Frank Mitchell (presenter)
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| Frank Mitchell | |
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Frank Mitchell (born Francis McCrory 24 July 1965, Burren, County Down)[1] is an Northern Irish broadcaster and journalist. He is currently a presenter, weather presenter and reporter for UTV Live and UTV Life, and a presenter on the UTV-owned radio station U105.
Frank began his broadcasting career in the early 1980s at the radio station Carousel in Dundalk.[2] Prior to becoming a broadcaster, he worked as an English and supply teacher in schools in South Down.[3][4] Frank later joined the BBC, working for two years as a radio producer, before he joined Downtown Radio as a daytime presenter. He joined Ulster Television in 1987 as a continuity announcer and newsreader.[5]
In 1993, with the launch of UTV Live, Frank was chosen to present the weather forecast on the main evening bulletin at 6.00pm every weeknight. He was the first presenter to introduce an in-vision weather forecast at the station, and remains the main weather presenter at the station.
As part of his evening forecasts, Frank invites the audience to work out the location of the "Weather Watching Camera", a film shot in a town or village somewhere in Northern Ireland (or, on occasions, the Republic of Ireland) through providing a cryptic clue. He also reads out greetings to "Weather Watchers", usually people who are celebrating their birthday or a wedding anniversary that day. While other presenters of the evening weather forecast introduce "Weather Watcher" greetings, only Frank runs the "Weather Watching Camera" feature as part of his forecast.
Due to his role as UTV Live weatherman, Frank gave up his duties as a continuity announcer in 1993. Frank's presenting duties on UTV Live were expanded in 1999 when he became one of the hosts of UTV Life, a half-hour programme which preceded the main UTV Live bulletin at 18.00, covering lifestyle features and light-hearted reports. UTV Life was integrated into an hour-long UTV Live in April 2002, and Frank remains one of the co-presenters of the 17.30-18.00 section of the programme.
Frank Mitchell has reported on Gaelic Athletic Association football and hurling matches for UTV Live. When UTV obtained the rights to show matches and highlights of the Ulster Senior Football Championship from 1994 to 1997, Frank was a reporter and commentator for the series. Frank was also a co-host and reporter for UTV's GAA discussion series End to End between 2001 and 2004. He has played club GAA in the past, winning an All-Ireland club medal with Burren.[6]
Frank also presented the entertainment series School Around the Corner between 1995 and 2005, and also presented Ultimate Ulster in 2007. The series showcased the most popular landmarks and pastimes in Northern Ireland as chosen in a viewer's poll.
In September 2006, Frank returned to radio as presenter of the 09.00-12.00 show on U105.
Frank is married with one daughter.
[edit] References
- ^ u.tv: Frank Mitchell profile
- ^ Sunday Mirror: "Right Good Read: Frank Mitchell"; dated 1 November 1998, retrieved 10 January 2008
- ^ Sunday Mirror: "Right Good Read: Frank Mitchell"; dated 1 November 1998, retrieved 10 January 2008
- ^ GlobalGateway: Celebrity Profiles; retrieved 10 January 2008
- ^ Belfast Telegraph: "Frank exchange"; dated 6 December 2006, retrieved 10 January 2008
- ^ UTV Press Office: UTV launches new GAA magazine programme; dated 18 June 2001, retrieved 10 January 2008
