Veteran volunteer and Talking Newspaper reader Joy takes lead role as TV anchor

And it was all thanks to UCLan journalism student Molly Brewer spotting a story about Joy in her local paper – in the FYi supplement – and, in the best journalistic fashion, deciding to follow it up.

Molly, who was on work placement at BBC North West Tonight following a week of work experience at The Gazette, returned to her home resort to interview and film Joy in the Talking Newspaper studio, before editing the piece for the Beeb’s digital website that very night.

Producers were so impressed by Molly’s report and Joy’s joie de vivre, presenter Ian Haslam turned up next day to meet her – this time for the primetime regional news programme that evening.

For the second day running N-Vision, the Blackpool Fylde and Wyre Society for the Blind, which has run the Talking Newspaper for 41 years, rallied staff, volunteers and regular listeners.

The result was a joyous tribute which even featured pictures of Joy during her theatrical heyday locally, playing the lead in Hello Dolly! and in Noel Coward’s Bitter Sweet.

A heart-warming moment came when Talking Newspaper regular listener Tom Critchley – who’s heard but never seen his favourite presenter – got the chance to finally meet her.

He was on site with the charity’s popular Simply Synaptic group – of which severely visually impaired Tom is a long-time member – when BBC NWT arrived.

“She’s beautiful,” he said.

But the greatest honour was yet to come when Haslam – an award-winning sports presenter – fell under the spell of Joy’s ‘charm and charisma’ and invited Britain’s (arguably) oldest news reader back to the studios at Media City to join resident presenters Roger Johnson and Annabel Tiffin to give them tips…and introduce the “rotten” weather by Simon King. Whisked away by car to Manchester, Joy managed to rise to the occasion with aplomb.

So, is the former theatrical now tempted to leave the Talking Newspaper and become an extra anchor-woman with the award-winning BBC NWT team?

“Good grief, no. My nerves would never take it,” she admits.

“It’s a very good thing I didn’t have time to think about it. I’d have lost sleep. I was terrified throughout.

“I’ve never known stage fright like it. At least when you go on stage to act or sing you know your lines.

“I couldn’t hear one of the questions at all which didn’t help – I just guessed at the answer. My son thought it was wonderful. And Molly was an absolute dear throughout – she looked after me.”

Joy won the hearts of viewers and proved a hit on social media. She’s now back in her customary surrounds of the Talking Newspaper studio off Bosworth Place, Squires Gate, twice a week again – just one of 250 volunteers who provide the service free to subscribers.