UTV’s legendary continuity announcer Julian Simmons last night made his final live on-screen appearance on the channel after more than three decades on the job.
Julian is well known for his quirky and fun introductions to the stations top shows, most notably ahead of long-running soaps Emmerdale and Coronation Street.
Last night the popular continuity announcer graced TV screens for the final time and marked the occasion by turning on the style with a dress suit and dickie bow.
Ahead of his departure, BBC's Stephen Nolan wrote in Saturday’s Belfast Telegraph: "Julian Simmons has been part of the lives of our grandparents, our parents, you and your children.
"And yet he will present his last shift in vision as a continuity presenter this weekend. We are not losing him altogether, we will hear his voice but we won’t see him.
"And with that one decision, I, as a viewer, lose so much," he adds. "Julian is part of our family in Northern Ireland, he is one of us and just like a relative, it is reassuring to see him."
3 signs 2016 could be year of the Apocalypse. Brexit, Trump and worst of all Julian Simmons taken out of vision. #UTVknownathin'
— Tim Mc Garry (@Tim_Mc_Garry) October 16, 2016
'But now on UTV...' Words that we'll no longer hear. Sad that Julian Simmons is coming off our TV screens, an outstanding NI presenter!
— Guy Spence (@GuySpence) October 17, 2016
Aww bless Julian Simmons, all dressed up in a suit and bow tie and still makes me laugh, there's nudity involved and it's Sunday night too!
— Russ (@russty_russ) October 16, 2016
Julian's camp introductions to the soaps in particular his favourite Coronations Street - usually began with 'But now on the UTV' - were the stuff of legend and won him legions of fans across Northern Ireland and the rest of the country.
Following the sale of UTV to ITV, Simmons' last in-vision announcement coincided with the transfer of UTV's presentation and play-out facilities from Belfast to Chiswick in London.
Simmons has been retained as an out-of-vision announcer for the channel.
