Paul Coia
Encyclopedia
Paul Coia is a Scottish television presenter and continuity announcer who was the first voice on Channel 4
.
before going into hospital radio
and eventually getting a job as a disc jockey
at Radio Clyde
. His ambition was to become a dentist but it remained unrealised as his exam results were not to the level required.
In the early 1980s Paul Coia become a continuity announcer for Scottish Television
. After dropping his script and continuing by ad libbing, Paul was given his own chat show, ‘Meet Paul Coia’.
In 1982 he joined Channel 4
on its launch, was the first voice heard on air. Unusually for continuity of the time, Coia could also be seen in-vision, usually late-night, especially immediately before closedown. Subsequently he became a presenter of BBC One
's daytime magazine programme, Pebble Mill at One
.
During 1987, Coia made his second chat show, this time for Grampian Television
The Paul Coia Show which was broadcast as well on Scottish television, and he also made his first gameshow, Split Second.
In 1988 Coia became the host of the BBC gameshow Catchword
, memorable for the fact that seemingly every contestant endeavoured to employ the words floccinaucinihilipilification or pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis during their efforts. He has since presented a number of other quizzes on various satellite and cable channels.
Coia took an acting role in an episode of the sitcom Rab C. Nesbitt
called 'Holiday', first shown in 1990, in which the Nesbitt family and their neighbours the Cotters go to Fuengirola
. He plays an annoyingly upbeat holiday rep called Andy.
He stood in once with his wife, former Miss England Debbie Greenwood
, for Gloria Hunniford
's afternoon chat show on Five. Coia and Greenwood also sat in for Derek
and Ellen Jameson on the late-night show on BBC Radio 2
, and Coia (broadcasting solo) also deputised for other presenters on that station. He is a former Scottish Radio Personality Of The Year.
In 2002 Paul created a Quiz show for the BBC, The Enemy Within
Coia can occasionally be seen on the shopping channel QVC
in the UK, where he mainly sells mechanical and electronic/audio-visual products.
Coia was a continuity announcer and trail voiceover (all pre-recorded) for the now-defunct digital channel ABC1. He has also been heard on 102.2 Smooth Radio
since February 2008. Paul took over the Drivetime show from December 2008 until the end of 2010 after Martin Collins
left the station.
. They have two children. He has a twin brother Gerard.
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
.
Early life and career
Coia was schooled at Merrylee Convent, John Ogilvie Hall and St Aloysius' College and then at the University of GlasgowUniversity of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
before going into hospital radio
Hospital radio
Hospital radio is a form of audio broadcasting produced specifically for the in-patients of hospitals. It is primarily found in the United Kingdom.-History:...
and eventually getting a job as a disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
at Radio Clyde
Radio Clyde
Radio Clyde is a division of Bauer Radio based in Glasgow, Scotland. They currently operate an FM station and an AM station from studios in Clydebank West Dunbartonshire.- History :...
. His ambition was to become a dentist but it remained unrealised as his exam results were not to the level required.
In the early 1980s Paul Coia become a continuity announcer for Scottish Television
Scottish Television
Scottish Television is Scotland's largest ITV franchisee, and has held the ITV franchise for Central Scotland since 31 August 1957. It is the second oldest ITV franchisee still active...
. After dropping his script and continuing by ad libbing, Paul was given his own chat show, ‘Meet Paul Coia’.
In 1982 he joined Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
on its launch, was the first voice heard on air. Unusually for continuity of the time, Coia could also be seen in-vision, usually late-night, especially immediately before closedown. Subsequently he became a presenter of BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
's daytime magazine programme, Pebble Mill at One
Pebble Mill at One
Pebble Mill at One was a popular British lunchtime chat show broadcast live originally on BBC2 before transferring to BBC1. It was produced from the Pebble Mill facilities of BBC Birmingham, and uniquely was hosted from the centre's main reception area rather than a traditional studio...
.
During 1987, Coia made his second chat show, this time for Grampian Television
Grampian Television
Grampian Television is the ITV franchisee for the North and North East of Scotland. Its coverage area includes the Scottish Highlands , Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee and parts of north Fife...
The Paul Coia Show which was broadcast as well on Scottish television, and he also made his first gameshow, Split Second.
In 1988 Coia became the host of the BBC gameshow Catchword
Catchword (game show)
Catchword was a daytime word game show first shown on BBC1 Scotland from 17 April 1985 until 2 April 1986, hosted by Gyles Brandreth, and then network on its sister channel BBC2 from 5 January 1988 until 23 May 1995, hosted by Paul Coia-Format:...
, memorable for the fact that seemingly every contestant endeavoured to employ the words floccinaucinihilipilification or pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis during their efforts. He has since presented a number of other quizzes on various satellite and cable channels.
Coia took an acting role in an episode of the sitcom Rab C. Nesbitt
Rab C. Nesbitt
Rab C. Nesbitt is a Scottish sitcom which began in 1988. Produced by BBC Scotland, it stars Gregor Fisher as an alcoholic Glaswegian who believed unemployment was the life for him...
called 'Holiday', first shown in 1990, in which the Nesbitt family and their neighbours the Cotters go to Fuengirola
Fuengirola
Fuengirola, in ancient times known as Suel and then Suhayl, is a large town and municipality on the Costa del Sol in the province of Málaga, autonomous community of Andalusia in southern Spain. It is a major tourist resort, with more than 8 km of beaches, and home to a mediæval Moorish fortress...
. He plays an annoyingly upbeat holiday rep called Andy.
He stood in once with his wife, former Miss England Debbie Greenwood
Debbie Greenwood
Debbie Greenwood is a British television presenter and a former beauty queen who won the title of Miss Great Britain in 1984.-Career:...
, for Gloria Hunniford
Gloria Hunniford
Gloria Hunniford is a Northern Irish TV and radio presenter, and formerly a singer.-Biography:...
's afternoon chat show on Five. Coia and Greenwood also sat in for Derek
Derek Jameson
Derek Jameson is a retired British tabloid journalist and broadcaster.As a child, Jameson was evacuated from London in WW2...
and Ellen Jameson on the late-night show on BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
, and Coia (broadcasting solo) also deputised for other presenters on that station. He is a former Scottish Radio Personality Of The Year.
In 2002 Paul created a Quiz show for the BBC, The Enemy Within
Coia can occasionally be seen on the shopping channel QVC
QVC (UK)
QVC UK is a digital television shopping channel broadcast in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1993 when QVC, Inc. formed a deal with Sky TV to create a UK version of the US channel. "QVC — The Shopping Channel" first broadcast in the UK on 1 October 1993. QVC UK - 20% owned by Sky - moved into...
in the UK, where he mainly sells mechanical and electronic/audio-visual products.
Coia was a continuity announcer and trail voiceover (all pre-recorded) for the now-defunct digital channel ABC1. He has also been heard on 102.2 Smooth Radio
102.2 Smooth Radio
102.2 Smooth Radio was an Independent Local Radio station for the Greater London area, which replaced 102.2 Smooth FM on 26 March 2007, launched by Gavin McCoy with Barbra Streisand's "A Star Is Born"...
since February 2008. Paul took over the Drivetime show from December 2008 until the end of 2010 after Martin Collins
Martin Collins
Martin Collins is a British radio presenter.Martin started broadcasting as soon as he left college. His broadcasting career began at Chiltern Radio. Next, he moved to London's Capital Radio, first presenting a Sunday night specialist show for the station, before moving to promience on the...
left the station.
Personal life
Coia lives in London with his wife, QVC presenter Debbie GreenwoodDebbie Greenwood
Debbie Greenwood is a British television presenter and a former beauty queen who won the title of Miss Great Britain in 1984.-Career:...
. They have two children. He has a twin brother Gerard.
TV shows
- Meet Paul Coia (1980 Scottish TV)
- Pebble Mill at One (1980's)
- Domesday Detectives (1986)
- The Paul Coia Show (Grampian tv. 1987)
- Split Second (1988)
- Catchword (1988–1995)
- Telethon ‘88, 90 & '92 - Host for Scotland.
- Rab C Nesbitt: 'Holiday' (1990)
- Garden Party (1990–1991, BBC)
- Press Your Luck (1991-1992 HTV)
- Spellbound (1994–1996, Sky one)
- Don't Drink the Water (1997)
- Heaven Knows (1997–98)
- Pull the Other One (1998)
- Flash in the Pan (1999)