Medusa Touch is a 1973 novel by Peter Van Greenaway, which was adapted fairly faithfully into a feature film in 1978.The novel tells the story of a radically disenchanted novelist with highly destructive telekinetic powers. Its dialogue was described in Kim Newman's book Nightmare Movies as...
(1978) - Neither the Sea nor the Sand (1972)
- Let's get Skase (2000)
British Stage
- Suspects, in 1989 at SwanseaSwanseaSwansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
- Run for Your Wife, in 1990 touring with Les DawsonLes DawsonLeslie "Les" Dawson was a popular English comedian remembered for his deadpan style, curmudgeonly persona and jokes about his mother-in-law and wife.-Life and career:...
- Aladdin in 1989-90 at the Wimbledon Theatre, with Cilla BlackCilla BlackCilla Black OBE is an English singer, actress, entertainer and media personality, who has been consistently popular as a light entertainment figure since 1963. She is most famous for her singles Anyone Who Had A Heart, You're My World, and Alfie...
- Aladdin in 1990-91 at the Pavilion TheatrePavilion TheatrePavilion Theatre may refer to:*Pavilion Theatre , Scotland*Pavilion Theatre , part of the Bournemouth International Centre complex*Pavilion Theatre , southern England...
, BournemouthBournemouthBournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
, with Su PollardSu PollardSusan Georgina "Su" Pollard, 7 November 1949, Nottingham) is an English comedy actress, most famous for her roles in the sitcoms Hi-de-Hi! and You Rang, M'Lord?. She is also well known for her unusual and flamboyant dress sense and her abrupt voice....
.
Works
Since 1965 Gordon Honeycombe, beside his own books, has written for television, radio, stage and films.Books
- Neither the Sea Nor the Sand (1969)
- Dragon Under the Hill (1972)
- Adam's Tale (1974)
- Red Watch (1976) an account of the Worsley Hotel FireWorsley Hotel fireThe Worsley Hotel Fire was a major fire at the Worsley Hotel in Maida Vale, London on 13 December 1974. It killed 7 people, including a probationary firefighter.-Hotel:...
- Royal Wedding (1981)
- Nagasaki 1945 (1981)
- The Edge of Heaven (1981)
- The Year of the Princess (1982)
- The Murders of the Black Museum (1982)
- Selfridges (1984)
- The TV-AM Celebration of the Royal Wedding (1986)
- Siren Song (1992)
- More Murders of the Black Museum (1995)
- The Complete Murders of the Black Museum (1995)
Stage and radio dramatisations
- The Redemption
- Lancelot and Guinevere
- Paradise Lost
TV plays
- The Golden Vision (BBC1, 1968),
- Time and Again (Westward TelevisionWestward TelevisionWestward Television was the first ITV franchise holder for the South West of England from 29 April 1961 until 31 December 1981. After a difficult start, Westward provided a popular, distinctive and highly regarded service to its region, until public boardroom squabbles led to its franchise not...
, 1974) - The Thirteenth Day of Christmas (Granada TelevisionGranada TelevisionGranada 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....
, 1985)