Mike Cooper
London, England, United Kingdom
Voice Montage / Housereel 2008
Mike’s voice can be recognized as a British, booming and confident sound. Mike’s voice is believable and caring with the ability to provide a wide range of voice styles from concerned and authoritative to announcer and corporate with a hard sell approach.
Radio commercial sampler - October 2009
A selection of commercial clips from UK radio stations. All you need in just over a minute.
TV Narration sampler
A short compilation of documentary programme clips in various styles
QVC Promos
Two short promos for QVC (UK) from early 2009
Hard Sell demo - Homes Bed Centre
A demo commercial of a style that seems to be back in vogue! Not long after recording this demo, I found myself doing exactly the same treatment for a chain of carpet stores across the north of England with spots on radio and television.
It's upbeat, in-your-face and hard to ignore.
Documentary Narration - Fishzilla! (National Geographic Channel)
A sizeable portion of my work is involved in re-voicing programmes from the American market for transmission in the UK.
This is an example from the National Geographic Channel, its subject the killer snakehead fish, which walks on land and is spreading across America!
It's a believable and informative, yet ever-so-slightly tongue-in-cheek treatment of a sensational story.
Corporate Web Video - London Oncology Clinic
For many, the subject of cancer is still perceived as taboo, and any voiceover treatment for a clinic specialising in cancer care has to get the message across in just the right way. I was honoured, therefore, that the London Oncology Clinic chose me to voice this video for their website.
LOC took the novel approach of creating a walk-through environment in Second Life to help potential patients and those close to them to experience how the clinic works, and the full version of this introduction can be seen on their website.
Real Estate Tour - Ideal Home TV
Real Estate Agents in the UK have recently taken to using web video to help them sell upmarket properties. The emphasis is on a voiceover style that doesn't "sell", but is warm and informative.
This is an example of a web video put together by Ideal Home TV, for what seems like a stunning barn conversion!
Audiobook - Roald Dahl (PONS GmbH)
German publisher, PONS GmbH, contacted me to ask me to voice a selection of short stories for a new product they were launching to help German speakers learn English.
Their requirement was for a neutral British accent - not an "RP" (Received Pronunciation) style - which was clear and precise, but which demonstrated how English is actually spoken in Britain today by a native speaker.
The successful project included my voicing two short stories by Roald Dahl - of which this is an excerpt - along with two from Ian Rankin and a selection from Nick Hornby's "31 Songs". This included being able to include characterisations.
Please let me know if you'd like to hear a longer clip.
Medical narration demo
A demo read about the body's lymphatic system, demonstrating how a technical read with a long list of unfamiliar terms can be turned into listenable and informative audio.
Training video - BTN Turbo
BTN Turbo is one of the largest suppliers of turbo-charger units in the UK. This is an excerpt from a training video sent to suppliers.
Commercial demo - Speedy Car rental
Demo commercial for a car rental agency in an upbeat, friendly, soft-sell style.
Theme Park Announcements - Hard Rock Park
Hard Rock Park asked me to be the voice of their in-park announcements. Perhaps the British accent helps the message stand out and cut through the crowd!
Documentary Narration - Tut's Treasure Tour (National Geographic Channel)
I spend much of my time helping TV channels to "re-version" programmes from other markets for airing in the UK.
This example, from the National Geographic Channel, tells the story of the mammoth task of taking down and moving the huge Tutankhamun exhibition as it toured the United States.
It's friendly and accessible; informative, yet easy-on-the-ear, and infused with humour where appropriate.
Radio Commercial - serious, friendly (IOM)
A radio commercial targeting asylum seekers in Britain to offer help with various aspects of their new lives. Broadcast in the West Midlands area.
BBC World Service - news and continuity
An excerpt from a bulletin for BBC World Service radio, the world's largest international radio station, with a weekly reach in excess of 160 million people.
I was chosen for this job because of my neutral accent and authoritative, yet friendly, delivery. Whilst remaining trustworthy and believable, my voice is sufficiently different from the "traditional" radio announcer to help the network reposition its appeal with a younger audience across the globe.
These bulletins go out around the clock, 365 days a year, and demand good sight-reading skills for breaking and developing stories, along with an ability to read to time and hit two fixed points in a five-minute bulletin.
Commercial demo - Bicklow Cleansing Clean
Demo commercial for a mouthwash product, in a friendly, believable style.
TV Promo - Mega Disasters
A promo for the History Channel in the UK.
The series is "Mega Disasters", and the subject of this programme is "LA's Killer Quake", so it's a big and slightly menacing treatment of the script, interspersed with sync sound from the episode to make up the 30" spot.
On Hold - Courtyard Marriott Hotel
The Courtyard Marriott, Dubai, is a regular client of mine for on-hold announcements.
