Member Article

Become the speaking clock

We’ve often wondered how the fourth dimension – time – can be sponsored by Accurist. If you want to find out, or if you just want to be the voice at the end of the phone number ‘123’, then enter the BBC’s Children in Need competition to become the new speaking clock.

77-year old Brian Cobby has been lending his clipped RP vowels to the speaking clock for 21 years, and will help to decide who replaces him. Mr Cobby, who beat 5000 hopefuls when he auditioned in 1985, had some advice for anyone wanting to enter: “Regardless of accent, the key thing the judges will be looking for are clarity and warmth. “People are calling you because they want to know the time, so they must be able to understand you very clearly. “Things have changed over all these years and I think my voice is a bit posh now.”

To enter, phone 09067 533 533 and answer a qualifying question in your best speaking voice. Lines will be open until midnight on 5th November, and calls cost 75p, per minute, of which 55p goes to charity.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .