"Roy Sheppard worked for BBC West as the main
presenter to our Saturday news and sports programme on BBC1. On most evenings
the 5 minute programme was presented at 5.15 pm and was dominated by regional
football and sports results.
This allowed just half an hour for the programme to be prepared. On top of that,
it was a self-drive operation for the presenter, without the luxury of a
director and full gallery crew. Roy had to do his own vision-mixing, cueing of
carts (giving on location reports), as well as reading a news and sports
bulletin under tremendous pressure. He was thoroughly reliable and demonstrated
an exceptionally high degree of dexterity".
Mark Byford, former Editor News BBC West, now
Deputy Director General BBC"I worked
with Roy Sheppard in the BBC’s Current Affairs Department on the South East
programme London Plus, on the news bulletins for the region, and on Breakfast
Time and Breakfast News.As a presenter of both live and recorded news and
features, Roy conveyed an authority and versatility on camera which put him in a
class of his own in BBC regional television. Roy was equally at home with
lighter presentation, and his sharp news sense did not mask an open, cheerful
and lively personality. His versatility as a broadcaster with a commanding
presence on-camera and a strong voice, meant that he was capable of complicated
studio work, outside broadcasts, and interviews -from the probing to the
frivolous. His editorial skills made him an easy and understanding presenter to
work with, and he was able to contribute significantly to the editorial shape
and structure of the programmes. Roy could carry off a crisis better than
anyone, despite the many live, on-camera dramas he had to cope with, because his
most significant talent is his determined professionalism." Mark McDonald,
Producer, BBC Nine O’Clock News
"I first worked with Roy Sheppard in 1984 and
have been fortunate enough to repeat the experience a number of times since
then. On each occasion I have found Roy to be deeply committed to the project in
hand and completely professional in every area. As a producer, knowing your
presenter can handle any problem that arises is deeply reassuring. Roy’s skills
are most obvious in a "live" situation where things can go wrong at any time.
Most presenters can hold it together when things are going well - Roy can hold
it together when things are falling apart." Mark Killick, Senior Producer,
Panorama, BBC1 TV.
"Roy is very hard working and dedicated.
Amongst his many talents he also showed his versatility during three series of
In The News as a presenter by coping very well with programme ‘gear changes’
from hard news, to light topics and humour - these are quite difficult and he
achieved such changes in tone very successfully." Jonie Lloyd, Editor, Sony
Award Winning "In The News" BBC Radio 4.
"Roy knows so much about his subject that,
whatever DJ work you intend to take up, the experience of reading his book The
DJ’s Handbook will only help you improve your act. There is a crying need for a
definitive new work on the art of the DJ; this is it"
Johnny Beerling, Former Controller BBC Radio 1.
"I have had a long working relationship with
Roy Sheppard. He is professional in the extreme, always fun to work with and
highly versatile." Carolyn Smyth, Former Senior Producer, John Dunn Show, BBC
Radio 2.
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