Closedown

Surely the best and most endearing of all Thames announcers was Philip Elsmore? Perpetually avuncular on air, he managed to infuse each of his announcements with an air of saintly bemusement. Like David Hamilton, Elsmore had joined Thames at the very beginning, having been an announcer for ABC-TV in London. He made the very first announcement for Thames in 1968, and the very last in 1992. When Thames was off-air at weekends, Philip also announced for Southern TV until 1981. Originally from Worcestershire, Philip trained as an actor and since the demise of Thames, he has returned to that profession.