Alex Macintosh
Encyclopedia
Alex Macintosh was a BBC
presenter and continuity announcer from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s. He was also the voice artist heard during the first British-broadcast advertisement, for Gibbs SR Toothpaste on ITV
, September 22, 1955.
He contributed to a number of diverse programmes, including a spell as a regional presenter on Come Dancing
(between 1957 and 1966; and again 1968-1972). In 1962, he guest-starred in an episode of Brian Rix's Dial RIX as a host of "Come Prancing."
In addition to BBC work, Macintosh's voice was heard on the very first advert
for Gibbs SR Toothpaste, that was shown at 8.12pm on the opening night of ITV on September 22, 1955."
In 1961, he presented the London area news magazine Town and Around, and was a "relief" news reader
in March 1961. Macintosh also took many supporting roles in a variety of TV programmes, often as a TV reporter, interviewer or newsreader, in which guise he appeared in episodes of R3
(1965), The Troubleshooters (1969) and Doctor Who
(1972).
where he pursued an interest in portrait painting
.
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...
presenter and continuity announcer from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s. He was also the voice artist heard during the first British-broadcast advertisement, for Gibbs SR Toothpaste on ITV
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...
, September 22, 1955.
Career
Macintosh was an ABC TV "in-vision" announcer from 1955 to 1961, which led to him becoming a presenter on other BBC programmes.He contributed to a number of diverse programmes, including a spell as a regional presenter on 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....
(between 1957 and 1966; and again 1968-1972). In 1962, he guest-starred in an episode of Brian Rix's Dial RIX as a host of "Come Prancing."
In addition to BBC work, Macintosh's voice was heard on the very first advert
Television Act 1954
The Television Act 1954 was a British law which permitted the creation of the first commercial television network in the United Kingdom, ITV....
for Gibbs SR Toothpaste, that was shown at 8.12pm on the opening night of ITV on September 22, 1955."
In 1961, he presented the London area news magazine Town and Around, and was a "relief" news reader
News presenter
A news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
in March 1961. Macintosh also took many supporting roles in a variety of TV programmes, often as a TV reporter, interviewer or newsreader, in which guise he appeared in episodes of R3
R3 (TV series)
R3 is a British television series produced by the BBC between 1964 and 1965. Full title was Ministry of Research Centre No.3. It was a 50 minute show and the series starred John Robinson as Sir Michael Gerrard, Jeremy Young as Wilson, David Blake Kelly as Captain Rogers, and was set in a scientific...
(1965), The Troubleshooters (1969) and 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...
(1972).
Later life
After a considerable stint with the BBC, Macintosh worked for an Australian TV company in Sydney, before retiring to NorfolkNorfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
where he pursued an interest in portrait painting
Portrait painting
Portrait painting is a genre in painting, where the intent is to depict the visual appearance of the subject. Beside human beings, animals, pets and even inanimate objects can be chosen as the subject for a portrait...
.