Farewell to an old TV favourite

A FORMER TV and radio favourite, who was beamed into North East homes, has died aged 65. Brian Holland worked for BBC Radio Newcastle and then moved to Tyne Tees TV, where he was a producer and presenter, during the 1970s and 80s.

He was also the PA announcer at Newcastle United's St James' Park in the early 1970s.

In 1979 he became co-presenter with Eileen McCabe of a new show called Come In, If You Can Get In which was billed as a critical look at art, books, film, theatre and TV in the region.

He also worked on The Tube, which helped to launch Channel 4 in the early 1980s, and a series of education programmes.

Born in Lynemouth, Northumberland, Brian left school at 15 to serve an apprenticeship at the local pit.

But in his 20s he decided to reeducate himself, gaining six O levels and two A levels inside 15 months.

Explaining his decision, he once said: "I just got fed up with bits of the roof falling on top of me."

Deciding on a career in the classroom, he went to the Northern Counties Teacher Training College but was sidetracked by broadcasting after setting up a studio in a college annexe.

Before long he was recruited to join the new BBC Radio Newcastle where his first programmes included a history of mining in the North East and a wry weekly review of news from a Geordie perspective He also had a culture programme that nurtured local musical talent and reviewed the region's entertainment scene.

He was a passionate supporter of North East musicians, actors, authors, comedians and artists, backing them on and off-air.

He joined Tyne Tees to present and research Come In, If You Can Get In but also presented and produced a series of half hour interviews with celebrities such as Derek Jacobi and Spike Milligan Although he left Tyne Tees in 1988, Brian's love of reading, music and regional arts - and also gardening - continued throughout his life.

Brian was divorced and lived in Lynemouth. He had four children, Julie, Tony, Laura and Jack, from his two marriages.