Jennifer Gay
Encyclopedia
Jennifer Gay was an on-screen BBC
Children's TV continuity announcer for the BBC Television Service, (later to become BBC One, but then the only British television channel) between 1949 and 1953.
.
Introducing herself by name as "one of the Children's Hour
announcers," Gay appeared most days at 5pm to introduce that afternoon's hour of programming, which included such favourites as Muffin the Mule
, Mr. Turnip, and Hank and Prudence. Andrew Martin a BBC Archives expert described Gay as "the accepted way of presenting children to themselves."
transmitter," while the 1953 Television Annual described Gay's "most frightening afternoon," as the occasion upon which "she had to partner Mrs. Attlee in the programme which opened the Lime Grove Studios
," just five months later in May, 1950.
Also in 1950, she battled sea-sickness
after journeying to France
to "take part in TV's first-ever cross-Channel
hook-up," which included scenes of "Jennifer... going through Customs
and being shown round the Port of Calais
."
training she had pursued throughout her television career.
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...
Children's TV continuity announcer for the BBC Television Service, (later to become BBC One, but then the only British television channel) between 1949 and 1953.
Early life
Jennifer Gay was born on 22 September 1935 to actress Molly Gay and composer Hugo RignoldHugo Rignold
Hugo Henry Rignold was an English conductor and violinist, who is best remembered as Musical Director of the Royal Ballet and conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra ....
.
Television career
Gay began introducing children's programmes in June 1949, and aged 14 became the "first schoolgirl in the world to announce TV programmes as a regular job." For the next three years, she grew up on screen, her name intrinsically linked with early 1950s children's television.Introducing herself by name as "one of the Children's Hour
Children's Hour
Children's Hour—at first: "The Children's Hour", from a verse by Longfellow—was the name of the BBC's principal recreational service for children during the period when radio dominated broadcasting....
announcers," Gay appeared most days at 5pm to introduce that afternoon's hour of programming, which included such favourites as Muffin the Mule
Muffin the Mule
Muffin the Mule is a puppet character in British television programmes for children. The original programmes featuring the character were presented by Annette Mills, sister of John Mills, & aunt to Hayley Mills, and broadcast live by the BBC from their studios at Alexandra Palace from 1946 to 1952...
, Mr. Turnip, and Hank and Prudence. Andrew Martin a BBC Archives expert described Gay as "the accepted way of presenting children to themselves."
Career highlights
In December 1949, Gay "announced the first children's programmes transmitted from the Sutton ColdfieldSutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield is a suburb of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Sutton is located about from central Birmingham but has borders with Erdington and Kingstanding. Sutton is in the northeast of Birmingham, with a population of 105,000 recorded in the 2001 census...
transmitter," while the 1953 Television Annual described Gay's "most frightening afternoon," as the occasion upon which "she had to partner Mrs. Attlee in the programme which opened the Lime Grove Studios
Lime Grove Studios
Lime Grove Studios was a film studio complex built by the Gaumont Film Company in 1915 situated in a street named Lime Grove, inShepherd's Bush, west London, north of Hammersmith and described by Gaumont as "the finest studio in Great Britain and the first building ever put up in this country...
," just five months later in May, 1950.
Also in 1950, she battled sea-sickness
Sea-sickness
Seasickness is a form of motion sickness characterized by a feeling of nausea and, in extreme cases, vertigo, experienced after spending time on a craft on water. It is typically brought on by the rocking motion of the craft. Some people are particularly vulnerable to the condition with minor...
after journeying to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to "take part in TV's first-ever cross-Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
hook-up," which included scenes of "Jennifer... going through Customs
Customs
Customs is an authority or agency in a country responsible for collecting and safeguarding customs duties and for controlling the flow of goods including animals, transports, personal effects and hazardous items in and out of a country...
and being shown round the Port of Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
."
After TV
Her final on-screen appearance was in May, 1953, after which Gay left the BBC to continue the balletBallet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
training she had pursued throughout her television career.