Michael Neville, MBE (born James Armstrong Briggs, 17 October 1936 – 6 September 2017) was a British broadcaster, best known as a presenter on regional TV news in North East England. In a 43-year career with the BBC and ITV franchisee Tyne Tees Television. In 1990, Neville was awarded the MBE for services to broadcasting. Early life Born as James Armstrong Briggs in Willington Quay, North Tyneside on 17 October 1936 – to James Briggs, a labourer, and Mary – he attended the Addison Potter Infant and Junior School in Willington Quay and Stephenson Memorial Secondary School in Howdon. His first job at the age of 15 was at the Northern Guild of Commerce and Chamber of Trade. He was subsequently a junior editorial assistant at the Daily Mails Newcastle offices. In 1955, he began two years of National Service in Cyprus where he rose to the rank of Corporal in the Wiltshire Regiment. After a short time as an insurance agent, he joined the repertory company of Newcastle Playhouse full-time in 1957 and changed his name to Michael Neville. Career While Neville was working as an actor, the North East's independent television station – Tyne Tees Television – began broadcasting in January 1959. A few months later, Neville made his television debut, playing a policeman in Tyne Tees' children's programme Happy Go Lucky. He later appeared in a similar role in Under New Management, a locally produced pub sitcom produced by future Dad's Army co-creator David Croft and written by Johnny Speight. After five years working in the theatre, Neville switched permanently to television in 1962 and joined Tyne Tees full-time as a continuity announcer, newsreader and reporter. In March 1964, he became the anchorman of the station's nightly news magazine programme, North East Newsview, but within a short time, he was approached by BBC North East to replace Frank Bough as the anchor of its rival news programme Look North. Neville went onto anchor Look North for 32 years, becoming the longest serving main anchor of any BBC regional news programme. From 1969 to 1983, he became well known nationally for his contributions to the early evening magazine programme Nationwide – a programme he would go onto present occasionally. Despite achieving national fame, he turned down offers to move to London, preferring to stay in the North East of England. At Look North, Neville and co-presenter George House