Jeanne Downs
Encyclopedia
Jeanne Downs is a former presenter of Children's ITV (now known as CITV
), which is the brand name used for the majority of children's television output on ITV
in the United Kingdom. She is also a singer and voice over artist.
(a DJ from London's Radio Top Shop) were both hired to present the mornings service, which ran from 9:25am to 12:30pm on weekdays throughout July and August. Also, the puppet character Scally The Dog
often appeared in the mornings with them too. Additionally during this time, they both took separate turns as stand-ins for fellow Children's ITV presenter Jerry Foulkes
in the afternoons, when he was away on holiday.
On 2 January 1990 (following Foulkes' departure on 22 December 1989) Downs took over co-presenting the Children's ITV afternoons service, along with Scally. Warren returned to Children's ITV in summer 1990, to present the mornings service on his own, but he and Downs did occasionally swap roles, with him doing the afternoons and she doing the mornings instead sometimes. In September 1990, Children's ITV's afternoon service became slightly longer, now running from 3:55 to 5:10pm each weekday. Downs and Scally continued to present Children's ITV's afternoons service until 29 March 1991, when Stonewall lost the contract to produce Children's ITV back to Central Television (who had also done it previously from 1983 to 1989). They were replaced by a solo Tommy Boyd
, who had already presented Children's ITV twice before in the 1980s, now returning for a third time on 1 April 1991. However, on 3 January 2003 CITV celebrated its 20th birthday, with a special one-off programme called CITV's 20th Birthday Bash. Downs and Scally both appeared on the programme, alongside other past and present Children's ITV presenters, such as Roland Rat
, Matthew Kelly
and Michael Underwood
.
(a former member of the rock group Genesis
). She is involved with music production, songwriting, runs a 'pop school' in Surrey
and is also a member of a 'live' band called Madison Square. She also does lots of voice-over and narration work, including many commercials. She is married to record producer Aron Friedman, and they have a young daughter called Sophie.
CITV
CITV is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It broadcasts content from the CITV archive, as well as commissions and acquisitions. CITV itself is the programming block on the main ITV Network .The CITV channel broadcasts from 06:00 to 18:00...
), which is the brand name used for the majority of children's television output 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...
in the United Kingdom. She is also a singer and voice over artist.
Children's ITV
On Monday 3 April 1989 the contract to produce Children's ITV was taken over by an independent production company, called Stonewall Productions. As well as doing the regular afternoons service, in the summer of '89, they also had to provide a mornings service too, which was a rival to But... First This! on Children's BBC. Downs & Clive WarrenClive Warren
Clive Warren is a British radio DJ. He has worked at several broadcasters and now presents on weekdays and Sundays for Metro Radio.-Early career:...
(a DJ from London's Radio Top Shop) were both hired to present the mornings service, which ran from 9:25am to 12:30pm on weekdays throughout July and August. Also, the puppet character Scally The Dog
Scally The Dog
Scally The Dog was a puppet mongrel dog character, who co-presented Children's ITV afternoons service, from January 1989 - March 1991 in the United Kingdom.-Children's ITV:...
often appeared in the mornings with them too. Additionally during this time, they both took separate turns as stand-ins for fellow Children's ITV presenter Jerry Foulkes
Jerry Foulkes
Jerry Foulkes is a former presenter of Children's ITV in the United Kingdom. He is also an ex-radio disc jockey and has successfully worked in the UK television industry for many years.-Children's ITV:...
in the afternoons, when he was away on holiday.
On 2 January 1990 (following Foulkes' departure on 22 December 1989) Downs took over co-presenting the Children's ITV afternoons service, along with Scally. Warren returned to Children's ITV in summer 1990, to present the mornings service on his own, but he and Downs did occasionally swap roles, with him doing the afternoons and she doing the mornings instead sometimes. In September 1990, Children's ITV's afternoon service became slightly longer, now running from 3:55 to 5:10pm each weekday. Downs and Scally continued to present Children's ITV's afternoons service until 29 March 1991, when Stonewall lost the contract to produce Children's ITV back to Central Television (who had also done it previously from 1983 to 1989). They were replaced by a solo Tommy Boyd
Tommy Boyd
Timothy Leslie Boyd , better known as Tommy Boyd, is a British radio and television presenter who now lives in Chichester, West Sussex.-Early career:...
, who had already presented Children's ITV twice before in the 1980s, now returning for a third time on 1 April 1991. However, on 3 January 2003 CITV celebrated its 20th birthday, with a special one-off programme called CITV's 20th Birthday Bash. Downs and Scally both appeared on the programme, alongside other past and present Children's ITV presenters, such as Roland Rat
Roland Rat
Roland Rat is a British television puppet character. He was created, operated and voiced by David Claridge, who had previously been behind the Mooncat puppet in the Children's ITV television programme Get Up and Go! David worked for Jim Henson, then the second series of The Young Ones...
, Matthew Kelly
Matthew Kelly
Matthew Kelly is an English television presenter and Olivier-award winning actor. Having been trained as a theatre actor, he first came to public prominence as a television presenter of ITV light entertainment shows such as You Bet! and Stars in Their Eyes...
and Michael Underwood
Michael Underwood
Michael Paul Underwood is a British television presenter. He famously won a six week CBBC presenting contract on Gaby Roslin's BBC television show Whatever You Want.-Career:...
.
Other work
After she left Children's ITV in 1991, Downs pursued a singing career, providing backing vocals for many artists, including Steve HackettSteve Hackett
Stephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
(a former member of the rock group Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
). She is involved with music production, songwriting, runs a 'pop school' in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
and is also a member of a 'live' band called Madison Square. She also does lots of voice-over and narration work, including many commercials. She is married to record producer Aron Friedman, and they have a young daughter called Sophie.