Sign A Story

1 9 8 7 – 1 9 8 8 (UK)
20 x 5 minute episodes

Grampian Television produced this collection of short stories as a sort of Jackanory for children who were deaf and hard of hearing.

Debuting on 27 July 1987, the stories were presented twice weekly by signing-deaf presenters Maureen Denmark and Jeffrey McWhinney.

Denmark was profoundly deaf and recognised as a leading exponent of British Sign Language.

She had previously presented Sign Here, Grampian Television’s magazine programme for the deaf and Breakthrough, the network leisure series for the deaf.

McWhinney was the first deaf male presenter to appear on the ITV network. He was born deaf to deaf parents in Northern Ireland and went on to work for the Breakthrough Trust in London.

The stories presented included “Norah’s Ark”, “Unicorn and the Sea”, “Moonman”, “Teeny Tiny and the Witchman”, “Cannonball Simp”, “Little Big Feet”, “Oliver Button is a Sissy”, “A Mermaid’s Tale” and “Mrs Pepperpot’s Busy Day”.

In addition to the on-camera signing from Maureen and Jeffrey, the stories were presented with subtitles and narration provided by Liz Scott-Gibson and Peter Llewellyn-Jones.

Presenters
Maureen Denmark
Jeffrey McWhinney
Narrators
Liz Scott-Gibson
Peter Llewellyn-Jones

Video