Tony Collins-Fogarty – British Voice Actor & Media Professional
With a career spanning over three decades, I have established myself as a versatile and skilled voice-over artist and media professional.
Probably my best known work was as the voice of TripAdvisor’s iconic owl in TV commercials aired across the UK, US, and Canada. As the brand voice for over 20 commercials, I was heard in millions of homes across the globe. In the US alone, the ads aired more than 85,000 times*.
(*source: iSpotTV)
Over the years, I have worked on TV and radio commericials, corporate video, e-learning projects, on-hold messaging, dubbing and even property tours.
Becoming A Voice Actor.
I transitioned to full-time voice acting in 2012, following an extensive career in radio, media production and events.
To further refine my voice craft, I began acting training, including six years in the Meisner Technique and four years of Act Up North (acting for TV). This allows me to bring a depth of character and nuance to every project.
I have also trained one-to-one with Nancy Wolfson (Braintracks Audio). Nancy is a world-class voiceover coach, based in Los Angeles. Always learning. Always improving.
Photo Credit – Anthony Robling.
Before Voiceover – My Media Career
Radio Broadcasting
My journey into voice acting was a natural evolution of my media career, which began in radio in 1988. Initially presenting travel bulletins on BBC local radio stations and later expanding to presentation on multiple commercial stations across northern England, I honed my skills as a presenter, producer, and event manager.
I have presented daily shows in every time slot, including Breakfast. I also produced and presented a networked show aired on 26 UK radio stations.
Live Events
In the 90’s, I managed high-profile events like Radio Aire’s “Party In The Park” concert, which attracted up to 70,000 attendees and produced Leeds United’s pre-match events for 2 years.
During this period, I also produced live broadcasts from Disney World Florida, co-created television game show format with Yorkshire Television, and even broadcast live from a plane daily for Yorkshire’s first Flying Eye travel service.
Broad Media Knowledge
I have a deep understanding of the technical and creative demands of media production, which is ideal for collaborating with you on your media projects.
Life Outside The Studio
Francophile
As a Francophile, I have been learning French for 4 years and exploring opportunities for international work, always looking to expand my horizons both professionally and personally. I often work with French and German studios on projects for major global brands.
Despite the covid years, I have visited France twelve times in the last ten years.
Web Geek
I also have a long standing love for coding and web development. My knowledge includes WordPress development, PHP coding, HTML, CSS and more. (This website is actually a completely custom build using WordPress). Through my business TDF Media, I also work on web and audio projects.
What I Offer
Known for my professionalism, reliability, and passion for my craft, I am dedicated to providing the highest quality service to every client. I am committed to delivering work that exceeds expectations—on time and within budget.
My approach is built on 4 words: Trust, Quality, Ease, and Value, ensuring long-term working relationships that last.
Career Highlights of a 30+ Year Media Career
In 2017, I became the brand-voice for the global brand Tripadvisor – as the voice of their owl mascot, “Little Wiser”.
Initially intended as just the UK voice, the client was so impressed they asked me to also be the voice in the US and Canada, as well as globally online.
I worked on multiple campaigns (more than 20 commercial spots). The campaign ran into it’s third year. In the United States alone, the spots were played nationally 85,000 times – reaching millions of viewers on a regular basis.
Training as an actor for over 6 years, principally in the Meisner Technique and acting for camera. Appearing in my first theatre play in 2015.
Meisner Training
I took a range of Meisner Training from 2012 to 2018. Working with West Yorkshire Theatre Network (now Both Feet) in Leeds, Scott Williams (Impulse Theatre) in Leeds and Copenhagen, and Moment to Moment Acting in Lyon, Strasbourg, Brussels and Leeds.
Act Up North
I also trained in acting for camera with ActUp North in Leeds between 2014 and 2018.
In addition, I also took a range of other workshops in voice, accents and improv during this period.
Early in my full-time voiceover career, I worked with a property tour company (Audio Agent).
They led the market at the time in property marketing services, providing video tours to most of the high street estate agents across the UK.
Between 2012 and 2017, I voiced in the region of 20,000 property video tours.
I worked as a presenter and producer on a number of radio stations over a 25 year period. I have presented daily shows in every time slot from Breakfast to Late Night.
A hightlight was presenting the syndicated late show for The Local Radio Company, which aired live on 26 stations across the UK.
In the 1990s, as part of my role as PR & Events Manager at Radio Aire in Leeds, I was responsible for event managing the “Party In The Park” concert at Temple Newsam for 3 years.
This was a live, free, outdoor pop concert featuring a line up of 20+ acts from the charts of the day.
At the time it was the largest free show in the UK, being attended by 70,000 people – in addition to a live radio broadcast.
This was just one of many live events I was responsible for during this time.
Producing Live Outside Radio Broadcasts from Disneyworld Florida, back to the UK. Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Disneyworld in 1996.
A week long celebration, featuring a range of stars, including actor Michael J Fox and attended by First Lady – Hilary Clinton.
In 1999, I worked with a colleague on the creation of a television game show format called “Wordchasers”.
The format was optioned by Yorkshire Television (then part of Granada).
The show was developed and piloted with the team that made “Countdown”. It was pitched for a BBC2 slot, but lost out to a show that went on to be a worldwide hit – “The Weakest Link”.
In 1995, I became the presenter of Yorkshire’s first ever Flying Eye travel service, broadcasting every weekday live from a plane over Leeds.
This was the first of a kind in Yorkshire and I continued for 3 years, heard on the breakfast shows of Radio Aire and Magic 828.
We took to the air each morning in a small 2-seater Cessna 152 aircraft to report live for just over 2 hours each weekday.