I feel for ITV announcer over his 'Storm Front' blunder, says Julian Simmons

Just as the show was about to go on air, an English ITV continuity announcer said: "Now, as the pandemic continues, we have all the latest developments in Views From Storm Front."

Simmons and fellow UTV favourite Gillian Porter left the station in November.

Last April local continuity announcements and branding between programmes were suspended to reduce risk and minimise the number of people in the Belfast office.

ITV said that the changes had worked well and as a result it had decided to make them permanent.

Continuity announcements have been provided centrally ever since.

"I've made many gaffes myself on television, so I know how easy it is," Simmons told the Belfast Telegraph.

"God help the fella because he just didn't know what he was talking about.

"But, really and truly, somebody should have checked that and it shouldn't have gone out on air.

"All down the years my continuity appearances were always live, and if you made a mistake that was it.

"But what went out last night was recorded.

"The ITV way now is to record everything and not to do it live or in-vision, and I believe that people in Northern Ireland really do miss that... it's what they tell me when I'm out shopping."

The blunder prompted many comments on Twitter, including one from Belfast comedian Tim McGarry, who posted: "Bring back Julian!!!"

The BBC's Ireland correspondent Emma Vardy described the mistake as a "Freudian slip" but said it had her in "stitches".

Meanwhile, David Blevins, Ireland correspondent for Sky News, added that 'Storm Front' "might be more apt right now".

At the time of their departures Simmons, best known for his quirky take on the goings-on of Coronation Street and Emmerdale, and former UTV Life presenter Porter, said they planned to keep working and were excited to see what the future held for them.

Simmons said he felt "very lucky" to have worked for the broadcaster for more than 30 years, but it made sense to centralise operations.

"In-vision continuity was a real standout element of UTV for decades. I love the part I played in that," he added.

He had been furloughed for months before the decision was made.

"When the news came in that it was all over, I'd already seen the way things were going, so I wasn't surprised by it," he said.

"I'll always say that from the moment ITV took over a few years ago both myself and Gillian were treated like royalty as the continuity announcers.

"They treated us like part of the family. They were very, very good to us. I've no complaints at all."

ITV said: "We'd like to apologise for the continuity error last night before View From Stormont.

"This was human error and we have reviewed procedures to ensure that this won't happen again."

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