Glyn Worsnip
Encyclopedia
Glyn Worsnip was a British radio and television presenter. Born in Highnam
, Gloucestershire
, he was most famous for his appearances on That's Life!
(where he was teamed with Kieran Prendiville
from 1973 to 1978) and on Nationwide
.
He attended Monmouth School
and after two years service in the RAF as a Photographic Intelligence Officer he graduated from St John's College, Oxford
with an honours degree in English. He trained as a journalist and actor, was a prolific writer of revues and appeared on stage in revue
, farce and Shakespearian productions before his first appearance as a TV presenter on That's Life!.
In the late 1980s Glyn began experiencing the symptoms af a cerebellar
disorder. In 1986 he developed dysarthria
(slurred speech) as part of an initial cerebellar ataxia
diagnosis. In his autobiography, Up the Down Escalator, he mentions being diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy
(last page and last paragraph) at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
. Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) is a progressive, adult onset disorder characterised by any combination of parkinsonism
, autonomic failure (see nervous system
) and cerebellar ataxia
.
The BBC
did not renew his contract in 1987.
He made the programme, A Lone Voice, about his struggle with the disease, which would claim his life in 1996 at the age of 57, and which was broadcast on BBC Radio 4
in March 1988.
Highnam
Highnam is a village and civil parish on the outskirts of the city of Gloucester. It is three miles northwest of the city on the A40, on its way to Ross, west of Alney Island and Over Bridge. The parish includes the villages of Lassington and Over...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, he was most famous for his appearances on That's Life!
That's Life!
That's Life! was a magazine-style television series on BBC1 between 26 May 1973 and 19 June 1994, presented by Esther Rantzen throughout the entire run, with various changes of co-presenters. The show was generally recorded about an hour prior to transmission, which was originally on Saturday...
(where he was teamed with Kieran Prendiville
Kieran Prendiville
Kieran Prendiville is a television writer, producer and presenter.-Early years:Kieran grew up in England where his father had emigrated to practise medicine...
from 1973 to 1978) and on Nationwide
Nationwide (TV series)
Nationwide was a BBC News and Current affairs television programme broadcast on BBC One each weekday following the early evening news. It followed a magazine format, combining political analysis and discussion with consumer affairs, light entertainment and sports reporting...
.
He attended Monmouth School
Monmouth School
Monmouth School is an HMC boys' boarding and day school in Monmouth, Monmouthshire in south east Wales. It was founded in 1614 by William Jones. It is run as a trust, the William Jones's Schools Foundation, by the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, one of the Livery Companies...
and after two years service in the RAF as a Photographic Intelligence Officer he graduated from St John's College, Oxford
St John's College, Oxford
__FORCETOC__St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, one of the larger Oxford colleges with approximately 390 undergraduates, 200 postgraduates and over 100 academic staff. It was founded by Sir Thomas White, a merchant, in 1555, whose heart is buried in the chapel of...
with an honours degree in English. He trained as a journalist and actor, was a prolific writer of revues and appeared on stage in revue
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
, farce and Shakespearian productions before his first appearance as a TV presenter on That's Life!.
In the late 1980s Glyn began experiencing the symptoms af a cerebellar
Cerebellum
The cerebellum is a region of the brain that plays an important role in motor control. It may also be involved in some cognitive functions such as attention and language, and in regulating fear and pleasure responses, but its movement-related functions are the most solidly established...
disorder. In 1986 he developed dysarthria
Dysarthria
Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder resulting from neurological injury of the motor component of the motor-speech system and is characterized by poor articulation of phonemes...
(slurred speech) as part of an initial cerebellar ataxia
Cerebellar ataxia
Cerebellar ataxia is a form of ataxia originating in the cerebellum.-References:...
diagnosis. In his autobiography, Up the Down Escalator, he mentions being diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy
Multiple system atrophy
Multiple system atrophy is a degenerative neurological disorder. MSA is associated with the degeneration of nerve cells in specific areas of the brain. This cell degeneration causes problems with movement, balance and other autonomic functions of the body such as bladder control or blood pressure...
(last page and last paragraph) at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery is a neurological hospital in London, United Kingdom and part of the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust...
. Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) is a progressive, adult onset disorder characterised by any combination of parkinsonism
Parkinsonism
Parkinsonism is a neurological syndrome characterized by tremor, hypokinesia, rigidity, and postural instability. The underlying causes of parkinsonism are numerous, and diagnosis can be complex...
, autonomic failure (see nervous system
Nervous system
The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body. In most animals the nervous system consists of two parts, central and peripheral. The central nervous...
) and cerebellar ataxia
Cerebellar ataxia
Cerebellar ataxia is a form of ataxia originating in the cerebellum.-References:...
.
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...
did not renew his contract in 1987.
He made the programme, A Lone Voice, about his struggle with the disease, which would claim his life in 1996 at the age of 57, and which was broadcast on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
in March 1988.