Channel 4 celebrates International Transgender Day of Visibility

On Thursday 31st March Channel 4 will mark International Transgender Day of Visibility by adding a new member to the channel’s continuity team. Amy Stanning will be lending her voice to Channel 4, marking the first time in UK television history that a transgender person has taken on the role of continuity announcer.

Amy, who works for Barclays Mortgages and is co-chair of their LGBT employee network, will be taking over from 5pm and alongside the usual continuity duties, will be talking about her experiences as a transgender person as well as raising awareness around International Transgender Day of Visibility.

Her voice will be heard on Thursday around Channel 4 programmes such as 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Alan Carr: Chatty Man.

In 2013 Channel 4 launched Alternative Voices which saw five people with communication difficulties join the channel’s continuity team for ten days to introduce some of its biggest peak time shows.

Dan Brooke, Channel 4’s Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, said: “We are always looking for new ways to celebrate diversity on Channel 4. I’m proud to bring Amy on board she’s the perfect way to mark International Transgender Day of Visibility and build on our work with the Alternative Voices campaign.”

Amy commented: “I’m delighted that Channel 4 are celebrating the International Transgender Day of Visibility during prime time TV. Transgender people contribute to all walks of British life and it’s time to recognise their contribution and help people be positive and open about themselves.”

In January Channel 4 reaffirmed its commitments to the 360° Diversity Charter. The Charter puts diversity at the heart of all decision making at Channel 4, across all activities on and off-screen, at every level and with all external partners and independent producers.