Published Wednesday, 24 October 2012
The voice of the X Factor, Peter Dickson (© UTV/BBCNI)
Even though many people might walk past him in the street without recognising him, those dulcet tones are unmistakable and Saturday night television simply wouldn't be the same without them.
While now most often associated with the X Factor, Peter 'Voiceover Man' Dickson has lent his voice to numerous hit TV shows, radio programmes and adverts.
But back in the day, his career began at BBC Radio Ulster.
"My very first job was the very glamorous role of reading the fatstock prices at six o'clock in the morning," he told The Magic Box host Eamonn Holmes.
Proceeding to produce an original script, he gave the live audience and viewers at home a flavour of what that entailed.
"Hoggets down two pounds and three shillings ..." he began, with all the usual relish of a man more accustomed to introducing global celebrities on-stage.
"As you can probably tell, I have no idea what I was talking about now and neither did I back then!"
Still, as Eamonn jokily assured him, if it ever all goes wrong with the X Factor ...
Peter Dixon was in Belfast to act as announcer for a special UTV/BBC NI simulcast to mark the digital switchover.
The Magic Box is available on the UTV Player for the next 30 days.
For more information on the digital switchover, check out our DSO guide. You can also visit digitaluk.co.uk or call 08456 50 50 50.