Gerry Anderson (broadcaster) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gerry Anderson
|
|
|---|---|
Gerry Anderson
|
|
| Born |
Gerard Michael Anderson
28 October 1944 |
| Died | 21 August 2014 (aged 69) |
| Nationality | Northern Irish |
| Occupation | Broadcaster |
| Years active | 1963–2014 |
Gerard Michael Anderson (born October 28, 1944 – died August 21, 2014) was a popular radio and television presenter for BBC Northern Ireland. He was well-known for his special way of talking and his funny sense of humor. On his shows, Anderson often gave himself funny nicknames like "Turkey Neck" or "Puppet Chin."
Contents
Gerry Anderson: A Life in Broadcasting
Early Life and Music Career Beginnings
Gerry Anderson was born in Derry, Northern Ireland, in 1944. He grew up on Sackville Street in the city center. As a young man, he learned to play the guitar by himself. In 1963, he moved to Manchester, England, and started working in nightclubs.
He then toured with a band called The Chessmen, performing in Scotland, England, and Canada. In 1972, while in Canada, Anderson joined another band called Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks. Later, he returned to Ireland to study sociology and social anthropology at university.
Starting His Radio Journey
Anderson began his radio career in 1985 at BBC Radio Foyle. This was the local radio station in his hometown, which he often playfully called "Stroke City." He used this name because of the disagreement over the city's name. Some people prefer "Derry," while others prefer "Londonderry."
He started with a music show called Making the Tea. Soon, he moved on to hosting talk shows. His program became so popular that it was also broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster, reaching many more listeners.
The Gerry Anderson Show
The Gerry Anderson Show was a daily program on BBC Radio Ulster. It ran from 10:30 AM to 11:55 AM. Many of the calls from listeners on his show were even turned into a BBC NI animated TV comedy series called On The Air.
One of the show's regular guests was Geordie Tuft, a farmer. Geordie would give funny advice to listeners about farm animals, especially goats. He even suggested using Jeyes Fluid as a shampoo for dogs!
Anderson also helped start the radio career of Paul McLoone. Paul is the lead singer of the band The Undertones and later became a radio presenter himself. On his show, Anderson sometimes joked about meeting Elvis Presley and touring with Kris Kristofferson during his music days. His co-presenter on the show was Sean Coyle.
Television Appearances
Besides radio, Gerry Anderson also presented several television shows for BBC Northern Ireland. One of these was a documentary about hair loss called Gerry Anderson's Losing It. In 2013, he was also a special guest on a comedy show called Monumental.
The "Stroke City" Nickname
Gerry Anderson became famous for popularizing the nickname "Stroke City" for his hometown. This name came from the "/" symbol used in the neutral way of writing the city's name (Derry/Londonderry). "Stroke City" even became the title of one of his radio programs starting in 1992. Some of his friends even started calling him "Gerry/Londongerry" as a joke!
Broadcasting for BBC Radio 4
In 1994, BBC Radio 4 hired Anderson to present an afternoon show. This program, called Anderson Country, was on from 3 PM to 4 PM. Listeners had mixed feelings about it because it was quite different from other shows on Radio 4.
After one year, Anderson Country was stopped. However, the show continued as The Afternoon Shift for three more years with different presenters. Anderson then returned to Northern Ireland, where he remained very popular. He continued to present both television and radio shows, and even made new programs for Radio 4, such as Gerry's Bar.
Achievements and Recognition
Gerry Anderson received several important awards for his broadcasting work:
- Gold Sony Award in 1990 for being the Best Regional Broadcaster.
- Broadcaster of the Year at the Entertainment and Media Awards in 1991, 1992, and 1993.
- Inducted into the Radio Academy Hall of Fame.
- Royal Television Society Regional Presenter of the Year in 2004.
Later Life and Legacy
Gerry Anderson passed away on August 21, 2014, at the age of 69, after a long illness. A special service was held for him at St Eugene's Cathedral.
A year after his death, on September 18, 2015, Anderson was honored by being added to the PPI Hall of Fame. This showed how much he was respected and remembered in the world of radio.
Images for kids
-
Gerry Anderson, a famous Northern Irish broadcaster.
