Lyn Spencer
Encyclopedia
Lyn Spencer is a former British
radio and television presenter, best known for her work at Tyne Tees Television
.
During the early 1970s, Spencer was a youth worker at the Camden Youth Project in North London and an English & drama teacher at Heworth Grange Comprehensive School
in Felling, Gateshead
.
Then in 1975, at the age of 23, Spencer joined Tyne Tees and became popular with viewers as the duty announcer on Saturday mornings, when on-air links often featured competitions, interviews and birthday greetings. A year later, the continuity links were relaunched into a new Saturday morning children's programme entitled Lyn's Look In, for which Spencer was the presenter, researcher and producer. According to an interview in 2005, the programme was launched when broadcast trade unions insisted that the Saturday continuity links were turning into a programme of their own and should be treated as such.Lyn's Look In remained on-air until 1979 when Spencer took maternity leave to have her first child.
She returned to Tyne Tees later in the year to present Check It Out
, a local teenage magazine show, alongside future Top of the Pops
producer Chris Cowey. The series, which ran until 1982, is best remembered for an appearance by punk group Public Image Ltd.
, during which John Lydon
walked out.
In 1981, Spencer became co-presenter (alongside Alistair Pirrie) for the networked children's pop programme, Razzmatazz. She presented two series of the show before leaving Tyne Tees in 1983 to join Metro Radio
. Six years later, Spencer returned to Tyne Tees, again as a continuity announcer. During what was her second stint at the station, Spencer presented various regional programmes including The End of the Eighties Show and The Really Useful Guide.
Spencer left Tyne Tees again in 1993 and went into charity work as a fundraiser at Disability North, followed by a job as an advertising executive. Between 1995 and 1997, she presented the Breakfast Show on the now-defunct Great North Radio
. During that time, she set up a public relations company.
She now runs White Hot Communications alongside PR specialist Nicky Harrison and is married to BBC Radio Newcastle
presenter Paddy MacDee with three children.
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 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...
.
During the early 1970s, Spencer was a youth worker at the Camden Youth Project in North London and an English & drama teacher at Heworth Grange Comprehensive School
Heworth Grange Comprehensive School
Heworth Grange Comprehensive School is a specialist Visual Arts College and comprehensive high school in the Gateshead area of Tyne and Wear, England. As of 2010, the school is undergoing a major rebuild as part of the 'Building Schools for the Future' scheme. It educates students aged 11–18,...
in Felling, Gateshead
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
.
Then in 1975, at the age of 23, Spencer joined Tyne Tees and became popular with viewers as the duty announcer on Saturday mornings, when on-air links often featured competitions, interviews and birthday greetings. A year later, the continuity links were relaunched into a new Saturday morning children's programme entitled Lyn's Look In, for which Spencer was the presenter, researcher and producer. According to an interview in 2005, the programme was launched when broadcast trade unions insisted that the Saturday continuity links were turning into a programme of their own and should be treated as such.Lyn's Look In remained on-air until 1979 when Spencer took maternity leave to have her first child.
She returned to Tyne Tees later in the year to present Check It Out
Check it Out (UK TV series)
Check it Out was a youth-oriented television series produced twice weekly by Tyne Tees Television for ITV in 1979-1982. It presented a mix of rock music performances and segments dealing with social issues including homelessness and homosexuality....
, a local teenage magazine show, alongside future Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
producer Chris Cowey. The series, which ran until 1982, is best remembered for an appearance by punk group Public Image Ltd.
Public Image Ltd.
Public Image Ltd are an English post-punk band formed by vocalist John Lydon , guitarist Keith Levene and bassist Jah Wobble, with frequent subsequent personnel changes. Lydon is the sole constant member of the band....
, during which John Lydon
John Lydon
John Joseph Lydon , also known by the former stage name Johnny Rotten, is a singer-songwriter and television presenter, best known as the lead singer of punk rock band the Sex Pistols from 1975 until 1978, and again for various revivals during the 1990s and 2000s...
walked out.
In 1981, Spencer became co-presenter (alongside Alistair Pirrie) for the networked children's pop programme, Razzmatazz. She presented two series of the show before leaving Tyne Tees in 1983 to join Metro Radio
Metro Radio
Metro Radio is an independent local radio station based in Newcastle upon Tyne and broadcasting to Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Northumberland. The station's output is principally contemporary pop and dance music...
. Six years later, Spencer returned to Tyne Tees, again as a continuity announcer. During what was her second stint at the station, Spencer presented various regional programmes including The End of the Eighties Show and The Really Useful Guide.
Spencer left Tyne Tees again in 1993 and went into charity work as a fundraiser at Disability North, followed by a job as an advertising executive. Between 1995 and 1997, she presented the Breakfast Show on the now-defunct Great North Radio
Great North Radio
Great North Radio or G.N.R as it was sometimes called was formed in March 1989 using the AM frequencies of Metro Radio and Radio Tees . This happened after the Metro Radio group decided to split the FM and AM frequencies up.-Programming:...
. During that time, she set up a public relations company.
She now runs White Hot Communications alongside PR specialist Nicky Harrison and is married to BBC Radio Newcastle
BBC Radio Newcastle
BBC Newcastle is the BBC Local Radio service English metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear, broadcasting from studios on Barrack Road in Newcastle upon Tyne.- Technical :...
presenter Paddy MacDee with three children.