Annie St John
Annie St John (born Ann Florence Heywood; 8 September 1954 - 1990) was a British television continuity announcer and presenter.
Originally from Blackpool, St John first made her name in 1978 as a hostess on the first two series of the networked Yorkshire Television game show 3-2-1, before joining HTV West in 1981 as an announcer and newsreader. Her popularity in the region was as such that viewers launched a Save Our Annie campaign when she left the station in 1983 to join Tyne Tees Television in Newcastle. During her time at Tyne Tees, St John continued to freelance for HTV West and also for London Weekend Television.[1] She returned to HTV permanently in 1987.
In addition to her announcing duties, St. John presented various regional programmes including a weekly What's On programme and the advice series Problems. By the late eighties, St John had become one of the main anchors of the nightly regional news programme, HTV News, alongside Bruce Hockin and Richard Wyatt. She also presented a request show for the independent local radio station Radio West[2]
Death
In 1990, St John took a lethal overdose of champagne and drugs at her flat in Baltic Wharf, Bristol. She was found semi-conscious and naked on a bed by HTV director of programming Derek Clark and a staff rigger following concern from colleagues when St John failed to turn up for work.
38 days after the overdose, Annie St John died in hospital. She was 36 and had been married to an HTV colleague - actor Michael St John - for 14 years. The inquest into her death recorded a verdict of suicide.[3]
