Remembering Chris Serle: A Beloved Presence on British Television and Radio

Chris Serle, a beloved television and radio personality, has passed away at the age of 81. Serle was a warm, wry, and reassuring presence on numerous popular programs, primarily with the BBC, where he informed and entertained viewers with his relaxed affability.

Captivating Audiences with His Versatility and Charm

Shining on "That's Life!"

Chris Serle rose to national prominence in 1979 when he joined the consumer magazine series "That's Life!" alongside Paul Heiney, serving as foils for the show's host, Esther Rantzen. Serle's combination of languid cheerfulness and straightforward professionalism made him an ideal fit for the Sunday night program, which attracted millions of viewers. "That's Life!" skillfully balanced serious campaigning with quirky life stories and public interest pieces, seamlessly transitioning between segments on amusing-shaped vegetables, April Fools' jokes, and funny pets to reports on child safety issues, injustices, and corporate malfeasance. Serle's serious journalistic instincts were worn lightly as he fronted his own investigations, conducted vox pops, and provided witty commentaries in the studio.

Exploring New Professions on "In at the Deep End"

In 1982, Serle and Heiney left "That's Life!" to co-host "In at the Deep End," a program in which they took turns learning a new profession from scratch. The series ran on the BBC for three seasons until 1987, and Serle's generally comfortable and engaging presence was complemented by his ability to summon the requisite plucky naivety when the series pushed him out of his comfort zone. Whether attempting ballroom dancing, rally driving, butler etiquette, or opera singing, the tall, mop-headed presenter always approached each new challenge with a sense of adventure and good humor.

Delighting Nostalgists with "Windmill"

From 1985 to 1988, Serle presented "Windmill," a program in which he raided the BBC archives (then housed at Windmill Road, West London) for thematically linked snippets from classic television shows. This appointment viewing for nostalgists on Sunday lunchtime was pleasingly unencumbered by the patronizing tone often favored by latter-day clip shows, allowing Serle's natural charm and enthusiasm to shine through.

Versatility and Resilience: From Acting to Broadcasting

Born in Henleaze, a suburb of Bristol, Chris Serle was the third of four children of Frank Serle, a clothing wholesaler, and his wife, Winifred (née Pugsley). He grew up in the nearby Westbury-on-Trym and was educated at the independent Clifton College, where he honed his musical talents, playing the violin, viola, and timpani in the orchestra, singing in the choir, and drumming in the school rock 'n' roll band. After studying modern languages at Trinity College Dublin, Serle's passion for the performing arts led him to join the Dublin University Players, and he soon set his sights on a career in show business.Serle's early television break came as a regular on ATV's satirical sketch show "Broad and Narrow" in 1965, and he later joined the Bristol Old Vic theatre company, serving as an assistant stage manager and playing small, mostly comic roles in productions that toured the US, Europe, and the Middle East. Despite this promising start, a dispiriting spell of unemployment convinced Serle to turn his back on acting and join the BBC as a radio producer, overseeing programs like "Late Night Extra" on Radio 1.Serle's versatility and resilience were evident as he continued to perform, appearing on television as part of the support ensemble in "Dave Allen at Large" and regularly drumming with the Crouch End All Stars Jazz Band. His move to television production, working on shows like "Jim'll Fix It" and "Parkinson," eventually led to his breakthrough on "That's Life!" when the show's producer, Patricia Houlihan, recalled his tipsily singing songs and playing the ukulele at a BBC party and suggested he audition for one of the newly vacant positions.

A Beloved Presence on Radio and Television

Serle's later television work included wrestling with audience feedback on the BBC's "Points of View" and, alongside the IT expert Ian McNaught-Davis, showcasing the capabilities of computers in "The Computer Programme." On radio, he was often used as a cover host on BBC Radio 2 in the late 1980s and was the regular presenter of the long-running audio highlights package "Pick of the Week" from 1991 to 1998.In 1996, Serle returned to his hometown of Bristol and continued to work on programs made in the city, as well as becoming involved in local events, serving as the honorary president of the Bristol Hospital Broadcasting Service and hosting a long-running afternoon show on BBC Radio Bristol.Serle's personal life was marked by two marriages – his first to Anna Southall, a museum director, which ended in divorce in 2003, and his second to Ali (née Fraser), a BBC producer, whom he married in 2006. He is survived by his second wife, their three children, Oliver, Katie, and Grace, as well as his sons, Harry and Jack, from his first marriage, and his sister, Daphne.Chris Serle's warm, wry, and reassuring presence on British television and radio will be deeply missed by his legions of fans, who fondly remember his ability to inform and entertain with a relaxed affability that made him a beloved figure in the world of broadcasting.