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Leslie Scott Falconer Mitchell was born on 4 October 1905 in Edinburgh, the only child of Charles Eric Mitchell, caterer, of Edinburgh, and his wife, Leslie Florence Whittington, née Lowe. He had a clouded childhood. His parents separated, so he was brought up by his uncle, novelist W. J. Locke and his wife, after his own mother went to America during the early years of the First World War and was unable to return.
Mitchell was educated at the King's School, Canterbury. He also attended Chillon College.
After a brief period working as a trainee stockbroker and small roles in stage productions during the 1920s, Mitchell started working for BBC radio, and in 1936, was selected as the first announcer for the first British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) television network. While continuing his work for BBC Television by hosting magazine interview programs such as Picture Page, Mitchell also began narrating newsreel films for British Movietone News. He eventually left the employment of the BBC, feeling he could do better for himself as a freelance television commentator.
After World War II, Mitchell travelled to the United States to study commercial television broadcasting. When he returned to England, he became instrumental in the launching of Great Britain’s first commercial television network. In 1955 he joined Associated-Rediffusion, where he became senior announcer, and was also in charge of talks and as chairman of discussion programmes. He became freelance again in 1958. After this time, he was frequently seen in documentary programs celebrating the early days of British television.
In addition to his long career in television Mitchell was also an author. His first book was the 1946 collaboration The March of the Movies, but his 1981 autobiography Leslie Mitchell Reporting ‘s a better-known publication.
Leslie Mitchell was one of the pioneers of British television broadcasting. He was the first voice heard on BBC Television at its inception on 2 November 1936, and also made the first announcement on Associated-Rediffusion, the first ITV company, on 22 September 1955.
His voice was perhaps most recognised, from his long association with British Movietone News, for whose newsreels he commentated during the Second World War and for many years afterwards.
He also became the first honorary member of the Royal Television Society in 1983, and was named a Freeman of the City of London in recognition of his wartime contribution to the morale of Londoners in 1984.
Physical Characteristics: Mitchell’s health was damaged when, as a young actor, he was dragged one hundred yards by an automobile. The injuries that resulted affected Mitchell for the rest of his life, and he had to wear a leg brace.
Mitchell was married twice. His first marriage was with Phyllis Joan Constance Shephard, who deceased in 1965. The next year he married his second wife, Inge Vibeke Asboe Jorgensen.
