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back to article Man who put the manhood into the Speaking Clock dies

British actor Brian Cobby, who is famous for being the first male voice for BT's speaking clock, has died aged 83. Cobby wasn't working as an actor when he won the role - he was a BT employee when he triumphed in a company-wide competition to find the next voice of the clock in 1984. Cobby was an assistant supervisor in a …

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  1. Pete the not so great
    Joke

    Joke doing the rounds....

    Died on the third stroke...

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  2. Katz

    Farewell Mr speaking clock

    Well I guess his time was up. *groan*

    3 1
  3. wowfood
    Joke

    It was just a matter of time really.

    2 2
  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Accurest in peace.

    2 0
  5. Sandpit

    Precisely

    1 0
  6. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    why do they replace the speaking clock

    did he get bored of doing it?

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    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: why do they replace the speaking clock

      is there a cold basement room somewhere in BT HQ where people have to sit in an awkward chair reading out the time for years at a stretch? Is this legal under employment laws?

      1 0
  7. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    replaced in 2007

    When did Tom Baker do it then?

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    1. Jon B
      Reply Icon

      Re: replaced in 2007

      Didn't Tom Baker do the 1471 - who rang you last - job for a while?

      2 0
  8. Magnus Ramage

    "He never married"

    Does that still mean what it always used to mean in obituaries?

    2 0
    1. Gavin King
      Reply Icon

      Re: "He never married"

      I wondered the same. I didn't think that anyone said things like that anymore --- I mean, it's almost dignified, for goodness sake!

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  9. simlb
    Coat

    Didn't say how he went. Must have been a stroke then...

    Mine's the one with the Accurist watch in the pocket.

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  10. Craig 28

    Re: Tom Baker

    I know he did the service where a voice reads text messages sent to landlines for a while, with the proceeds going to charity.

    1 0
  11. IronSteve
    Unhappy

    Am I the only one that finds joking about the man's death a bit sad?

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    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      thats just some traces of dignity

      it will fade the longer you are employed.

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    2. mcobby
      Reply Icon
      Thumb Up

      I don't think it's too bad. Brian was family & I reckon he would have loved the attention, although he may have had a go at the low quality of some of the jokes! shame he isn't round to hear it anymore.

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