you only need go to the today programme website to find photos and biographies of the presenters and reporters, right down to the weather girls, but before the second world war bbc announcers were always anonymous. the war made household names newcasters like bruce belfrage, frank phillips, alvar lidell and john snagge, and field correspondents like richard dimbleby and frank gillard. bbc policy during the war was that annoucers identified themselves before reading the news ("here is a special news bulletin read by john snagge." "here is the nine o'clock news, and this is alvar lidell.") this, it was thought, would prevent impersonation. damn silly idea. while listeners did learn to recognise voices and associate them with names, the possibility of impersonation was no less for that.

but nevermind that for the moment. here, listen to john snagge announcing to britain that d-day has come. notice that general de gaulle's arrival in britain is noted in this news bulletin.

and hear the pouty voice of "forces' sweetheart' vera lynn on her broadcast to the forces as she says "good night boys," and begins her song, which must now seem all the more haunting to those who know dr strangelove.