Radio and Television Personalities D

W Barrington Dalby
1893 - 1975

Former boxing referee who gave inter-round commentaries for important fights, often with Raymond Glendenning (qv) doing the main commentary.

Glyn Daniel
1914 - 1986

Welsh-born archaeologist who became a TV personality when he chaired the BBC's popular 'Animal, Vegetable, Mineral?' programme (1952 to 1959), in which three experts attempted to identify various museum objects.

Bebe Daniels
1901 - 1971

American-born actress and singer who had a career in silent and sound films. Marrying Ben Lyon (qv) in 1930 they moved to the UK in 1936 and became a successful radio and telvision team in 'Hi Gang' and 'Life With The Lyons'.

Bob Danvers-Walker
1906 - 1990

Worked for commercial radio in Australia and for Pathe News then on UK radio and TV, often as announcer on quiz shows.

Harry Davidson
1892 - 1967

Worked as musical director in theatres, his first broadcast was in 1924 from Leeds. Regularly appeared on radio in the popular and long-running 'Those Were The Days' as Harry Davidson and His Orchestra and playing dance music. Also made records.

Hywel Davies
1919 - 1965

Welsh-born BBC Welsh news reader who later became Head of Welsh Programmes. Also a commentator on outside broadcasts on BBC TV.

Joan Davis
1907 - 1961

Famous in the UK for her TV show 1952 to 1955 'I Married Joan' in which Jim Backus (qv) played her husband. Also in many Hollywod films of the 1930s and 1940s.

Diana Day
1941 -

Child actress who made her debut on TV in 1953 and appeared in 'The Windmill Family' in 1954. Also on radio in 'The Clitheroe Kid' as Jimmy Clitheroe's sister.

Jill Day
1930 - 1990

Cabaret artist who sang, danced and acted. Appeared in 'Double Cross' with Jewel and Warriss (qv) and in 'The Jill Day Show' in 1957. Was the singing voice for Brigitte Bardot in the film 'Doctor At Sea'.

(Sir) Robin Day
1923 - 2000

Veteran broadcaster in the familiar bow tie and horn-rimmed glasses, who, after a spell in radio with the BBC Talks Department, joined Independent Television News announcing and doing live interviews. Back with the BBC he was known as a tenacious interviewer and he later chaired TV's 'Any Questions', also presenting radio's mid-day news programme 'The World At One'.

Isobel Dean
1918 - 1997

Actress who appeared in the BBC TV serial 'The Quatermass Experiment' and in many other TV and film roles.

Diana Decker
1917 - 1999

US-born stage, film, radio and television artiste who was in 'Arthur's Inn' on radio and TV's 'Before Your Very Eyes' (1953 series) with Arthur Askey (qv).

Raf De La Torre
1908 - 1975

French-born actor who apeared on stage and had roles in films. Often broadcast in television plays and series and once read the news for Cairo radio.

Roger Delgado
1918 - 1973

Of Spanish-Belgian (or French?) ancestry though born in London. Worked in repertory and first broadcast in 1947. Also on the stage and in films, often playing a (foreign) villain. TV includes 'The Three Musketeers', 'Quatermass 2', 'Danger Man' and 'Sir Francis Drake' in which he played - a Spaniard.

Alan Dell
1924 - 1995

South African-born and began his career with the South African Broadcasting Corporation in 1942. Came to Britain in the 1950s and presented record programmes of popular music, including 'Pick Of the Pops' on the Light Progrmme, later Radio Two. One of 'Thank Your Lucky Stars' presenters and also one of the longest-serving DJ's on Radio Luxembourg.

Maurice Denham
1909 - 2002

Beginning in repertory he went on to become one of the best-known faces on stage, film and TV. His distinctive voice was also heard on radio in 'Much-Binding-In-The-Marsh' and in ITMA where he utilised his talent as a man-of -many-voices. Other radio and televison roles were many, including an appearance in 'Porridge' as an imprisoned judge.

Armand and Michaela Denis
1898 - 1971 and 1914 - 2003

Belgian-born Armand and London-born Michaela were wildlife filmmakers who made BBC TV's popular 'On Safari' programme in Africa which appeared from 1957 to 1959 and from 1961 to 1965. There was also an ATV (Asociated TeleVision) series 'Safari To Asia'. Former dress-designer Michaela met, and later married, Armand, an established film-maker in America and their programmes brought glimpses of a world which few people ever saw at that time.

Lorrae Desmond
1929 - 2021

Australian-born, came to the UK in 1952 and recorded songs, her first television appearance was in 'Teleclub'. On radio in 'Twelve Thouand Miles From Home' and appeared with Terry-Thomas (qv) in 'Stricly T-T' and 'The Terry-Thomas Show', and in the comedy sitcom 'Trouble For Two' with Jacqueline MacKenzie (qv) in 1958. Her own TV shows were 'Meet Lorrae Desmond' and 'Swing Along With Lorrae' on BBC. Also in cabaret and pantomime she eventually returned permanently to Australia where she was also successful and appeared in the long-running series 'A Country Practice'. She remains one of Australias most popular stars.

Richard Dimbleby
1913 - 1965

A former journalist who joined the BBC and became one of its most familiar faces. Best known for his commentaries on state occasions and covered the coronation in 1953 as well as general elections. From 1955 he presented 'Panorama' where he established himself as one of TV's best interviewers. Also chaired radio's 'Twenty Questions' and presented 'Down Your Way'.

Peter Dimmock
1920 - 2015

Joined the BBC TV's outside broadcasts as producer and commentator in 1946. Presented the popular 'Sportsview' prog-ramme on BBC TV from 1954 to 1964. Later BBC's general manager and head of outside broadcasts.

Reg Dixon
1915 - 1984

Comedian with Northern accent though in fact he was Coventry-born. Very popular in the 1940s and 1950s he was introduced with his signature tune 'Confidentially'. In radio's 'Variety Bandbox' and later in several shows on ITV.

Reginald Dixon
1907 - 1984

'I Do like To Be Beside The Seaside' was this popular artistes signature tune, playing the theatre organ on radio in his own series for many years. Also heard in the 'Blackpool Night' series. Resident organist at the Tower, Blackpool and he introduced 'Housewives Choice' at one time.

Josephine Douglas
1926 - 1988

Actress who became a BBC producer and director. Also on panel of 'Find The Link' a quiz show on television and co-host with Pete Murray (qv) on TV's first pop music show 'Six-Five Special' in 1957.

Patricia Driscoll
1927 - 2020

Irish-born actress who first appeared on TV in 'Whirligig' on BBC Childrens' TV, and on 'Picture Book' from 1955. From 1957 she appeared as the second Maid Marian (the first being played by Bernadette O'Farrell (qv)) in television's 'The Adventures Of Robin Hood'. Also in a few films.

Betty Driver
1920 - 2011

Beginning in repertory, she sang on radio with Henry Hall (and also sang as a child) and appeared in revue. Was a big recording artist and also made some films. After the war appeared in variety with her husband, Wally Petersen. Retiring from show business after an injury she was tempted back in 1969 to play barmaid Betty Turpin in 'Coronation Street'.

Ruth Dunning
1911 - 1983

Welsh-born, she became well-known for her portrayal of Gladys Grove in BBC Television's 'The Grove Family' from 1954 to 1957. Appeared in other TV drama and series and in a few films.

Leslie Dwyer
1906 - 1986

Actor who became best known for his character roles in many films and has broadcast many times since 1939. Appeared in 'Hi-De-Hi' in the 1980s.

Valentine Dyall
1908 - 1985

Actor whose trademark deep voice became easily recognised in the guise of The Man In Black, the narrator of the thriller series 'Appointment With Fear' from 1941 to 1955. Appeared in 'The Goon Show' in 1954 and in two other shows with Spike Milligan (qv) on TV.