Bill Steel
Encyclopedia
Bill Steel is a television and radio broadcaster from North East England
. He has also acted, briefly appearing in Coronation Street
.
He began his working life at the General Electric
as a trainee accountant, and moved into television in the 1960s, first working in the Tyne Tees Television
Presentation department as an assistant Transmission controller and at the age of 23, a presentation director. Later he progressed into the advertising section, which involved doing voice over work for over 10,000 local adverts produced by Tyne Tees.
In 1967 he left his native North East England
and moved to Manchester
where he presented the ABC Weekend News. Bill later moved to ABC
's Midlands operation and became its chief announcer until 1968 when the station's staff were redeployed to the company's brand new London
broadcaster Thames Television
. There, Steel worked in various departments, most of which he had previous experience, such as commercial voice overs, newsreading, and transmission control. Bill, also through the voice overs, ended up doing a short spell of continuity announcing for Thames, before returning to the North in 1971.
Employed once again by Tyne Tees, Bill worked as one of a number of presenters on Tyne Tees News and also the evening 20-minute round-up, Today At Six.
Today At Six was axed, however Bill was kept on, this time as sole presenter of the station's new flagship news programme, Northern Life
. Bill hosted this nightly news programme from 1976 until 1980. He then switched back to continuity announcing, taking over as Chief Announcer and Head of Presentation in 1988 when he inherited that role from Neville Wanless. Despite the switch back to announcing, Bill continued to read regular local news bulletins until the late 80s. He remained as the senior continuity announcer until March 1996 when the stations owners, Yorkshire-Tyne Tees Television, moved the department to their own studios in Leeds
. Bill signed off from continuity announcing on 16 March 1996 - one of his colleagues, the late Allan Cartner
made the final announcement from Newcastle later that night.
At Tyne Tees he had also presented many programmes including Songs of the Sixties and Lookaround. He also appeared on many local programmes as a features reporter during the late 1980s and 1990s; including the regional magazine shows Tyne Tees Weekend and Tonight. Bill continued to work for the company as a features reporter until the end of 1996, when his contract with Tyne Tees wasn't renewed.
In 1997 he returned to television with an eight-month stint as Bernard McKenna in the ITV
soap Coronation Street
.
Bill Steel has also had plenty of experience as a radio presenter. He was the first breakfast show DJ for the North East's first commercial radio station, Metro Radio
in 1973. He worked for Metro and Tyne Tees at the same time until he quit Metro in the early 1980s.
Before knowing his time at Tyne Tees was drawing to a close, Bill accepted an offer to present a once-a-week Sunday afternoon request programme for Gateshead
-based Century FM
in 1994. Once his television presenting ended, his role at Century was increased; with Bill moving onto other weekend and evening programmes. Bill continued to present overnight shows at the weekend for Century until these were replaced with networked material from Real Radio North West in 2008. He still enjoys occasional work as an actor.
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
. He has also acted, briefly appearing in Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
.
He began his working life at the General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
as a trainee accountant, and moved into television in the 1960s, first working in the 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...
Presentation department as an assistant Transmission controller and at the age of 23, a presentation director. Later he progressed into the advertising section, which involved doing voice over work for over 10,000 local adverts produced by Tyne Tees.
In 1967 he left his native North East England
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
and moved to Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
where he presented the ABC Weekend News. Bill later moved to ABC
Associated British Corporation
Associated British Corporation was one of a number of commercial television companies established in the United Kingdom during the 1950s by cinema chain companies in an attempt to safeguard their business by becoming involved with television which was taking away their cinema audiences.In this...
's Midlands operation and became its chief announcer until 1968 when the station's staff were redeployed to the company's brand new London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
broadcaster Thames Television
Thames Television
Thames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992....
. There, Steel worked in various departments, most of which he had previous experience, such as commercial voice overs, newsreading, and transmission control. Bill, also through the voice overs, ended up doing a short spell of continuity announcing for Thames, before returning to the North in 1971.
Employed once again by Tyne Tees, Bill worked as one of a number of presenters on Tyne Tees News and also the evening 20-minute round-up, Today At Six.
Today At Six was axed, however Bill was kept on, this time as sole presenter of the station's new flagship news programme, Northern Life
Northern Life (TV series)
Northern Life was a daily news programme on Tyne Tees Television, which aired from 6 September 1976 to 2 October 1992. The programme was aired at 6pm on weekday evenings, for some years at 6.25pm, and ran for 30, 35 or 60 minutes at various points in its run.The programme was the successor to Today...
. Bill hosted this nightly news programme from 1976 until 1980. He then switched back to continuity announcing, taking over as Chief Announcer and Head of Presentation in 1988 when he inherited that role from Neville Wanless. Despite the switch back to announcing, Bill continued to read regular local news bulletins until the late 80s. He remained as the senior continuity announcer until March 1996 when the stations owners, Yorkshire-Tyne Tees Television, moved the department to their own studios in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
. Bill signed off from continuity announcing on 16 March 1996 - one of his colleagues, the late Allan Cartner
Allan Cartner
Allan Cartner was a television continuity announcer, primarily for Border Television.Cartner, born and brought up in Carlisle, graduated from Durham University with a BA before starting his career in 1957 as an outside broadcast cameraman based at the BBC's Lime Grove studios in London and...
made the final announcement from Newcastle later that night.
At Tyne Tees he had also presented many programmes including Songs of the Sixties and Lookaround. He also appeared on many local programmes as a features reporter during the late 1980s and 1990s; including the regional magazine shows Tyne Tees Weekend and Tonight. Bill continued to work for the company as a features reporter until the end of 1996, when his contract with Tyne Tees wasn't renewed.
In 1997 he returned to television with an eight-month stint as Bernard McKenna in the 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...
soap Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
.
Bill Steel has also had plenty of experience as a radio presenter. He was the first breakfast show DJ for the North East's first commercial radio station, Metro Radio
Metro Radio
Metro Radio is an independent local radio station based in Newcastle upon Tyne and broadcasting to Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Northumberland. The station's output is principally contemporary pop and dance music...
in 1973. He worked for Metro and Tyne Tees at the same time until he quit Metro in the early 1980s.
Before knowing his time at Tyne Tees was drawing to a close, Bill accepted an offer to present a once-a-week Sunday afternoon request programme for Gateshead
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
-based Century FM
100-102 Century FM
Real Radio North East is a radio station in north east England owned by GMG Radio. It is based in Team Valley, Gateshead, and broadcasts to north east England....
in 1994. Once his television presenting ended, his role at Century was increased; with Bill moving onto other weekend and evening programmes. Bill continued to present overnight shows at the weekend for Century until these were replaced with networked material from Real Radio North West in 2008. He still enjoys occasional work as an actor.