Jasmine Bligh
Encyclopedia
Jasmine Lydia Bligh was one of the first three BBC Television Service
presenters in the 1930s, along with Leslie Mitchell
and Elizabeth Cowell
, providing continuity announcements and introducing programmes in-vision.
, London, aged 17. Five years later, Bligh, struggling as an actress, answered a BBC advertisement for female television 'hostess-announcers' - unmarried and without red hair. Both Bligh and Elizabeth Cowell were chosen for the jobs out of 1,122 applicants from the British Empire
. Along with Leslie Mitchell
, they were seen during test transmissions from Alexandra Palace
in 1935.
cartoon Mickey's Gala Premiere
(1933), which had been the last programme shown before the beginning of the Second World War in September 1939.
Her theatrical experience, however, proved very useful as she had to learn 400 words a day to speak directly to the camera. The press, at that time, described Bligh and Cowell as 'Twin Paragons', and Bligh continued when the BBC began its regular television service a year later. She became a personality in her own right, amongst other daring escapades, she was seen being given a fireman's lift and hurtling about in a motorcycle sidecar.
Later she presented the BBC's Television for Deaf Children in the 1950s. She continued to work in television up until the 1970s, when she was a presenter of Good Afternoon for Thames Television
.
, and also said by her biography at the National Portrait Gallery to be a descendant of Captain William Bligh
, the commander famously usurped in the Mutiny on the Bounty
in the 18th century.
She married first in 1940, Lt-Col Sir John Paley Johnson, 6th Bt, with whom she had a daughter, Sarah; they divorced in 1947. She married second in 1948, Frank Hugh Shirley Fox; they divorced in 1953. She later married a third time, to broadcaster, Howard Marshall
. His illness in 1967 led her to look for a new way of earning money. She set up a second-hand clothes shop called "Bargain" and sold off her wealthy friends' clothes that they no longer required. Howard Marshall died in 1973. In 1981, a stroke left Bligh with speech difficulty. She died ten years later, aged 78.
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
presenters in the 1930s, along with Leslie Mitchell
Leslie Mitchell (broadcaster)
Leslie Mitchell , was famous in the United Kingdom as the first voice heard on BBC Television at its inception on 2 November 1936, and also for making the first announcement on Associated-Rediffusion, the first ITV company, on 22 September 1955...
and Elizabeth Cowell
Elizabeth Cowell
Elizabeth Cowell was a British broadcaster.She was one of the first three BBC Television Service presenters, along with Jasmine Bligh and Leslie Mitchell. She began announcing when the Television Service started in 1936, and returned in 1946 after its nearly seven-year hiatus due to the Second...
, providing continuity announcements and introducing programmes in-vision.
Pre war career
Intending to start her career as an actress, Bligh met with some opposition from her mother. However, she became a Charlot showgirl at the Cambridge TheatreCambridge Theatre
The Cambridge Theatre is a West End theatre, on a corner site in Earlham Street facing Seven Dials, in the London Borough of Camden, built in 1929-30. It was designed by Wimperis, Simpson and Guthrie; interior partly by Serge Chermayeff, with interior bronze friezes by sculptor Anthony Gibbons...
, London, aged 17. Five years later, Bligh, struggling as an actress, answered a BBC advertisement for female television 'hostess-announcers' - unmarried and without red hair. Both Bligh and Elizabeth Cowell were chosen for the jobs out of 1,122 applicants from the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. Along with Leslie Mitchell
Leslie Mitchell
Dr Leslie Mitchell is a leading British authority on 18th century history.Mitchell is historian and Emeritus Fellow of University College and a member of the History Faculty at the University of Oxford, England. He has been Dean of the college, appeared in the Univ Revue, and was editor of the...
, they were seen during test transmissions from Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace is a building in North London, England. It stands in Alexandra Park, in an area between Hornsey, Muswell Hill and Wood Green...
in 1935.
Post war career
She rejoined the service in 1946 after its Second World War hiatus and was the first person to appear when broadcasting was resumed, greeting viewers with the words:"Good afternoon everybody. How are you? Do you remember me, Jasmine Bligh?"After twenty minutes she introduced the Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse is a cartoon character created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks at The Walt Disney Studio. Mickey is an anthropomorphic black mouse and typically wears red shorts, large yellow shoes, and white gloves...
cartoon Mickey's Gala Premiere
Mickey's Gala Premiere
Mickey's Gala Premier is a Walt Disney cartoon produced in 1933, directed by Burt Gillett. It features several famous Hollywood film actors from the 1930s.Some sources claim this cartoon is called "Mickey's Gala Premiere"...
(1933), which had been the last programme shown before the beginning of the Second World War in September 1939.
Her theatrical experience, however, proved very useful as she had to learn 400 words a day to speak directly to the camera. The press, at that time, described Bligh and Cowell as 'Twin Paragons', and Bligh continued when the BBC began its regular television service a year later. She became a personality in her own right, amongst other daring escapades, she was seen being given a fireman's lift and hurtling about in a motorcycle sidecar.
Later she presented the BBC's Television for Deaf Children in the 1950s. She continued to work in television up until the 1970s, when she was a presenter of Good Afternoon for Thames Television
Thames Television
Thames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992....
.
Personal life
Bligh was born in London, England and was the niece of Esme Ivo Bligh, the 9th Earl of DarnleyLord Darnley
Lord Darnley is a title associated with a Scottish Lordship of Parliament first created in 1356 and tracing a descent to the Dukedom of Richmond in England. Outside the Peerage of Scotland, another Earldom of Darnley was created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1729.The first baron was Sir John...
, and also said by her biography at the National Portrait Gallery to be a descendant of Captain William Bligh
William Bligh
Vice Admiral William Bligh FRS RN was an officer of the British Royal Navy and a colonial administrator. A notorious mutiny occurred during his command of HMAV Bounty in 1789; Bligh and his loyal men made a remarkable voyage to Timor, after being set adrift in the Bounty's launch by the mutineers...
, the commander famously usurped in the Mutiny on the Bounty
Mutiny on the Bounty
The mutiny on the Bounty was a mutiny that occurred aboard the British Royal Navy ship HMS Bounty on 28 April 1789, and has been commemorated by several books, films, and popular songs, many of which take considerable liberties with the facts. The mutiny was led by Fletcher Christian against the...
in the 18th century.
She married first in 1940, Lt-Col Sir John Paley Johnson, 6th Bt, with whom she had a daughter, Sarah; they divorced in 1947. She married second in 1948, Frank Hugh Shirley Fox; they divorced in 1953. She later married a third time, to broadcaster, Howard Marshall
Howard Marshall (broadcaster)
Howard Percival Marshall achieved distinction in several fields, but is best remembered as a pioneering commentator for live broadcasts of state occasions and sporting events — in particular cricket Test matches — for BBC radio during the 1930s.He went to Oriel College, Oxford, winning a rugby...
. His illness in 1967 led her to look for a new way of earning money. She set up a second-hand clothes shop called "Bargain" and sold off her wealthy friends' clothes that they no longer required. Howard Marshall died in 1973. In 1981, a stroke left Bligh with speech difficulty. She died ten years later, aged 78.