Top Ten Most Iconic Voiceovers

This is a tricky one. All week we’ve been paying tribute to those who put their voices to pictures on our televisions and, on the last day of our Week, I thought it’d be fun to compile a Top Ten of what I consider to be the most iconic voiceovers ever. That’s a grand statement, I know, but I thought I’d give it go. It was a bit of tough job, I have to say. When you think back to TV shows, there really hasn’t been too many amazing voiceover people in recent times. In fact, with the likes of Dave Lamb and Marcus Bentley I think we’re living in a golden age for voiceover. It really depends on what you regard as a voiceover, and I’ve had to include adverts in my list. Have a look after the jump and see if you agree… or tell me whether I’ve missed anything out.

For other Voiceover Week bits and pieces, go here.

1. Oliver Postgate: The Master
Just the best ever voiceover man. Ever. Bagpuss, Ivor The Engine, Noggin The Nog and The Clangers are all so special to so many people, and his warm and soothing voice were a staple fo kids growing up in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Much missed.

2. Marcus Bentley: Daaeeeee theertee threee
Yes, I posted up an interview with him this morning, but there’s no denying that Marcus is one of the best known voiceover artists ever. The biggest TV phenomenon of the last decade has a voice to match.

3. Dave Lamb: Come Dine With Me
Another one of our Voiceover Interviewees, Dave is the man for many. He’s lucky too – unlike many voiceover artists he’s allowed to ad lib and be very funny. He takes full advantage, and is the funniest voiceoever man ever.

4. Dervla Kirwan: Marks And Spencers advert
This isn’t just any old voiceover, this is a souped-up, sexed-up, business-saving voiceover. It may annoy you, but let’s face it – it’s now a catchphrase and helped to turn the fortunes of M&S around. For a while.

5. Our Graham: Blind Date
His name is Graham Skidmore and he’s been in everything. He is the King Of Voiceovers, but I remember him best for Blind Date and his toe-curlingly cheese-on-toast summaries of each contestant. Welcome Blind-a Date, and here is your host, Miss Cilla Bleeurghack! I always got weired out when he sort of vomited out the word Black.

6. Kenneth Williams/David Jason/Terry Scott/John Le Mesurier/Arthur Lowe/Bernard Cribbins: Kids TV from yesteryear
The 1970s and 1980s were a golden age for kids TV, and the narration talent was ample evidence. Kenneth WIlliams was great in Willow The Wisp, David Jason and Terry Scott did sterling work in Dangermouse and John Le Mesurier leant his soothing tones to otherwise bonkers Bod. Then there was Arthur Lowe, who voiced Mr Men and Bernard Cribbins. Brilliant and hugely nostalgic. For some like me.

7. Tom Baker: Little Britain
Whatever you think of Little Britain, you have to admit that Tom Baker’s voiceover at the start of each episode is brilliant. You can just imagine him, wide-eyed and manic as he starts. “Britain… a land of…”

8. All because the lady loves… Milk Tray
I’ve tried to find out who this fellow is but to no avail. On this advert from the 1970s, he only says seven words and sounds like that drunk old posh bloke from The Fast Show, but talk about resonant. To be honest you could pick loads of ads from the Seventies and Eighties

9. Harry Hill: You’ve Been Framed
Better than Beadle, better than Steve Penk or whatever his name was, HH is like the mainstream Dave Lamb – given pretty much carte blanche to do what he wants. Which is a good thing.

10. Benedict Cumberbatch: South pacific
This is in because of m’colleague Sally, who told me that Benedict’s voiceover for the recent South Pacific breathed new life into the natural history genre. He used his thespo skills to bring drama and storytelling technique

Honorable mentions: Ian Dury for the Hello Tosh, Got a Toshiba ad; Matthew Macfayden for The Blair Years, Sir David Attenborough, although a presenter so not strictly a voiceover artist, but for his voiceover bits; Stuart Hall for the same reasons as Attenborough; the guy who did the old Old Spice adverts.