Redvers Kyle
Encyclopedia
Redvers Kyle is a retired television announcer and presenter who worked on ITV
in the United Kingdom
.
and was named after General Sir Redvers Buller
, the British military commander in the early stages of the Anglo-Boer War
. He began his broadcasting career with the South African Broadcasting Corporation
, but emigrated to England in 1952, and spent a year as a schoolmaster before becoming a freelance radio and television broadcaster.
Redvers Kyle joined ATV
for a Sunday afternoon series at its inception in September 1955, and made early contributions to ITN
.
He then joined the likes of Muriel Young
and Leslie Mitchell
as an announcer at Associated-Rediffusion
from February 1956 until the company, by then called "Rediffusion London", lost its franchise in 1968.
It was during his time there that he made television history by presenting the first schools programme on British television in 1957. The programme was called Looking and Seeing and Kyle was criticised for talking too much and trying "to cover too much ground in too short a time".
He survived to host a number of other children's programmes produced by A-R in the late 1950s and early 1960s, voiced over local adverts for ATV
in the Midlands
, was heard as a narrator on a number of LP records, and composed light music.
After Associated-Rediffusion closed, he moved to the new Yorkshire Television
in Leeds, where he remained for a quarter of a century until his retirement in 1993, although he did continue to announce from time to time on YTV and Tyne Tees Television
through to around 1998. It was during this period that his voice was heard in the Yorkshire Television children's series The Giddy Game Show
as well as Yorkshire TV's long running schools series How We Used To Live
.
In the 1990s and after leaving YTV, his voice was heard in programmes made by Victor Lewis-Smith
, who had revived the name "Associated-Rediffusion" for his own production company.
Redvers Kyle is now retired.
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...
in the United Kingdom
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...
.
Biography
Kyle was born in South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and was named after General Sir Redvers Buller
Redvers Buller
General Sir Redvers Henry Buller VC GCB GCMG was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, the British military commander in the early stages of the Anglo-Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
. He began his broadcasting career with the South African Broadcasting Corporation
South African Broadcasting Corporation
The South African Broadcasting Corporation is the state-owned broadcaster in South Africa and provides 18 radio stations as well as 3 television broadcasts to the general public.-Early years:Radio broadcasting began in South Africa in 1923...
, but emigrated to England in 1952, and spent a year as a schoolmaster before becoming a freelance radio and television broadcaster.
Redvers Kyle joined 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...
for a Sunday afternoon series at its inception in September 1955, and made early contributions to ITN
Independent Television News
ITN is a news and content provider with headquarters in the United Kingdom. It is made up of four key businesses: ITN News, ITN Source, ITN Productions and ITN Consulting. The ITN logotype can be displayed in any of 4 different colours, each of which represents a business unit. This is the...
.
He then joined the likes of Muriel Young
Muriel Young
Muriel Young was a British television continuity announcer, presenter and producer.-Early life:...
and 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...
as an announcer at 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:...
from February 1956 until the company, by then called "Rediffusion London", lost its franchise in 1968.
It was during his time there that he made television history by presenting the first schools programme on British television in 1957. The programme was called Looking and Seeing and Kyle was criticised for talking too much and trying "to cover too much ground in too short a time".
He survived to host a number of other children's programmes produced by A-R in the late 1950s and early 1960s, voiced over local adverts for 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...
in the Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
, was heard as a narrator on a number of LP records, and composed light music.
After Associated-Rediffusion closed, he moved to the new Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television, now officially known as ITV Yorkshire and sometimes unofficially abbreviated to YTV, is a British television broadcaster and the contractor for the Yorkshire franchise area on the ITV network...
in Leeds, where he remained for a quarter of a century until his retirement in 1993, although he did continue to announce from time to time on YTV and 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...
through to around 1998. It was during this period that his voice was heard in the Yorkshire Television children's series The Giddy Game Show
The Giddy Game Show
The Giddy Game Show was an animated quiz show for pre-school children, made by Yorkshire Television from 1985 to 1987. Scripts were by Marian Lines and Joy Whitby. The first interactive children's television programme...
as well as Yorkshire TV's long running schools series How We Used To Live
How We Used To Live
How We Used to Live is a British educational historical television drama written by Freda Kelsall and sometimes narrated by Redvers Kyle and John Crosse, both employed as continuity announcers at Yorkshire Television at the time of production. Production began in 1968 at the YTV studios in Leeds...
.
In the 1990s and after leaving YTV, his voice was heard in programmes made by Victor Lewis-Smith
Victor Lewis-Smith
Victor Lewis-Smith is a British satirist, producer, critic and prankster. He is known for his sarcasm and biting criticism.-Radio and recordings:...
, who had revived the name "Associated-Rediffusion" for his own production company.
Redvers Kyle is now retired.
External links
- imdb.com/name/nm0477402/ - Redvers Kyle on Internet Movie Database.
- tv-ark.org - Announcements made by Redvers on YTV's Christmas Line, a Commercial Radio promo and others.
- tvroom.com - Entry on a Television Continuity site.
- tvfetish.net - List of Continuity Announcers who have broadcast on YTV.
- bvws.org.uk - List of Continuity Announcers on ITV over the years.