Frank Mitchell (presenter)

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Frank Mitchell
Occupation Presenter

Frank 'the Silver Fox' Mitchell (born Francis McClory,[1] 24 July 1963[1][2]) is a Northern Irish broadcaster and journalist. He is currently a weather presenter on UTV Live and a presenter on the UTV-owned radio station U105.[3]

Life

McClory adopted the name "Mitchell" when working on the pirate radio station Carousel in Dundalk in the Republic of Ireland. He was given it by his radio boss and all his co presenters had special "presenter names".

He has continued to use the name Mitchell since he was 17 and sees it as his lucky Irish charm. Recently in an interview he said he pitied the mindset of some very often, young narrow minded ill informed people who believe he took the name to sound "less catholic in a protestant working environment".

He said "People who use that bigoted line know nothing about Dundalk when I was 17 and by thinking along those lines they display a lack of confidence in their own ability as young citizens of this country. He said "As Frank McClory I'm delighted to be recognised as Frank Mitchell the TV and radio presenter.

The project that began in Dundalk has worked well and is continuing to flourish thank God"

Broadcasting career

Mitchell, whose parents ran a television shop in Warrenpoint,[1] began his broadcasting career at the age of 17 at pirate radio station Carousel in Dundalk.[1][4] Mitchell later worked as a BBC radio producer for the Walter Love show Day by Day and presented the early morning weekday show and Saturday lunchtime shows on Downtown Radio before he joined Ulster Television in 1987 as a continuity announcer and newsreader.[1][5] Mitchell remained on the announcing staff until 1993 when he became the station's chief weather presenter and news programme features reporter.[6]

Mitchell also co-hosted and reported for UTV's GAA discussion series End to End between 2001 and 2004.[7] Mitchell also presented the entertainment series School Around the Corner ( created by the show's original presenter – Paddy Crosbie ) between 1996 and 2005,[8] Ultimate Ulster in 2007[9] and the weekday magazine show UTV Life between 1999 and 2009. His Ultimate Ulster programme featuring an array of top tens in the locality was recently the most watched regional programme in the UK. He is very well known as the UTV weatherman famous for his weather watching camera, crazy clues, weather watchers and charming presentation style. Mitchell's radio career has been revived in the last few years and he is the host of the very popular radio mid morning phone-in on the highly successful U105.8FM which broadcasts from the UTV Media HQ in Belfast. Mitchell has broadcast on UTV's radio station, U105, in the 09.00–12.00 slot, since September 2006.[10]

Gaelic Football career

Mitchell won an All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship medal with his local club Burren.[1][7][11]

Personal life

Mitchell attended St Colman's College, Newry and St Mary's University College, Belfast.[11] Prior to becoming a broadcaster, he worked as a teacher.[4][12]

Mitchell is married with one daughter, Laura. She studies Architecture at University of Ulster. She frequently is the recipient of weather jokes and other such banter.[2]

Mitchell is a keen admirer of Northern Irish music, the American stars John Fogerty and Steve Earle as well as a variety of forms of art and entertainment. Anyone listening to his radio show on U105 will know he's a big Manchester City fan. His popular radio phone-in has grown to be one of the best in Ireland.[citation needed]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Sunday Mirror: "Life's a breeze, says TV weather man"; dated 20 December 1998, accessed 16 June 2008
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 WebArchive: Frank Mitchell's profile on u.tv; accessed 5 April 2009
  3. ↑ Frank Mitchell's profile on U105
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Sunday Mirror: "Right Good Read: Frank Mitchell"; dated 1 November 1998, retrieved 10 January 2008
  5. ↑ Belfast Telegraph: "Frank exchange"; dated 6 December 2006, retrieved 10 January 2008
  6. ↑ The Continuity Booth – Frank Mitchell profile
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 UTV Press Office: UTV launches new GAA magazine programme; dated 18 June 2001, retrieved 10 January 2008
  8. ↑ BFI Film and TV Database: Frank Mitchell filmography; accessed 15 June 2008
  9. ↑ UTV Press Office: "What's your Ultimate Ulster?"; dated 16 July 2007, retrieved 18 June 2008
  10. ↑ Belfast Telegraph: "Frank returns to his first love": dated 8 September 2006; accessed 6 February 2009
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Newry Memoirs: "Burren’s Favourite Son Praises “An Ideal Place""; accessed 2 May 2009
  12. ↑ GlobalGateway: Celebrity Profiles; retrieved 10 January 2008

External links

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