The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / The Cough Switch

**Posted by unclefester** May 26, 2025 10:27 am

Watching BNN Bloomberg this morning and saw something I don't think I've seen before.

Host Andrew Bell was plodding along with the latest econmic news & results when he suddenly had some throat issues. Anyone who has spent time on air has endured the same problem of course but what Mr. Bell did caught my eye.
He located a switch or button within his reach right on his anchor desk then killed his own mic - cleared his throat - apologized and carried on.

Makes complete sense to allow desk bound tv hosts who are live to have the kind of audio control Mr. Bell had if possible but I can't recall ever seeing a television host killing their own mic

**Posted by Forward Power** May 26, 2025 10:46 am

Not long ago, I was watching portions of some CHCH newscasts from the '80s, and each of the three anchor positions at the desk had a mic on/off switch; Dan McLean can be seen pressing the button on multiple occasions, esp. if you watch the "NewsRoom 11" edition from October 7, 1982, which includes an appearance by Dick Beddoes and his hat.

**Posted by unclefester** May 26, 2025 10:57 am

Thanks for posting that.

Jogged my memory about another CHCH on air talent and similar issues.

Many years ago newscaster Bill Knapp was doing a brief update - I think it might have been mid afternoon & his throat seized up. No cough switch for him as he valiantly carried on with his news update. I felt so bad for him. It was torture but he managed to get to the end.

Last edited by unclefester (May 26, 2025 10:58 am)

**Posted by RadioActive** **Online!** May 26, 2025 10:57 am

The best thing about Dick Beddoes was the satire SCTV did on him, likely lost on any viewers who never saw him on air. It started with "him" wearing a normal Beddoes-type hat. They would cut away to Floyd Robertson but every time they went back to the faux Beddoes, the hat got larger and larger.

By the time the skit ended, the thing was taking up most of the screen and you could barely see the characters. I was dying of laughter when I first saw it. Joe Flaherty's "Floyd Robertson" reaction as the chapeau kept growing was the best part. Wish I could find that on YouTube.

Worth noting Beddoes was an occasional guest host on a sports radio show I once produced and he was, as the absent host put it, "a lovely man."