Jon Briggs
{{Short description|British narrator}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{other people||John Briggs (disambiguation)}}
{{infobox person
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|1|24|df=yes}}
|image =
|caption = Briggs in November 2020
|alma_mater = Dragon School
Magdalen College School, Oxford
|occupation = Voiceover artist
|known = Original UK voice of Siri
}}
Jonathan Briggs (born 24 January 1965) is an English television, radio presenter and narrator. He is known for his voice-over work and as the original British voice used by Apple Inc.'s Siri virtual assistant software.
Career
Briggs' voiceover credits include appearing as the voiceover statistician in over 1,800 episodes of the BBC TV quiz show The Weakest Link (2000–2012, 2017) and as continuity announcer for BBC Radio 2 (1996–2009) and Channel 4 (1988–1990). Briggs was the first presenter on air when QVC launched in the UK in 1993.{{cn|date=June 2023}}
Briggs' radio credits include the breakfast show Oxford AM for BBC Radio Oxford (1985–1987), the breakfast show Morning Edition for BBC Radio 5[https://www.mixcloud.com/barryskipsey/1990-08-29-r5-morning-edition-with-sarah-ward-and-jon-briggs/ 1990 08 29 R5 Morning Edition with Sara Ward and Jon Briggs] (1990–1992), Night Ride for BBC Radio 2 and The Weekend Wireless Show for LBC (1998–2003). His reporting credits include BBC Radio 4's PM, Today, The World at One and The World Tonight, as well as travelogue and transport programmes Breakaway and Going Places.
In 1996, Briggs founded the London-based talent agency Excellent Talent, an entertainment agency representing voice-over actors. He sold it in 2020.{{cite web | url=https://excellenttalent.com/about-excellent-talent/ | title=About Nordlings }}
In October 2017, he was a contestant on the celebrity version of the UK quiz show Pointless.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09c5hmh|title=BBC One - Pointless Celebrities, Series 10, Famous Voices|website=BBC}}
In July 2019, Briggs co-presented BBC Radio 4's "Voice in the Machine" episode of the Archive on 4 series.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0006s7x|title=BBC Radio 4 - Archive on 4, Voice in the Machine|website=BBC}}
In November 2020, Briggs launched the podcast You're On the Air! talking to UK broadcasters about the skill of broadcasting.{{{Cite web|url=https://youreontheair.co.uk|title=You're On The Air Podcast|date=June 2023}}
= Siri =
In 2007, Briggs recorded his voice for text-to-speech software developed by ScanSoft,{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/8879643/Apple-tried-to-silence-voice-of-Siri.html |title=Apple tried to silence voice of Siri |date=2011-11-10 |accessdate=2011-11-10|df=dmy-all}} later acquired by Nuance Communications. In 2011, Nuance's software was used by Apple Inc. for their first British version of Siri, the personal assistant application for Apple devices.{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/05/16/nuance-voices-found-in-os-x-lion-patent-application-suggests-ne/|title=Nuance voices found in OS X Lion, patent application suggests new iPhone speech / text capabilities|website=Engadget|date=16 May 2011 }} Briggs' voice is renamed "Daniel" for these purposes. The voice is also the default British voice for VoiceOver on iOS devices, the built-in software found within accessibility. This software reads everything aloud on the screen to enable blind and visually impaired people to use their device independently.{{Cite web|url=https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT202362|title=Adjust voice and speed for VoiceOver and Speak Screen on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch|website=Apple Support|date=21 February 2020 }} Since iOS 7, released on 18 September 2013, Briggs' voice for male Siri was replaced and a female voice option was also added.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.jonbriggs.com www.jonbriggs.com] — Jon Briggs' website.
- [http://www.youreontheair.co.uk www.youreontheair.co.uk] - Podcast website
- {{IMDb name|0109051}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJLxEvL6eCo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJLxEvL6eCo] — BBC Radio 2 Voice Party Video from The Jeremy Vine Show
- [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/technology-24637674/meet-the-real-siri-and-other-iconic-voices-of-technology The iconic voices of technology] - BBC Technology "Meet the real Siri, and other iconic voices of technology"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Briggs, Jon}}
Category:English male voice actors
Category:English radio presenters
Category:English television presenters
Category:People educated at The Dragon School