Helen McDermott
Encyclopedia
Helen McDermott is a British
radio and television presenter, best known for her work at Anglia Television
.
A graduate of the University of East Anglia
, McDermott begun her broadcasting career in the 1970s as a continuity announcer and newsreader for Westward Television
in Plymouth. Whilst at Westward, she made an attempt at a singing career under the psyedonym of 'Helen Barnes'.
McDermott joined Anglia Television
in 1979 as an announcer and newsreader. Whilst working as part of the announcing staff, she devised the idea of utilising a puppet during the regular children's birthdays' slots, based upon her previous work at Westward alongside station mascot Gus Honeybun
. The puppet BC (or Birthday Club) went on to become a fixture on Anglia for 22 years.
McDermott left Anglia's presentation department when in-vision continuity was phased out at the station in the late 1980s. She later became one of the chief anchors for the East sub-regional edition of Anglia News between circa 1990 & 2001 and continued to work on a range of other regional programmes.
McDermott was also previously a presenter at 99.9 Radio Norwich
, but left the station in 2010 following budget cuts by station owners Tindle Radio. In January 2011, she joined BBC Radio Norfolk
in Norwich as presenter of the weekday 11am to 1pm slot from Monday to Thursday.
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...
radio and television presenter, best known for her work at Anglia Television
Anglia Television
Anglia Television is the ITV franchise holder for the East Anglia franchise region. Although Anglia Television takes its name from East Anglia, its transmission coverage extends beyond the generally accepted boundaries of that region. The station is based at Anglia House in Norwich, with regional...
.
A graduate of the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
, McDermott begun her broadcasting career in the 1970s as a continuity announcer and newsreader for Westward Television
Westward Television
Westward 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...
in Plymouth. Whilst at Westward, she made an attempt at a singing career under the psyedonym of 'Helen Barnes'.
McDermott joined Anglia Television
Anglia Television
Anglia Television is the ITV franchise holder for the East Anglia franchise region. Although Anglia Television takes its name from East Anglia, its transmission coverage extends beyond the generally accepted boundaries of that region. The station is based at Anglia House in Norwich, with regional...
in 1979 as an announcer and newsreader. Whilst working as part of the announcing staff, she devised the idea of utilising a puppet during the regular children's birthdays' slots, based upon her previous work at Westward alongside station mascot Gus Honeybun
Gus Honeybun
Gus Honeybun was the station mascot for Westward Television, and later Television South West, from 1961 to 1992. A puppet rabbit, and star of Gus Honeybun's Magic Birthdays, he achieved a longevity for a TV puppet second only to Sooty....
. The puppet BC (or Birthday Club) went on to become a fixture on Anglia for 22 years.
McDermott left Anglia's presentation department when in-vision continuity was phased out at the station in the late 1980s. She later became one of the chief anchors for the East sub-regional edition of Anglia News between circa 1990 & 2001 and continued to work on a range of other regional programmes.
McDermott was also previously a presenter at 99.9 Radio Norwich
99.9 Radio Norwich
Norwich 99.9 is a British radio station in Norwich, Norfolk.-History:The station is part of Tindle Radio Group, owner of neighbouring North Norfolk Radio and 103.4 The Beach...
, but left the station in 2010 following budget cuts by station owners Tindle Radio. In January 2011, she joined BBC Radio Norfolk
BBC Radio Norfolk
BBC Radio Norfolk is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Norfolk, broadcasting since 11 September 1980. It broadcasts from the studios of BBC East in The Forum, Norwich on 95.1 FM , 104.4 FM , 95.6 FM , 855 kHz AM/MW , 873 kHz AM/MW BBC Radio Norfolk is the BBC Local...
in Norwich as presenter of the weekday 11am to 1pm slot from Monday to Thursday.