Ex-P&J reporter is ‘iconic voice’ of Tattoo

A former Press and Journal reporter has shared his experience as the “iconic voice” of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Since his first narration at the annual celebration of military groups in 1992, Alasdair Hutton has narrated almost 400 shows, making him one of the world’s most experienced presenters of large entertainment productions.

Born in London in 1940, his family then relocated to Scotland, then Australia where he received his high school education.

Mr Hutton then returned to the UK and worked at Aberdeen Journals for a number of years.

After his stint in the north-east, where he

“It’s quite like poetry as I write it to be very rhythmic”

gained valuable reporting experience, he became a BBC broadcaster, as well as serving as a Scottish Member of the European Parliament for 10 years.

Now the former reporter is known as “the voice of the Tattoo” having narrated the world-renowned military and entertainment spectacle for 26 years.

He said: “It takes me about three months to craft the script for the show. It’s about getting it right and writing something that flows with the performances. I suppose it’s quite like poetry as I write it to be very rhythmic.

“The best thing about the job has to be feeling the audience coming to life and really enjoying seeing the diverse performances unfold before their eyes.

“To play a small part in that is fantastic, knowing that you’re sending people away feeling inspired and happy as they walk down the Royal Mile.