Duncan Harrison
Encyclopedia
Duncan Harrison is a secondary school student from Horfield
, Bristol
, who won the BBC
's The Speaker
competition, winning the title of Britain's best young speaker.
Harrison first attended Helen O'Grady Drama, then Bristol School of Performing Arts, where he performed in in-house productions of Oliver as Oliver, Aladdin as Wishy Washy, Joseph and the TDC and many other productions. Harrison now attends "The Actors Workshop".
Harrison attends St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School
in Bristol, and is currently in year 12.
On his Speaker profile, Harrison describes himself as "a team player... so long as he's the leader!"
He is the younger brother of actor Angus Harrison
.
, and reached the top five with his speech on global warming, titled 'Hot, fast and electrical life'. He proceeded to the next round, where he had to speak about why he should win the competition at Wembley Arena
. He was one of the few competitors who managed to speak ex tempore
, and was placed in the top 10, later progressing to the top 8, after impressing celebrity mentor Deborah Meaden
at Speaker's corner, where he had to speak spontaneously about an alarm clock.
As the competition proceeded, Harrison's key flaw, his over-activity, become more evident, posing a serious problem when he had to speak as a tour guide at Althorp House for Mentor Earl Spencer
. During the task he confused facts, although he successfully talked for two and a half minutes more than he had to.
In the next episode, Harrison had to speak to camera and gave one of his best performances, as he asked a zoo keeper questions about tarantulas and arachnophobia
. This speech was far more reserved, and Harrison therefore progressed to the next round and the top six.
Harrison then went to the town of Egham
, where Alastair Campbell
mentored the contestants in the art of persuasion. Although his speech to the other contestants only persuaded one of them, Harrison managed to persuade the town of Egham as a whole, on the issue of improving CCTV facilities, winning the vote, and reaching the top five.
In the semi-final, the five remaining speakers had to address the nation, via key screens in major cities, on the topic of inspiration and what inspired them. Harrison spoke about Christmas
, and was beaten by both Irene and Kaykay, leaving him in the bottom three for the first time in the contest. In order to reach the final he therefore had to perform another task: talking about how the competition had inspired him.
In the final round of the Speaker the three finalists, Irene, Kaykay and Harrison, were flown to Malawi
to research children's rights, then return home, and give a final speech about their experiences. Each finalist was given an aspect of children's rights to talk about. Harrison was given the children's right to education. He spoke last out of the three competitors. The judges voted Harrison the winner, awarding him the title of Britain's best young Speaker.
In his exit speech, Harrison said that the competition had shown him "not only about speaking, but about life."
Horfield
Horfield is a suburb of the city of Bristol, in southwest England. It lies on Bristol's northern edge, its border with Filton marking part of the boundary between Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Bishopston lies directly to the south. Monks Park and Golden Hill are to the west. Lockleaze and...
, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, who won the BBC
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...
's The Speaker
The Speaker
The Speaker is a 2009 British television series, broadcast on BBC Two. It is a talent show type series that aimed to find the best young speaker in the United Kingdom. The show is narrated by Jane Horrocks...
competition, winning the title of Britain's best young speaker.
Harrison first attended Helen O'Grady Drama, then Bristol School of Performing Arts, where he performed in in-house productions of Oliver as Oliver, Aladdin as Wishy Washy, Joseph and the TDC and many other productions. Harrison now attends "The Actors Workshop".
Harrison attends St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School
St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School
St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School is a Church of England voluntary aided school for students aged 11 to 18, situated in the inner-city suburb of Redcliffe, Bristol...
in Bristol, and is currently in year 12.
On his Speaker profile, Harrison describes himself as "a team player... so long as he's the leader!"
He is the younger brother of actor Angus Harrison
Angus Harrison
Angus Harrison is a British actor from Bristol. He lives in his family home in Horfield. He has appeared in Skins, MI High, Genie in the House and most recently in My Almost Famous Family. He is also set to appear in the upcoming film My Angel starring Timothy Spall...
.
The Speaker
Harrison attended the regional auditions in CardiffCardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, and reached the top five with his speech on global warming, titled 'Hot, fast and electrical life'. He proceeded to the next round, where he had to speak about why he should win the competition at Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena is an indoor arena, at Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent. The building is opposite Wembley Stadium.-History:...
. He was one of the few competitors who managed to speak ex tempore
Ex tempore
Ex tempore has two meanings:-Performance:"Extempore" or "ex tempore" refers to a stage or theater performance that is carried out without preparation or forethought. Most often the term is used in the context of speech, singing and stage acting...
, and was placed in the top 10, later progressing to the top 8, after impressing celebrity mentor Deborah Meaden
Deborah Meaden
Deborah Meaden is a British business woman who ran a multi-million pound family holiday business, before completing a management buyout...
at Speaker's corner, where he had to speak spontaneously about an alarm clock.
As the competition proceeded, Harrison's key flaw, his over-activity, become more evident, posing a serious problem when he had to speak as a tour guide at Althorp House for Mentor Earl Spencer
Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer
Charles Edward Maurice Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, DL , styled Viscount Althorp between 1975 and 1992, is a British peer and brother of Diana, Princess of Wales...
. During the task he confused facts, although he successfully talked for two and a half minutes more than he had to.
In the next episode, Harrison had to speak to camera and gave one of his best performances, as he asked a zoo keeper questions about tarantulas and arachnophobia
Arachnophobia
Arachnophobia or arachnephobia is a specific phobia, the fear of spiders and other arachnids such as scorpions. It is a manifestation of zoophobia, among the most common of all phobias. The reactions of arachnophobics often seem irrational to others...
. This speech was far more reserved, and Harrison therefore progressed to the next round and the top six.
Harrison then went to the town of Egham
Egham
Egham is a wealthy suburb in the Runnymede borough of Surrey, in the south-east of England. It is part of the London commuter belt and Greater London Urban Area, and about south-west of central London on the River Thames and near junction 13 of the M25 motorway.-Demographics:Egham town has a...
, where Alastair Campbell
Alastair Campbell
Alastair John Campbell is a British journalist, broadcaster, political aide and author, best known for his work as Director of Communications and Strategy for Prime Minister Tony Blair between 1997 and 2003, having first started working for Blair in 1994...
mentored the contestants in the art of persuasion. Although his speech to the other contestants only persuaded one of them, Harrison managed to persuade the town of Egham as a whole, on the issue of improving CCTV facilities, winning the vote, and reaching the top five.
In the semi-final, the five remaining speakers had to address the nation, via key screens in major cities, on the topic of inspiration and what inspired them. Harrison spoke about Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
, and was beaten by both Irene and Kaykay, leaving him in the bottom three for the first time in the contest. In order to reach the final he therefore had to perform another task: talking about how the competition had inspired him.
In the final round of the Speaker the three finalists, Irene, Kaykay and Harrison, were flown to Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
to research children's rights, then return home, and give a final speech about their experiences. Each finalist was given an aspect of children's rights to talk about. Harrison was given the children's right to education. He spoke last out of the three competitors. The judges voted Harrison the winner, awarding him the title of Britain's best young Speaker.
In his exit speech, Harrison said that the competition had shown him "not only about speaking, but about life."