If you’ve landed on my site before, there’s a strong chance you were searching for the story behind Brian from Melton the viral radio caller whose legendary rants about the 1987 Great Storm, local life, and his long-suffering mother Doris notched more than five million listens across Suffolk and beyond.
Listen to a couple of Golden clips below
Creating Brian and referencing Doris wasn't just a radio prank; it was a masterclass in organic character design. Building a memorable persona relies on hyper-specific details, authentic regional accents, and distinct vocal quirks. Nothing new, radio is full of some great ideas and a play on a voice.
Today, I take that exact same creative process and apply it to commercial voiceovers, helping production companies, ad agencies, gaming studios, and corporate video clients turn a written creative brief into an unforgettable voice.
1. Decoding the Brief: Building a Character That Sticks
Whether a script calls for an eccentric radio caller talking about Doris, a gritty video game warrior, or a warm regional narrator for a TV spot, every voiceover starts with decoding the creative brief.
When an agency or video client hands over a script, I look past the literal text to answer three key questions:
- What is the personality core? (Is it exasperated like Brian, authoritative, or quirky?)
- What is the visual context? (How does the vocal rhythm match the screen edit or animation speed?)
- Where is the emotional anchor? (What makes the listener believe the character instantly?)
2. Voicing the Unexpected: From Owls to Apples and Cleaning Products
Non-human characters are among the most rewarding challenges in commercial voiceover. Giving personality to an animal or household item requires finding a distinct human emotion within the product:
- The Typhoo Tea Owl: Early in my commercial career, I voiced an owl for a classic Typhoo Tea commercial. The goal was to make a feathered mascot feel wise, warm, and comforting in a brief 30-second window.
- The Bottle of Cleaner & The Red Apple: Voicing household items demands high-energy character acting. An animated bottle of cleaner needs to sound sharp, reliable, and punchy, while a red apple needs a fresh, upbeat cadence to pop off the screen.
3. Accents, Gaming, and Commercial Versatility
Just like capturing the precise Suffolk lilt for Brian, working with regional accents or gaming characters requires deep vocal control:
- Vocal Placement: Shifting resonance to the chest adds weight for heavy video game characters; raising it to the head voice creates comedic or frantic energy. ( I like to stand - high energy seems wrong seated)
- Accent Authenticity: Audiences instantly spot a fake accent. Whether you need a grounded local tone or a specialized accent for a national campaign, authenticity keeps viewers immersed.
4. How We Work Together on Your Next Script
You don't need to have the exact vocal style mapped out before reaching out. Part of my process is helping directors and creative teams explore different takes:
- Send the Script & Brief: Outline your project goals, target audience, and any reference audio.
- Custom Demo Reads: I’ll record 2–3 distinct character variations or accent reads for your team to review.
- Directed Studio Session: We connect live via Source-Connect, Zoom, or Teams to fine-tune every line until it perfectly matches your vision.
Bring Your Character to Life
Whether you need a grounded commercial narrator, a cast of gaming voices, or an animated character that rivals the legacy of Brian and Doris, let’s collaborate on your next project.
Hear more of the original audio of Brian from Melton.
Brian recalls Christmas with Nick Pandolfi.
or
- When Brian tried with Nick to win a trip for his Mother, Doris, to Pleasurewood Hills.