Tom Baker, Continuity Announcer

Tom Baker will make his debut as a continuity announcer on BBC1 this coming Thursday evening, 17 November, according to a report by the UK Press Association. As a one-off to mark the return of comedy series "Little Britain" that night, of which he is the narrator, Baker will introduce shows between 7pm and 9.30pm to viewers, using off-the-wall announcements penned by "Little Britain" creators Matt Lucas and David Walliams, rather than the more formal introductions usually favoured by the BBC. Says a BBC spokesperson, "We've gone for a change with Tom Baker because it's such a special line-up." It is believed to be the first time a celebrity has been used as a continuity announcer by the BBC, and Baker will presumably be making the programme introductions off-screen as do the usual announcers. According to the Press Association report, he will start by introducing "The Great Big Bid" as part of the lead-up to the following evening's "Children In Need" (which of course has a Doctor Who component). Among his introductions will be such sayings as "but first it's time for the Great Big Bid. Oh mah sweet potatoes!" and "let's see what the poor people are up to in the first of two visits this evening to the EastEnder".

Update: Also covered in the press at BBC News, The Observer. (Thanks to John Bowman)