Blind Date’s ‘Our Graham’ dies aged 90

Graham Skidmore, the veteran Blind Date announcer, has died on the age of 90.

Skidmore was known as “Our Graham” by Cilla Black, the host of the long-running relationship present, which was initially broadcast between 1985 and 2003.

Skidmore died in December, PA information studies, together with his dying solely now coming to mild after it was included as an in memoriam within the newest journal of the actor’s union Fairness.

Whereas typically heard and rarely seen, his daughter Catherine Johnson, 52, advised the Solar he was a “marvellous man” who made certain others have been taken care of.

“He was very modest. He was not a theatrical ‘have a look at me’ particular person. He by no means actually needed his face to be seen; that’s why he preferred doing the voiceovers,” Johnson stated.

Born in 1931, Skidmore had goals of being a health care provider however missed his ultimate exams due to an ear an infection, which additionally prevented him from preventing within the Korean battle. Skidmore started theatre and voiceover work, and had a nook store, launderette and developed properties.

In addition to doing voiceovers for BBC Two’s Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer’s Capturing Stars, Johnson stated her father appeared in a St Trinian’s film and was seen within the background of the movie Eyes Large Shut, starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

“He was a improbable father and husband to us and the household. He had an incredible superstar voice,” his son Neil, 54, advised the PA information company.

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“[It] was getting in direction of the top of his profession that he had Blind Date, so he was loving it. He’d been doing [voice work] his complete profession as, I feel he began off with modelling, theatre, he did some musical work, after which he did tons of … a working form of background artist and all this type of stuff.

“It was improbable to get that and he cherished it and did it for years. After which, from that, he received Capturing Stars as effectively, which was good enjoyable.”

Skidmore had vascular dementia for the final decade of his life and spent his ultimate years residing in Kent, the BBC studies. He's survived by three youngsters and 5 grandchildren.

An ITV spokesperson stated: “Because the voice behind Blind Date for nearly 20 years, Graham was on the very coronary heart of the present, and alongside Cilla Black, an enormous a part of the present’s enduring success amongst audiences. Our ideas and deepest condolences are together with his household and his associates.”