Sylvia Peters
Encyclopedia
Sylvia Peters was a British actress, and from 1947 to 1958 was a continuity announcer for BBC
Television.
in London. In June 1947 she answered a newspaper advertisement for a continuity announcer for BBC Television, then based at Alexandra Palace
, and was chosen from hundreds of applicants. She was part the team of continuity announcers headed by McDonald Hobley
, and with Peter Haigh
, who joined in 1952. In 1954, Peters was chosen to host Come Dancing
(the forerunner of Strictly Come Dancing
), doing so until her retirement in 1958. In 1953, Peters introduced the live television broadcast of the coronation
of Queen Elizabeth II. She was later be involved in teaching the Queen the broadcasting skills necessary for the Her Majesty's Royal Christmas Message
broadcasts.
In 1950, she married TV director Kenneth Milne-Buckley, who was responsible for the TV series Compact
.
After retiring from the BBC in 1958, Peters opened a dress-shop in Wimbledon, London
, and has rarely been seen on screen since, with a small number of appearances, notably the Sykes
1977 Christmas special, and for special shows such as the BBC Television Service's 50th and 75th birthday specials. Sylvia did enjoy a brief return to television presenting in the late 1980s when she joined Robert (Bob) Dougall
, Brian Johnston
and other hosts in presenting the Channel 4
magazine programme for the over sixties 'Years Ahead' .
In popular culture, Sylvia Peters and the presentation style used by her have often been satirised. One example of this is in the 2006 Doctor Who
episode "The Idiot's Lantern
".
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Television.
Career
After training as a singer and dancer, Peters played in musicals at the Coliseum TheatreColiseum Theatre
The London Coliseum is an opera house and major performing venue on St. Martin's Lane, central London. It is one of London's largest and best equipped theatres and opened in 1904, designed by theatrical architect Frank Matcham , for impresario Oswald Stoll...
in London. In June 1947 she answered a newspaper advertisement for a continuity announcer for BBC Television, then based at Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace is a building in North London, England. It stands in Alexandra Park, in an area between Hornsey, Muswell Hill and Wood Green...
, and was chosen from hundreds of applicants. She was part the team of continuity announcers headed by McDonald Hobley
McDonald Hobley
McDonald Hobley, born Dennys Jack Valentine McDonald-Hobley, was one of the first BBC Television continuity announcers, appearing from 1946 to 1956.-Childhood and early career:...
, and with Peter Haigh
Peter Haigh
Peter Varley Haigh was a familiar and popular face as an in-vision announcer on BBC Television in the years after the Second World War.-Education:...
, who joined in 1952. In 1954, Peters was chosen to host Come Dancing
Come Dancing
Come Dancing was a BBC TV ballroom dancing competition show that ran on and off from 1949 to 1998, becoming one of television's longest-running shows....
(the forerunner of Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing is a British television show, featuring celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances. The title of the show suggests a continuation of the long-running series Come Dancing, with an allusion to the film Strictly Ballroom...
), doing so until her retirement in 1958. In 1953, Peters introduced the live television broadcast of the coronation
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
of Queen Elizabeth II. She was later be involved in teaching the Queen the broadcasting skills necessary for the Her Majesty's Royal Christmas Message
Royal Christmas Message
The Queen's Christmas Message is a broadcast made by the sovereign of the Commonwealth realms to the Commonwealth of Nations each Christmas. The tradition began in 1932 with a radio broadcast by George V on the British Broadcasting Corporation Empire Service...
broadcasts.
In 1950, she married TV director Kenneth Milne-Buckley, who was responsible for the TV series Compact
Compact (TV series)
Compact is a British television soap opera shown by the BBC between 1962 and 1965. The series was created by Hazel Adair and Peter Ling, who together went on to devise Crossroads....
.
After retiring from the BBC in 1958, Peters opened a dress-shop in Wimbledon, London
Wimbledon, London
Wimbledon is a district in the south west area of London, England, located south of Wandsworth, and east of Kingston upon Thames. It is situated within Greater London. It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas...
, and has rarely been seen on screen since, with a small number of appearances, notably the Sykes
Sykes
Sykes is a British sitcom that aired on BBC1 from 1972 to 1979. Starring Eric Sykes and Hattie Jacques, it was written by Eric Sykes, who had previously starred with Jacques in Sykes and A... and Sykes and a Big, Big Show ....
1977 Christmas special, and for special shows such as the BBC Television Service's 50th and 75th birthday specials. Sylvia did enjoy a brief return to television presenting in the late 1980s when she joined Robert (Bob) Dougall
Robert Dougall
Robert Dougall MBE was a British broadcaster and ornithologist, mainly known as a newsreader and announcer.-Television news:...
, Brian Johnston
Brian Johnston
Brian Alexander Johnston CBE, MC was a cricket commentator and presenter for the BBC from 1946 until his death.-Early life and education:...
and other hosts in presenting the 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...
magazine programme for the over sixties 'Years Ahead' .
In popular culture, Sylvia Peters and the presentation style used by her have often been satirised. One example of this is in the 2006 Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
episode "The Idiot's Lantern
The Idiot's Lantern
"The Idiot's Lantern" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on 27 May 2006.-Plot:...
".