Leslie Mitchell (broadcaster)
Encyclopedia
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. His voice was perhaps most recognised, however, from his long association with British Movietone News
, for whose newsreel
s he was commentator during the Second World War and for many years afterwards.
. Later, he was prevented from joining the Royal Navy
by ill health, which also prevented him from serving in the Second World War. He began as a stage
and film
actor, but suffered from multiple injuries in a road accident, which kept him out of work for over a year, as the play he was appearing in was about to transfer to the West End
.
's Flying Squad, in which he had appeared on tour, was about to move to the West End, Mitchell suffered multiple injuries in a motorcycle accident. He was unable to work for one year. Later, he returned to theatre work, having had plastic surgery to his face - as well having his jaw rebuilt.
in 1932 and joined the Corporation's staff in 1934, working as a general announcer and a producer of variety programmes. In 1936 he became one of the three announcers, chosen from 600 applicants, for the BBC's fledgling Television Service
, along with Jasmine Bligh
and Elizabeth Cowell
, which was then available only in London. He also conducted interviews for the magazine programme Picture Page
.
During World War II
he provided the commentary for the Movietone News
and appeared as himself in the comedy film The Black Sheep of Whitehall
in which comedian Will Hay
drives him to a nervous breakdown.
In 1946, suspecting that commercial broadcasting would eventually come to the United Kingdom, he travelled to the United States and gained experience of the methods of publicity used there. In the post-war years he had a stint as Sir Alexander Korda
's director of publicity, but was mainly a freelance writer, commentator and producer.
In 1955 he joined Associated-Rediffusion
, where he became senior announcer, and was also in charge of talks and as chairman of discussion programmes. He went freelance again in 1958. Much of his later work was on programmes concerning the early days of British television
, such as a celebration of 25 years of BBC TV which he jointly narrated with Richard Dimbleby
in 1961, and a 40th anniversary documentary in 1976. He also presented the nostalgic Tyne Tees Television
series Those Wonderful TV Times (1976–1978).
Mitchell's biography 'Leslie Mitchell Reporting...' was published in 1981. He had been married twice. He died at the age of 80 after years of ill health.
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...
Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
at its inception on 2 November 1936, and also for making the first announcement on Associated-Rediffusion
Associated-Rediffusion
Associated-Rediffusion, later Rediffusion, London, was the British ITV contractor for London and parts of the surrounding counties, on weekdays between 1954 and 29 July 1968. Transmissions started on 22 September 1955.-Formation:...
, the first ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
company, on 22 September 1955. His voice was perhaps most recognised, however, from his long association with British Movietone News
Movietone News
Movietone News is a newsreel that ran from 1928 to 1963 in the United States, and from 1929 to 1979 in the United Kingdom.-History:It is known in the U.S. as Fox Movietone News, produced cinema, sound newsreels from 1928 to 1963 in the U.S., from 1929 to 1979 in the UK , and from 1929 to 1975 in...
, for whose newsreel
Newsreel
A newsreel was a form of short documentary film prevalent in the first half of the 20th century, regularly released in a public presentation place and containing filmed news stories and items of topical interest. It was a source of news, current affairs and entertainment for millions of moviegoers...
s he was commentator during the Second World War and for many years afterwards.
Early life
He was born Leslie Scott Falconer Mitchell. His parents separated while he was still a child and he was brought up by the novelist W J Locke and his wife, after his own mother went to America during the early years of the First World War and was unable to return. Mitchell was educated at The King's School, CanterburyThe King's School, Canterbury
The King's School is a British co-educational independent school for both day and boarding pupils in the historic English cathedral city of Canterbury in Kent. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and the Eton Group....
. Later, he was prevented from joining the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
by ill health, which also prevented him from serving in the Second World War. He began as a stage
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
and film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
actor, but suffered from multiple injuries in a road accident, which kept him out of work for over a year, as the play he was appearing in was about to transfer to the West End
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
.
Career
After a brief period working as a trainee stockbroker, Mitchell secured small roles in stage productions.. He had no dramatic training, but secured roles with the aid of his assets - notably good looks and a rich voice. He toured Britain with the Art League for two years, from 1923, and subsequently appeared in London West End productions. However, just as Edgar WallaceEdgar Wallace
Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace was an English crime writer, journalist, novelist, screenwriter, and playwright, who wrote 175 novels, 24 plays, and numerous articles in newspapers and journals....
's Flying Squad, in which he had appeared on tour, was about to move to the West End, Mitchell suffered multiple injuries in a motorcycle accident. He was unable to work for one year. Later, he returned to theatre work, having had plastic surgery to his face - as well having his jaw rebuilt.
Television career
He began appearing on BBC RadioBBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
in 1932 and joined the Corporation's staff in 1934, working as a general announcer and a producer of variety programmes. In 1936 he became one of the three announcers, chosen from 600 applicants, for the BBC's fledgling Television Service
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...
, along with Jasmine Bligh
Jasmine Bligh
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....
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...
, which was then available only in London. He also conducted interviews for the magazine programme Picture Page
Picture Page
Picture Page is a British television programme, broadcast on the BBC Television Service from 1936 to 1939, and again after the service's hiatus during the Second World War from 1946 until 1952...
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he provided the commentary for the Movietone News
Movietone News
Movietone News is a newsreel that ran from 1928 to 1963 in the United States, and from 1929 to 1979 in the United Kingdom.-History:It is known in the U.S. as Fox Movietone News, produced cinema, sound newsreels from 1928 to 1963 in the U.S., from 1929 to 1979 in the UK , and from 1929 to 1975 in...
and appeared as himself in the comedy film The Black Sheep of Whitehall
The Black Sheep of Whitehall
The Black Sheep of Whitehall is a 1942 British, black-and-white, comedy, war film, directed by Will Hay and Basil Dearden, and; starring Will Hay as Professor Will Davis, John Mills and Basil Sydney...
in which comedian Will Hay
Will Hay
William Thomson "Will" Hay was an English comedian, actor, film director and amateur astronomer.-Early life:He was born in Stockton-on-Tees, in north east England, to William R...
drives him to a nervous breakdown.
In 1946, suspecting that commercial broadcasting would eventually come to the United Kingdom, he travelled to the United States and gained experience of the methods of publicity used there. In the post-war years he had a stint as Sir Alexander Korda
Alexander Korda
Sir Alexander Korda was a Hungarian-born British producer and film director. He was a leading figure in the British film industry, the founder of London Films and the owner of British Lion Films, a film distributing company.-Life and career:The elder brother of filmmakers Zoltán Korda and Vincent...
's director of publicity, but was mainly a freelance writer, commentator and producer.
In 1955 he joined Associated-Rediffusion
Associated-Rediffusion
Associated-Rediffusion, later Rediffusion, London, was the British ITV contractor for London and parts of the surrounding counties, on weekdays between 1954 and 29 July 1968. Transmissions started on 22 September 1955.-Formation:...
, where he became senior announcer, and was also in charge of talks and as chairman of discussion programmes. He went freelance again in 1958. Much of his later work was on programmes concerning the early days of British television
British television
Public television broadcasting started in the United Kingdom in 1936, and now has a collection of free and subscription services over a variety of distribution media, through which there are over 480 channelsTaking the base Sky EPG TV Channels. A breakdown is impossible due to a) the number of...
, such as a celebration of 25 years of BBC TV which he jointly narrated with Richard Dimbleby
Richard Dimbleby
Richard Dimbleby CBE was an English journalist and broadcaster widely acknowledged as one of the greatest figures in British broadcasting history.-Early life:...
in 1961, and a 40th anniversary documentary in 1976. He also presented the nostalgic Tyne Tees Television
Tyne Tees Television
Tyne Tees Television is the ITV television franchise for North East England and parts of North Yorkshire. As of 2009, it forms part of a non-franchise ITV Tyne Tees & Border region, shared with the ITV Border region...
series Those Wonderful TV Times (1976–1978).
Mitchell's biography 'Leslie Mitchell Reporting...' was published in 1981. He had been married twice. He died at the age of 80 after years of ill health.