Frank Mitchell (born Francis McClorey,[1] 24 July 1963[1][2]) is a broadcaster and journalist from Northern Ireland. He presents the U105 radio phone in show. He retired as Weather Presenter at UTV on 31 March 2021.
Frank Mitchell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Francis McClorey 24 July 1963 (age 61) |
| Occupation | Television presenter |
Broadcasting career
editMitchell began his broadcasting career at the age of 17 at pirate radio station Carousel in Dundalk.[1][3] He later worked as a BBC radio producer for the Walter Love show Day by Day and presented the early morning weekday show and Saturday lunchtime shows on Downtown Radio before he joined Ulster Television in 1987 as a continuity announcer and newsreader. He has presented a range of popular TV shows including UTV Life, School Around The Corner, End to End and Ultimate Ulster. His U105 Radio phone-in has become one of the most exciting in Ireland with a fast moving range of topics guided by his sharp questions and equally sharp wit.[1][4]
Mitchell remained on the announcing staff until 1993 when he became the station's chief weather presenter and news programme features reporter.[5]
Mitchell also co-hosted and reported for UTV's GAA discussion series End to End between 2001 and 2004.[6] Mitchell presented the entertainment series School Around the Corner from 1996 to 2005,[7] Ultimate Ulster in 2007 to 2009[8] and the weekday magazine show UTV Life between 1999 and 2009. His Ultimate Ulster programme featuring an array of top tens in the locality was recently the most watched regional programme in the UK. He is very well known as the UTV weatherman famous for his weather watching camera, crazy clues, weather watchers and charming presentation style. Late in 2016 he began using new ITV graphics on the new look UTV Live following the ITV Plc takeover and purchase of the UTV Television business, when UTV Media PLC (Now 'Wireless Group PLC') sold on their television assets.
Mitchell is the host of the popular radio mid morning phone-in on the highly successful U105 Radio Station which previously shared the former home of UTV, Havelock House, to broadcast. It is now situated on its own designated floor at City Quays 2 in the Titanic Quarter area of Belfast. He has broadcast on U105, in the 9am–12pm slot, since September 2006.
At the end of March 2021, Frank has retired from Weather Presenting on UTV and has officially left the newly revamped ITV subsidiary. However, he has announced that he will continue to host the U105 Radio Phone In every morning Monday to Friday.[9]
Gaelic Football career
editMitchell won an All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship medal with his local club Burren.[1][6][10]
Personal life
editMitchell is from Burren, County Down, born 1958[11] and his parents ran an electrical shop (McClory & Sherry) in Warrenpoint.[1] He attended St Colman's College, Newry and St Mary's University College, Belfast.[10] Prior to becoming a broadcaster, he worked as a teacher.[3][12]
Mitchell is married with one daughter, Laura, who studied architecture at the University of Ulster.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f " Archived 16 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine; dated 20 December 1998, accessed 16 June 2008
- ^ a b WebArchive: Frank Mitchell's profile on u.tv; accessed 5 April 2009
- ^ a b Sunday Mirror: "Right Good Read: Frank Mitchell" Archived 18 December 2021 at the Wayback Machine; dated 1 November 1998, retrieved 10 January 2008.
- ^ Belfast Telegraph: "Frank exchange", belfasttelegraph.co.uk; dated 6 December 2006; retrieved 10 January 2008.
- ^ Frank Mitchell profile, ContinuityBooth.co.uk (archived); accessed 9 May 2014.
- ^ a b UTV Press Office: UTV launches new GAA magazine programme Archived 27 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine; dated 18 June 2001, retrieved 10 January 2008
- ^ BFI Film and TV Database: Frank Mitchell filmography; accessed 15 June 2008.
- ^ UTV Press Office: "What's your Ultimate Ulster?" Archived 15 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine; dated 16 July 2007, retrieved 18 June 2008
- ^ Belfast Telegraph: "Frank returns to his first love" Archived 6 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine: dated 8 September 2006; accessed 6 February 2009.
- ^ a b Newry Memoirs: "Burren’s Favourite Son Praises “An Ideal Place"" Archived 16 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine; accessed 2 May 2009.
- ^ "School Around the Corner: Remembering one of NI's best TV shows 15 years on". 17 October 2020. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ^ GlobalGateway: Celebrity Profiles Archived 11 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine, globalgateway.com; retrieved 10 January 2008