Muriel Young
Encyclopedia
Muriel Young was a British television continuity announcer, presenter and producer.
, near Stockton on Tees. Her father, Wilfred Young, was chauffeur to Col. Kitching (previously being Col. Kitching's batman) who lived at Elmwood for many years after retiring from the army in 1939.
, where her uncle was directing. She subsequently performed at The Gateway Theatre, London, and the Theatre Royal in Chatham
. Trying to get into the movie industry, Young did some photographic modelling for advertising agencies, including promoting products such as toothpaste, which paid her enough money until she became an actress. She also studied to be a dental nurse and used her substantial artistic talents to paint glassware.
Starting out as an actress, she starred with Rex Harrison
and Kay Kendall
in The Constant Husband
and was also in The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan (1953). She also obtained parts in the movie The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan
, acting in a segment featuring the Mikado.
company Associated-Rediffusion
was gearing up to launch, she intended to attend an actors' audition at the company, but mistakenly went to an announcers' audition instead. Nevertheless, Young was instantly hired and announced for A-R on 22 September 1955, the opening night of commercial television in the UK. Young worked as a presenter and interviewer for regional programmes on Granada Television
and Southern Television
, and as a disc jockey on Radio Luxembourg
. She was cast, alongside the actor Peter Sellers
in the movie I'm All Right Jack
as an announcer, without the director knowing that it was in fact her real-life job. However, her career could have easily taken a different route. Just before joining ITV, she had been on stage touring with Eamonn Andrews
, in a game show called Double or Drop. Shortly after signing her ITV contract, he told her that he had sold the idea to the BBC. It was later used as part of the children's show Crackerjack!.
She was probably most famous for her work as a presenter of children's programmes for Associated-Rediffusion and Rediffusion London between 1959 and 1968, working alongside Wally Whyton
and Bert Weedon
, and featuring the puppet characters Pussy Cat Willum, Ollie Beak and Fred Barker. The popular format thus created lasted for many years, under various titles including Lucky Dip, Tuesday Rendezvous, Five O'Clock Club, Ollie and Fred's Five O'Clock Club and Five O'Clock Funfair.
In the late 1960s and 1970s, Muriel Young became a staff producer of pop programmes for Granada Television
, with such shows as Lift Off with Ayshea, Get It Together
, the Bay City Rollers
series Shang-a-Lang
, The Arrows Show
and Marc
, starring Marc Bolan
. She also devised Clapperboard
, presented by Chris Kelly
, Granada's film magazine show for children. Young was also an occasional panellist on the ATV
talent show New Faces
.
Changing direction again in the mid 1980s, Young made two series of Ladybirds, a Channel 4
programme from Mike Mansfield
's independent company, in which she interviewed female singers including Barbara Dickson
, Elaine Paige
and Kiki Dee
. She even went to America to speak to Rita Coolidge
and Jane Birkin
about their success in the entertainment industry.
Castle, with her husband Cyril Coke - a television drama director, whom she had married in 1954. Coke was the son of the film actor Edward Rigby
and the novelist Phyllis Austin. The couple had met when he was casting director for the film The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan. He died in 1993.
One of her great interests was oil painting and some of her works, mainly landscapes, were shown in local exhibitions, as well as Liberty's in London.
Many references give her birth year as 1928, she was actually born in 1923.
Early life
As a child, she lived with her family in the gatehouse of Elmwood, Hartburn, County DurhamHartburn, County Durham
Hartburn is a suburb of Stockton-on-Tees in England, situated to the west of the town centre.The village was founded centuries ago and the surrounding area has been developed extensively, mostly with semi-detached housing, from the 1930s onwards. It is situated just off the A66 road to Darlington....
, near Stockton on Tees. Her father, Wilfred Young, was chauffeur to Col. Kitching (previously being Col. Kitching's batman) who lived at Elmwood for many years after retiring from the army in 1939.
Early career
Young worked briefly as a librarian on leaving school and attended art college, before deciding to embark on a career as an actress. She joined a repertory theatre in Henley-on-ThamesHenley-on-Thames
Henley-on-Thames is a town and civil parish on the River Thames in South Oxfordshire, England, about 10 miles downstream and north-east from Reading, 10 miles upstream and west from Maidenhead...
, where her uncle was directing. She subsequently performed at The Gateway Theatre, London, and the Theatre Royal in Chatham
Chatham, Medway
Chatham is one of the Medway towns located within the Medway unitary authority, in North Kent, in South East England.Although the dockyard has long been closed and is now being redeveloped into a business and residential community as well as a museum featuring the famous submarine, HMS Ocelot,...
. Trying to get into the movie industry, Young did some photographic modelling for advertising agencies, including promoting products such as toothpaste, which paid her enough money until she became an actress. She also studied to be a dental nurse and used her substantial artistic talents to paint glassware.
Starting out as an actress, she starred with Rex Harrison
Rex Harrison
Sir Reginald Carey “Rex” Harrison was an English actor of stage and screen. Harrison won an Academy Award and two Tony Awards.-Youth and stage career:...
and Kay Kendall
Kay Kendall
Kay Kendall was an English actress.Kendall began her film career in the 1946 musical London Town. Though the film was a financial failure, Kendall continued to work regularly until her appearance in the comedy Genevieve brought her widespread recognition...
in The Constant Husband
The Constant Husband
The Constant Husband is a 1955 British comedy film directed by Sidney Gilliat and starring Rex Harrison, Margaret Leighton, Kay Kendall, Cecil Parker, George Cole and Raymond Huntley.-Plot:...
and was also in The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan (1953). She also obtained parts in the movie The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan
The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan
The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan is a 1953 British technicolor film that dramatises the story of the collaboration between W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. Gilbert and Sullivan authored 14 comic operas, later referred to as the Savoy Operas, which became the most popular series of musical...
, acting in a segment featuring the Mikado.
Television
In 1955, as the first ITVITV
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 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:...
was gearing up to launch, she intended to attend an actors' audition at the company, but mistakenly went to an announcers' audition instead. Nevertheless, Young was instantly hired and announced for A-R on 22 September 1955, the opening night of commercial television in the UK. Young worked as a presenter and interviewer for regional programmes on Granada Television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
and Southern Television
Southern Television
Southern Television was the first ITV broadcasting licence holder for the south and south-east of England from 30 August 1958 until the night of 31 December 1981. The company was launched as Southern Television Limited and the title Southern Television was consistently used on-air throughout its life...
, and as a disc jockey on Radio Luxembourg
Radio Luxembourg (English)
Radio Luxembourg is a commercial broadcaster in many languages from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is nowadays known in most non-English languages as RTL ....
. She was cast, alongside the actor Peter Sellers
Peter Sellers
Richard Henry Sellers, CBE , known as Peter Sellers, was a British comedian and actor. Perhaps best known as Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther film series, he is also notable for playing three different characters in Dr...
in the movie I'm All Right Jack
I'm All Right Jack
I'm All Right Jack is a 1959 British comedy film directed and produced by John and Roy Boulting from a script by Frank Harvey, John Boulting and Alan Hackney, based on the novel Private Life by Hackney...
as an announcer, without the director knowing that it was in fact her real-life job. However, her career could have easily taken a different route. Just before joining ITV, she had been on stage touring with Eamonn Andrews
Eamonn Andrews
Eamonn Andrews, CBE , was an Irish television presenter based in the United Kingdom.-Life and career:...
, in a game show called Double or Drop. Shortly after signing her ITV contract, he told her that he had sold the idea to the BBC. It was later used as part of the children's show Crackerjack!.
She was probably most famous for her work as a presenter of children's programmes for Associated-Rediffusion and Rediffusion London between 1959 and 1968, working alongside Wally Whyton
Wally Whyton
Wallace Victor "Wally" Whyton was a British musician, songwriter and radio and TV personality.Born in London, England, Whyton grew up listening to jazz, blues and folk music, and learned to play first the piano, then trombone, and finally guitar...
and Bert Weedon
Bert Weedon
Herbert Maurice William 'Bert' Weedon OBE is an English guitarist and composer whose style of guitar playing was popular and influential during the 1950s and 1960s. He was born in Burges Road, East Ham, Essex, now Greater London....
, and featuring the puppet characters Pussy Cat Willum, Ollie Beak and Fred Barker. The popular format thus created lasted for many years, under various titles including Lucky Dip, Tuesday Rendezvous, Five O'Clock Club, Ollie and Fred's Five O'Clock Club and Five O'Clock Funfair.
In the late 1960s and 1970s, Muriel Young became a staff producer of pop programmes for Granada Television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
, with such shows as Lift Off with Ayshea, Get It Together
Get It Together (TV series)
Get It Together was a long-running British children's Television series, produced by Granada Television for the UK ITV network between 1977 and 1981...
, the Bay City Rollers
Bay City Rollers
The Bay City Rollers were a Scottish pop band who were most popular in the 1970s. The British Hit Singles & Albums noted that they were "tartan teen sensations from Edinburgh", and were "the first of many acts heralded as the 'Biggest Group since The Beatles' and one of the most screamed-at...
series Shang-a-Lang
Shang-a-Lang (TV series)
Shang-a-Lang was a children's pop music TV series starring the Scottish band, the Bay City Rollers. It was produced in Manchester by Granada Television for the ITV network and ran for one 20-week series in 1975....
, The Arrows Show
The Arrows Show
Arrows was a pop television series aimed at the teen market, which aired in 1976 and 1977 in the UK.The show was produced by British TV legend Muriel Young, and ran for two full 14 week series on the ITV network, produced by Granada Television....
and Marc
Marc (TV series)
Marc is a British television series presented by T. Rex lead singer Marc Bolan. It was produced in Manchester by Granada Television for the ITV network....
, starring Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and poet. He is best known as the founder, frontman, lead singer & guitarist for T. Rex, but also a successful solo artist...
. She also devised Clapperboard
Clapperboard (TV series)
Clapperboard was the name of a 1970s children's television programme, hosted by Chris Kelly which covered the cinema. The show was made by Granada Television for the ITV network, and lasted 254 episodes. It was produced by Muriel Young and was broadcast between April 1972 and January 1982. Young...
, presented by Chris Kelly
Chris Kelly (TV presenter)
Chris Kelly Chris Kelly Chris Kelly (born 24 April 1940, Cuddington, Cheshire, is an English TV presenter, producer and writer.-Education:Kelly was educated at Downside School, a Catholic independent school in Stratton-on-the-Fosse in Somerset, followed by the University of...
, Granada's film magazine show for children. Young was also an occasional panellist on the ATV
Associated TeleVision
Associated Television, often referred to as ATV, was a British television company, holder of various licences to broadcast on the ITV network from 24 September 1955 until 00:34 on 1 January 1982...
talent show New Faces
New Faces
New Faces was a British television talent show popular in the 1970s and 1980s, presented originally by Derek Hobson. It was produced by ATV Network Limited for the ITV Network. The first run of the show was from 29 September 1973 to 2 April 1978 and was recorded at the ATV Centre, Birmingham...
.
Changing direction again in the mid 1980s, Young made two series of Ladybirds, a Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
programme from Mike Mansfield
Mike Mansfield
Michael Joseph Mansfield was an American Democratic politician and the longest-serving Majority Leader of the United States Senate, serving from 1961 to 1977. He also served as United States Ambassador to Japan for over ten years...
's independent company, in which she interviewed female singers including Barbara Dickson
Barbara Dickson
Barbara Ruth Dickson, OBE is a Scottish singer whose hits include "I Know Him So Well" and "January February"...
, Elaine Paige
Elaine Paige
Elaine Paige OBE is an English singer and actress best known for her work in musical theatre. Raised in Barnet, North London, Paige attended the Aida Foster stage school, making her first professional appearance on stage in 1964, at the age of 16...
and Kiki Dee
Kiki Dee
Kiki Dee is an English singer with a career spanning more than 40 years....
. She even went to America to speak to Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge is a multiple Grammy Award-winning American vocalist. During the 1970s and 1980s, she charted hits on Billboard's Pop, Country, Adult Contemporary and Jazz charts.-Career:...
and Jane Birkin
Jane Birkin
Jane Mallory Birkin, OBE is an English-born actress and singer who lives in France. In recent years she has written her own album, directed a film and become an outspoken proponent of democracy in Burma.- Early life :...
about their success in the entertainment industry.
Personal life
In 1986, Young left her successful career in television and moved back to county Durham, where she lived in part of StanhopeStanhope
-Places:* Stanhope, Victoria, Australia* Stanhope, Prince Edward Island, Canada* Stanhope, Quebec, Canada* Stanhope, County Durham, England, UK* Stanhope, Kent, England, UK* Stanhope, Peeblesshire, Scotland, UK* Stanhope, Iowa, US* Stanhope, New Jersey, US...
Castle, with her husband Cyril Coke - a television drama director, whom she had married in 1954. Coke was the son of the film actor Edward Rigby
Edward Rigby
Edward Rigby was a British character actor.-Early life:Rigby was the son of Jamaican-born Dr. William Harriot Coke and his wife Liverpool-born Mary Elizabeth of 17 High Street, Ashford. He was educated at Haileybury, and Wye Agricultural College...
and the novelist Phyllis Austin. The couple had met when he was casting director for the film The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan. He died in 1993.
One of her great interests was oil painting and some of her works, mainly landscapes, were shown in local exhibitions, as well as Liberty's in London.
Many references give her birth year as 1928, she was actually born in 1923.
External links
- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0949908/