Diana Speed
Encyclopedia
Diana Speed is a continuity announcer for BBC Radio 4
.
Born in Cornwall
, Speed trained as an actress at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
in Glasgow.
After two years acting in theatre, television & film, Speed joined Grampian Television
in 1986 and became a long-serving continuity announcer. Along with other staff announcers at Grampian, she read Grampian Headlines news bulletins throughout the day and also appeared in various regional programmes including Grampian's contributions to the ITV Telethon
s in 1988, 1990 and 1992. Speed was the duty announcer on the night of the Piper Alpha disaster (6 July 1988) and remained on air throughout the night to read news updates and present Grampian's coverage of the unfolding disaster.
Whilst at Grampian, Speed also wrote for the Aberdeen Press and Journal and also gained a teaching qualification. She stayed on at the station until 1998 when the Aberdeen
-based presentation department was closed. A year later, she moved to London, freelancing for Radio 4, whilst working as an audio describer. By December 2002, Speed had joined Radio 4 on a full-time basis as an announcer.
She is married with three children.
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
.
Born in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, Speed trained as an actress at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is a conservatoire of music, drama, and dance in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Educational Association, it is the busiest performing arts venue in Scotland...
in Glasgow.
After two years acting in theatre, television & film, Speed joined Grampian Television
Grampian Television
Grampian Television is the ITV franchisee for the North and North East of Scotland. Its coverage area includes the Scottish Highlands , Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee and parts of north Fife...
in 1986 and became a long-serving continuity announcer. Along with other staff announcers at Grampian, she read Grampian Headlines news bulletins throughout the day and also appeared in various regional programmes including Grampian's contributions to the ITV Telethon
ITV Telethon
The ITV Telethons were three charity telethons organised and televised in the UK by the ITV network. They took place in 1988, 1990 and 1992. Each lasted for 27 hours and all were hosted by Michael Aspel.- Thames Telethon :...
s in 1988, 1990 and 1992. Speed was the duty announcer on the night of the Piper Alpha disaster (6 July 1988) and remained on air throughout the night to read news updates and present Grampian's coverage of the unfolding disaster.
Whilst at Grampian, Speed also wrote for the Aberdeen Press and Journal and also gained a teaching qualification. She stayed on at the station until 1998 when the Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
-based presentation department was closed. A year later, she moved to London, freelancing for Radio 4, whilst working as an audio describer. By December 2002, Speed had joined Radio 4 on a full-time basis as an announcer.
She is married with three children.