Peter Tomlinson
Encyclopedia
Peter Tomlinson is a broadcaster and continuity announcer. He created the British children's television series Tiswas
and was the programme's co-presenter in its early years.
He was also one of the earliest presenters on Harlech Television. In 2007 he became the High Sheriff of the West Midlands
.
In the early 1970s, he moved to ATV
. Fellow broadcaster Alex Trelinski recalled "he brought some great laughs into his continuity slots. The highlight of the week was on a Friday night when ATV would screen a horror film after News at Ten under the umbrella title of "Appointment with Fear". Everybody would have fun, with often the continuity suite lights being darkened, and Peter Tomlinson would appear clutching a teddy bear. I wouldn't bother with the film, but his intro was worth watching and would have me in stitches".
Known as the "plummy-voiced" member of the team, he was a regular presenter on the show from 1974 to 1977, when it was still only shown in the Midlands region. He did though make sporadic appearances after that up until 1980, when the show was at the peak of its (almost) national popularity.
in 1979 he joined Beacon Radio in Wolverhampton and the Black Country. He later became managing director and a presenter of Saga
Radios West Midlands station.
During the 1980s he was heard providing the voice-over on Central Independent Television
's popular quiz show Blockbusters.
in April 2007, Tomlinson was named the new High Sheriff of the West Midlands
. He said "I feel very honoured to be asked to become the High Sheriff
of one of the busiest shrievalties in the country. I am looking forward to serving my country and making a difference where I can."
, star of Bedknobs & Broomsticks and Mary Poppins
.
Tiswas
Tiswas was a Saturday morning children's British television series which ran from 5 January 1974 to 3 April 1982 and was produced for the ITV network by ATV Network Limited....
and was the programme's co-presenter in its early years.
He was also one of the earliest presenters on Harlech Television. In 2007 he became the High Sheriff of the West Midlands
High Sheriff of the West Midlands
The Office of High Sheriff of the West Midlands is the ceremonial position of High Sheriff appointed to the West Midlands, a metropolitan county in central England. The appointment is made by the British monarch by Pricking the Lists...
.
Early broadcasting
He was one of the first announcers on Harlech Television (later HTV).In the early 1970s, he moved to 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...
. Fellow broadcaster Alex Trelinski recalled "he brought some great laughs into his continuity slots. The highlight of the week was on a Friday night when ATV would screen a horror film after News at Ten under the umbrella title of "Appointment with Fear". Everybody would have fun, with often the continuity suite lights being darkened, and Peter Tomlinson would appear clutching a teddy bear. I wouldn't bother with the film, but his intro was worth watching and would have me in stitches".
Tiswas
In 1973, Tomlinson was given the task of linking a bunch of children shows on ATV on a Saturday morning. To liven things up, in between cartoons, he totally ad-libbed a competition, offering viewers the chance to win a T-shirt. The response to the competition was enormous and quite unprecedented for the station. This gave Tomlinson the confidence to approach the ATV's management and show them there was an untapped audience out there. The management agreed and Tiswas was born.Known as the "plummy-voiced" member of the team, he was a regular presenter on the show from 1974 to 1977, when it was still only shown in the Midlands region. He did though make sporadic appearances after that up until 1980, when the show was at the peak of its (almost) national popularity.
Later broadcasting
After leaving ATVAssociated 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 1979 he joined Beacon Radio in Wolverhampton and the Black Country. He later became managing director and a presenter of Saga
Saga
Sagas, are stories in Old Norse about ancient Scandinavian and Germanic history, etc.Saga may also refer to:Business*Saga DAB radio, a British radio station*Saga Airlines, a Turkish airline*Saga Falabella, a department store chain in Peru...
Radios West Midlands station.
During the 1980s he was heard providing the voice-over on Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television, more commonly known as Central is the Independent Television contractor for the Midlands, created following the restructuring of ATV and commencing broadcast on 1 January 1982. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting...
's popular quiz show Blockbusters.
High Sheriff of the West Midlands
At a ceremony in the Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts in BirminghamBirmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
in April 2007, Tomlinson was named the new High Sheriff of the West Midlands
High Sheriff of the West Midlands
The Office of High Sheriff of the West Midlands is the ceremonial position of High Sheriff appointed to the West Midlands, a metropolitan county in central England. The appointment is made by the British monarch by Pricking the Lists...
. He said "I feel very honoured to be asked to become the High Sheriff
High Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
of one of the busiest shrievalties in the country. I am looking forward to serving my country and making a difference where I can."
Personal
He is the son of actor David TomlinsonDavid Tomlinson
David Cecil MacAlister Tomlinson was an English film actor. He is primarily remembered for his roles as authority figure George Banks in Mary Poppins, fraudulent magician Professor Emelius Browne in Bedknobs and Broomsticks and as hapless antagonist Peter Thorndyke in The Love Bug.-Early life:Born...
, star of Bedknobs & Broomsticks and Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins (film)
Mary Poppins is a 1964 musical film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, produced by Walt Disney, and based on the Mary Poppins books series by P. L. Travers with illustrations by Mary Shepard. The film was directed by Robert Stevenson and written by Bill Walsh and Don DaGradi, with songs by...
.