Peter Jefferson joined the BBC in 1964. In 1969 he became an announcer and newsreader, first on the BBC World Service then across all the domestic BBC Radio networks, which included reading the Shipping Forecast for 40 years first on Radio 2 and later on Radio 4. He took early retirement in 2001 but continued working for Radio 4 in a freelance capcity until 2009 during which time he also appeared in several radio and TV programmes including plays on Radio 4 and vocally or as an actor on EastEnders, Panorama, My Family, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, The Mighty Boosh, The Bill, Peak Practice and Holby City. He currently reads the quotes on Radio 4's Quote... Unqote, and lives with his wife in Surrey.