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Peter Dickson (announcer)

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Peter Dickson
Born
Peter Dickson

(1957-06-23) 23 June 1957 (age 67)
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Occupation(s)Radio presenter, television announcer, voice over artist
Known forThe X Factor (2004–), Britain's Got Talent (2007–Present),"Britain's Got Talent", Family Fortunes, "The Channel 4 Comedy Gala", "Live at the Apollo", Chris Moyles' Quiz Night, The Paul O'Grady Show

Peter Dickson (born 23 June 1957), commonly referred to as The X Factor Guy is a British television announcer, radio presenter and voice-over artist.[1] He is best known as the former voice of E4, as well as the announcer for The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent, The Price Is Right, Family Fortunes, All Star Mr & Mrs, Live at the Apollo, Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow and Chris Moyles' Quiz Night.

One of the most prominent voice artists in the world today, Dickson has been the voice for hundreds of award winning television shows, radio programmes,promos, trailers, computer games and advertisements.

Career

Dickson was educated at the Belfast Royal Academy in his home city of Belfast, Northern Ireland. He later graduated with a BA Hons degree in psychology from Queens University, while there he was a member of the University Air Squadron where he flew the Bulldog. He was a reporter and journalist at the BBC later moving to the presentation department at Radio Ulster. From there he moved on to BBC Radio 2 as a newsreader and announcer, also presenting overnight shows and his own comedy-based Friday show Peter Dickson's Nightcap.

During the 1980s and early 90s, Dickson worked alongside Steve Wright on his Radio 1 afternoon and morning shows. He created, wrote and voiced many household name characters for Wright's award winning programmes. In 1990, he launched Melody Radio in London, where he presented the breakfast show for three years. He has contributed to two series of Quote Unquote for BBC Radio 4, and has read the morning story on BBC Radio 4.

Playwright Dennis Potter invited Dickson to play cameo parts in several of his TV Dramas. More television beckoned with Harry Enfield in his award winning Tiger Aspect series Harry Enfield and Chums. Various on screen character roles followed in the first two series of Steve Wright People's Show for BBC One. Bruce Forsyth called Dickson to voice the famous "Come on Down's" and prize descriptions for seven series of ITV's Bruce's Price is Right and he was on board for Family Fortunes starring Les Dennis and Patrick Kielty's Channel 4's Last Chance Lottery Live. He has also contributed to 11 series of the award winning BBC One panel game They Think It's All Over presented by Nick Hancock, Catchphrase, TV's Naughtiest Blunders and Safe for ITV and the cult animation series Monkey Dust for BBC in which he famously played himself.

His other TV credits include Never Mind The Buzzcocks, roles in Holby City, Noel's House Party and Live & Kicking, The 10%'ers and The Unknown Soldier for Carlton TV. He has featured on Griff Rhys Jones' Crystal Balls, Tales from Fear for Cartoon Network, Sing It Your Way with Denise Van Outen and Ian Wright, and ITV's Year of Promise with Carol Vorderman.

Dickson has written for the BBC Two comedy series The Fast Show and Play Your Cards Right for ITV.

Jerry Springer also made sure Dickson was "up front and full on", on his ITV Friday Night hit programme, and his subsequent Late Night With Jerry Springer for Five which ran for two series.

He was the voice of the BBC's Test the Nation live specials and has featured in Little Britain, The Paul O'Grady Show on ITV and the New Paul O'Grady Show on Channel 4. He provided the live commentary for Cirque de Celebrite and introduced An Audience with Joe Pasquale, and voiced a Westlife special on ITV.

In 2006, Dickson became the brand voice of youth channel E4

In 2011 and in 2012 he was the host of MTV's three big end-of-year video chart shows.

Documentaries

Since 1998 Dickson has worked closely with the Discovery Channel, narrating over 250 documentaries, including the 25 part The FBI Files. He has completed over 150 other documentary series for BBC Television, National Geographic Channel, Wall to Wall TV, The History Channel, Outline Productions, Adrenaline TV, Café Productions, Discovery Health, Flat Earth Films. For British Movietone, Peter narrated the 13 part series World War 2: The Complete History,[2] and the 50 part Millennium Minute.

Radio

Beyond his earlier radio work, Dickson's voice is heard daily on many commercial radio stations across the UK. He has voiced many campaigns from Dominos, Moneysupermarket, British Gas, Downton Abbey, The Sun, Branston Pickle, to Walls, "Drink Drive" and "Euro Millions", Dairylea, Schweppes, KFC, Heinz and Wrigleys. He has voiced over 30,000 radio and TV campaigns. He was the brand voice for Irish radio stations I 102-104 and 4FM. He was the brand voice of The Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show on Absolute Radio. He makes appearances on BBC Radio 1's breakfast and drive time shows.

He played various character roles in The Department, a comedy series on BBC Radio 4 starring and written by Chris Addison, John Oliver, and Andy Zaltzman.

Music

In March 2009, Dickson released a UK single as 'Voiceover Man and The Credit Crunchers' called "What a load of Bankers".

Other media

He is the brand voice for Domino's, Moneysupermarket, BT and British Gas.

He has acted on over 30 AAA Game titles and he is the host for the Kinect launch title "Kinect Sports" seasons 1 and 2.

He has been a promo voice on over 200 channels.

He also the characters for LEGO'S Worldwide PC game hit "Knight's Creator Kingdom" and "Crazy Castle" and played the Emperor Zorean on Xenoblade Chronicles.

He was the worldwide voice for Emirates airlines, Etihad the national airline of the UAE.

In 2010 he was the voice of the Help For Heroes concert at Twickenham.

Dickson's voice also appears on SatNav "Nav Voices"

He was the announcer and commentator for Beach Volleyball at Horseguards Parade at the London 2012 Olympics.

He is a supporter of the Royal Air Force, compèring the Live Stage at the RAF Waddington International Airshow in 2013 and 2014 and at the RAF Cosford Airshow in 2015 and 2016. He is a supporter of several charities including the Royal Airforce Benevolent Fund and is an ambassador for Centrepoint.

Credits

Television

Video games

Blades of Time

Other

Awards

Peter's voice has featured on award winning campaigns including:

  • Vox Awards 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 - Winner Best Creative Concept Award
  • The London Advertising Awards — Best original Concept — Gold — Automotive.
  • Finalist in the New York Festivals Radio Awards - 2003
  • Finalist in the Cream Awards - 2003
  • Winner Vox Awards - 2003
  • Winner best IVR system — BBC
  • 33rd International Mobius Advertising Award — Outstanding Creativity - 2004
  • BAFTA — The X Factor 2006, 2008, 2009. Best Entertainment show.
  • BAFTA — Hedz 2008. BBC TV. Best Children's Light entertainment Show.
  • BAFTA — Ooglies. BBC TV.
  • Royal Television Award 2008 - Paul O'Grady Show.

References

  1. ^ (7 November 2010). X FACTOR 2010: US SHOW TO HAVE 'BRITISH BALLS AND SWAGGER', Daily Star (United Kingdom), Retrieved November 19, 2010
  2. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1230096/
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