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Sara Mendes da Costa (born c. 1966) fromBrighton became the fourth permanent holder of the role of the voice of theUK Speaking Clock, first established in 1936, at 08:00BST on 2 April 2007.
On 23 October 2006, to mark theBT clock reaching its 70th year, a competition was launched to find the new modern voice of the Speaking Clock. Applicants were invited to leave telephone recordings of their voice, with the proceeds of each call going toChildren in Need. Sara Mendes da Costa, atelemarketer and part-timevoiceover artist, was announced as the winner onBBC One'sChildren in Needtelethon on 17 November 2006.[1]
She was the unanimous choice of a voting panel that included the clock's previous voice,Brian Cobby, the BBC presentersNatasha Kaplinsky andAlan Dedicoat, and SirChristopher Bland, chairman ofBT Group, the clock's providers. As the host ofChildren in Need,Terry Wogan launched her voice onBBC Radio 2.
She appeared as a "stranger" on the first UK episode of the game showIdentity (broadcast on 27 August 2007), with the identity "Speaking Clock", and was successfully identified by that day's contestant.[citation needed]
She was educated atDollar Academy.
| Preceded by | Permanent voice of theBritish Speaking clock 2 April 2007– 9 November 2016 | Succeeded by Alan Steadman |