Loughborough’s Beloved Journalist Departs Amidst 4am Wake-Up Calls Impact
In a poignant departure, BBC’s cherished figure, Louise Priest, is stepping away from her role after an illustrious journey spanning nearly 40 years. A familiar face on the screen, especially to BBC Look East viewers, the 62-year-old broadcaster cited the toll of early morning wake-up calls as the primary factor behind her decision.
“I’ve been fortunate to embrace diverse roles within the BBC. The notion of departing never crossed my mind until now,” expressed Louise, as she embarks on a new chapter.
The resounding influence of 4am starts on her personal life took precedence in her choice, she shared exclusively with the BBC.
“This is the right path for me, although I can’t deny a tinge of apprehension about life post-BBC,” she candidly admitted.
Hailing from Loughborough, Leicestershire, Louise’s journey commenced in September 1983, initially at BBC Radio Guernsey, before BBC Radio Norfolk beckoned when she was just 23.
Louise Priest joined BBC in 1983 (Image via BBC)
Over the years, myriad transformations have graced the broadcasting realm. Louise recalled, “Change has swept through newsrooms, propelled by technology’s march and the rise of the digital era.” As she moved to the helm of BBC Look East in 1987 for three productive years, life’s course steered her towards parenthood with the arrival of her children, Clark and Grace.
Subsequently, a two-year stint in Essex, due to her husband’s profession, didn’t deter Louise’s commitment to her craft. Returning to Norfolk in 1993, she orchestrated BBC Radio Norfolk’s breakfast show for a commendable six years. An 18-month spell overseeing the mid-morning program paved the way for her triumphant comeback to BBC Look East, this time as a perceptive planner and engaging presenter.
Roy Waller, Louise Priest and Stewart White (l-r) at BBC Radio Norfolk’s 20th anniversary celebrations in September 2000 (Source: BBC)
Reflecting on the earlier phase of her journey, Louise recollected, “In those nascent days, equipment weighed us down. A bulky ‘mobile’ phone accompanied me during the Royal Norfolk Show in the 1980s. Recording equipment was a cumbersome companion – a stark contrast to today’s smartphone ease.”
As she sets sail towards an uncertain horizon, Louise remains resolute in her pursuit of purpose. While concrete plans elude her, the notion of penning a book garners intrigue. “I’m not prepared to hang up my boots just yet. Who knows, perhaps writing a book beckons?” mused Louise, contemplating her next venture.
Acknowledging her departure, Robert Thompson, the BBC’s senior head of content production for the East and London, hailed Louise as an emblematic figure of BBC East. “Her presence enriched countless radio and TV programs, leaving an indelible mark,” noted Thompson, emphasizing the gap her absence would undoubtedly create.
In unison with colleagues and viewers alike, a heartfelt “thank you” resonates, as Louise Priest gracefully exits a four-decade-long tenure that etched her name in the annals of BBC history.
Categories: News
Source: vothisaucamau.edu.vn
