Sara Mendes da Costa
Encyclopedia
Sara Mendes da Costa, born c. 1966, from Brighton & Hove
became the fourth permanent holder of the iconic role of the voice of the UK Speaking Clock
, first established in 1936, at 08:00 BST on 2 April 2007.
On 23 October 2006, to mark the BT
clock reaching its 70th year, a competition was launched to find the new modern voice of the Speaking Clock. Applicants were invited to leave telephone recordings of their voice with the proceeds of each call going to Children in Need
. Sara Mendes da Costa, a telemarketer
and part-time voiceover artist
, was announced as the winner on BBC One
's Children in Need telethon on 17 November 2006.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/6160186.stm
She was the unanimous choice of a voting panel which included the clock's previous voice, Brian Cobby
, the BBC presenters Natasha Kaplinsky
and Alan Dedicoat
, and Sir Christopher Bland
, chairman of BT Group
, the clock's providers. As the organiser of Children in Need, Terry Wogan
launched her voice on BBC Radio 2
.
She appeared as a "stranger" on the first UK episode of the game show Identity
(broadcast on 27 August 2007), with the identity "Speaking Clock", and was successfully identified by that day's contestant.
She was educated at Dollar Academy.
Brighton & Hove
Brighton and Hove is a unitary authority area and city on the south coast of England. It is England's most populous seaside resort.In 1997 Brighton and Hove were joined to form the unitary authority of Brighton and Hove, which was granted city status by Queen Elizabeth II as part of the millennium...
became the fourth permanent holder of the iconic role of the voice of the UK Speaking Clock
Speaking clock
A speaking clock service is a recorded or simulated human voice service, usually accessed by telephone, that gives the correct time. The first telephone speaking clock service was introduced in France, in association with the Paris Observatory on 14 February 1933.The format of the service is...
, first established in 1936, at 08:00 BST on 2 April 2007.
On 23 October 2006, to mark the BT
BT Group
BT Group plc is a global telecommunications services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is one of the largest telecommunications services companies in the world and has operations in more than 170 countries. Through its BT Global Services division it is a major supplier of...
clock reaching its 70th year, a competition was launched to find the new modern voice of the Speaking Clock. Applicants were invited to leave telephone recordings of their voice with the proceeds of each call going to Children in Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
. Sara Mendes da Costa, a telemarketer
Telemarketing
Telemarketing is a method of direct marketing in which a salesperson solicits prospective customers to buy products or services, either over the phone or through a subsequent face to face or Web conferencing appointment scheduled during the call.Telemarketing can also include recorded sales pitches...
and part-time voiceover artist
Voice acting
Voice acting is the art of providing voices for animated characters and radio and audio dramas and comedy, as well as doing voice-overs in radio and television commercials, audio dramas, dubbed foreign language films, video games, puppet shows, and amusement rides.Performers are called...
, was announced as the winner on 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 Children in Need telethon on 17 November 2006.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/6160186.stm
She was the unanimous choice of a voting panel which included the clock's previous voice, Brian Cobby
Brian Cobby
Brian Cobby , is a British actor and telephone exchange worker who in 1985 became the first male voice of the British speaking clock.In 2004, Cobby guest-starred in the Doctor Who audio drama The Creed of the Kromon....
, the BBC presenters Natasha Kaplinsky
Natasha Kaplinsky
Natasha Margaret Kaplinsky is a British newsreader and television presenter, currently employed by ITV having previously worked for Channel 5, Sky News and the BBC...
and Alan Dedicoat
Alan Dedicoat
Alan Dedicoat is an announcer and on various programmes on BBC One and BBC Radio 2; he is probably best known as the "Voice of the Balls" on the National Lottery programmes on BBC One. He also reads the news on BBC Radio 2 where he is nicknamed Deadly.-Early Life:He was born on 1 December 1954...
, and Sir Christopher Bland
Christopher Bland
Sir Christopher Buchan Bland is a British businessman and politician. He was Chairman of the Board of Governors of the BBC from 1996 to 2001, when he took up a position as Chairman of British Telecommunications plc...
, chairman of BT Group
BT Group
BT Group plc is a global telecommunications services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is one of the largest telecommunications services companies in the world and has operations in more than 170 countries. Through its BT Global Services division it is a major supplier of...
, the clock's providers. As the organiser of Children in Need, Terry Wogan
Terry Wogan
Sir Michael Terence Wogan, KBE, DL , or also known as Terry Wogan, is a veteran Irish radio and television broadcaster who holds dual Irish and British citizenship. Wogan has worked for the BBC in the United Kingdom for most of his career...
launched her voice 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...
.
She appeared as a "stranger" on the first UK episode of the game show Identity
Identity (game show)
Identity is a reality/game show, hosted by Penn Jillette and produced by Reveille where contestants could win money by matching 12 strangers one-by-one to phrases about their identities.-Format:A contestant is introduced to twelve strangers...
(broadcast on 27 August 2007), with the identity "Speaking Clock", and was successfully identified by that day's contestant.
She was educated at Dollar Academy.
See also
- Speaking clockSpeaking clockA speaking clock service is a recorded or simulated human voice service, usually accessed by telephone, that gives the correct time. The first telephone speaking clock service was introduced in France, in association with the Paris Observatory on 14 February 1933.The format of the service is...
- Ethel Jane CainJane CainEthel Jane Cain was a British telephonist and the original voice of the speaking clock in the United Kingdom. She was appointed in 1936 following a "search for the girl with the golden voice". Her voice was used from 1936 until 1963, when it was replaced by Pat Simmons...
, first permanent voice - Pat Simmons, second permanent voice
- Brian CobbyBrian CobbyBrian Cobby , is a British actor and telephone exchange worker who in 1985 became the first male voice of the British speaking clock.In 2004, Cobby guest-starred in the Doctor Who audio drama The Creed of the Kromon....
, third permanent voice - Lenny HenryLenny HenryLenworth George "Lenny" Henry, is a British actor, writer, comedian and occasional television presenter.- Early life :...
, comedian, temporary voice - Alicia Roland, 12-year-old schoolgirl, temporary voice