Alvar Lidell was the most recognisable voice amongst a small group of news readers employed by the BBC during the Second World War.

Before the Second World War all announcers and news readers employed by the BBC were anonymous. But, in 1940, to counteract German English-language propaganda broadcasts, especially those coming from the facilities at Radio Luxembourg, the BBC decided to ensure that the British audience could instantly recognize an authentic BBC broadcast by news readers adding their names to news bulletins.

As a consequence, “Here is the News and this Alvar Lidell reading it,” became an inadvertent catchphrase in Britain during the War. In this prominent and recognisable role, if fell to Alvar Lidell to  announce many of the great events of the period.