How Did You Get Into the Business? Was Ring Announcing Always the Goal?<\/h2>\nNo, ring announcing wasn\u2019t always the goal. I got back into watching wrestling, watching WrestleMania 31, and I just got sucked back into it like I was a teenager. Watching it religiously, I thought, “I have a history of performing. I love wrestling; it makes sense to get involved.” \u00a0So, I got in contact with Gloucester Wrestling in 2016. <\/em><\/p>\nI was looking to be like a Renee (Paquette) figure, backstage role. I went along to their show, met everybody and then, unfortunately, that ended up being their last ever show. But because I had already started networking, I ended up attending on a \u201cHooked On\u201d event Gillian Gordon was hosting in Cardiff in 2017. A few weeks later, I saw that Pro EVO (now EVW) were looking for an announcer. I was like, \u201cMmm, I feel like I could do that.\u201d I went and did it. Then I was asked to do every single one from then on. I saw the opportunity. I thought, why not, and here we are!\u00a0 It was a good move. I found the one thing in my life that I love so much!<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nYou Have a Background in Performing Arts and Have Worked in the Entertainment Industry. How Did These Skills Impact Your Transition to Announcing?<\/h2>\n100%, they were a foundation. I have always done dance and drama since I was three years old, which brought me confidence. I studied Performing Arts and then worked at Haven Holidays as entertainment staff. So that is really where I learned mic skills and more. Even at college, I would host shows, but there it became more of a job. Everything since then has all been connected. Also, it got me to a level where I walked into wrestling the people told me I was good. That\u2019s all you need, really. If people appreciate what you are doing, you are doing something right!<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/04\/33.webp\")
A photo of RevPro ring announcer Francesca Oliver making ring introductions (Photo Credit: British Wrestling Pictures)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nYour Speaking Voice Differs From Your Announcer\u2019s Voice. How Did You Develop Your Style of Announcing?<\/h2>\nYou know, it just kind of happened. So, as far as my mic voice, it\u2019s what I developed over the years in the other industries. But the actual announcing, I would say, was almost mimicry. I watched it and was like, ” This is what I got to do\u201d. Then that\u2019s what came out. <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nGiven How You Are Constantly Using Your Vocal Cords, Besides Drinking Lots of Water, How Do You Both Protect Your Voice While Maintaining Your Performance? Do You Have to Pace Yourself?<\/h2>\nSo yeah, a lot of water. I try to do a lot of vocal warmups before the show, but sometimes time runs away from me. What helps is if a heel is out first, I like to make my voice gravelly to portray that, which will help with my vocal warm-up. Days leading up to shows, I avoid dairy because it creates mucus on your vocal cords, which is so difficult because chocolate is my main diet! But otherwise, I am sure you probably notice I go all out every time. I get asked regularly how do you do this? I\u2019m just grateful that I have that ability because it\u2019s obviously an uncommon thing.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nWhat Is the Atmosphere Like at Ringside as a Ring Announcer? Do You Find You Have to Separate Yourself as a Fan From Your Role?<\/h2>\n\nI have always watched as a fan. I remember a few people saying to me that they have never noticed a ring announcer watching it like a fan, but if I am there ringside and it\u2019s happening in front of me, how can I not? I couldn\u2019t be there, be in the moment and almost switch off and pretend it\u2019s not happening. The wrestlers are incredible athletes, and they put so much into what they do. How would I not enjoy that? I do get distracted easily, which sometimes is not great. There was one time with EVW where someone next to me was talking away, and I\u2019m trying to watch. The next thing I hear is \u201c1, 2, 3\u201d. I said, \u201cRing the bell\u201d. But when I looked at the ring, the ref was knocked out. It was a fan who had counted the pinfall! I was like, \u201cOh no!\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nWhat Are the Biggest Dangers of Being at Ringside?<\/h2>\n\nSeveral times, when I have been ringside, I have been the first to get up and move out of the way. When we were in York Hall, some fans might remember that with the lighting rig, I would stand up and then hide behind it. No one could get me here. But yesterday, Sha (Samuels), he didn\u2019t mean to, he stood on my foot as he was walking away! So, there are always hazards to the job. There are always times wrestlers take offence to you, like the CTC, so you are not far out of the drama. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nWhat Was the Most Intimidating Part About Announcing When You First Started?<\/h2>\n\nStill now, just getting it right because I am my own worst critic. Andy Quildan (RevPro promoter) would agree that I ask stupid questions, but I ask stupid questions, so I don\u2019t make stupid mistakes. Which I have done a few of those in my time as well. Just wanting to get it right and provide the experience that it is meant to. Now I would say Mercedes Mone\u2019s titles, that\u2019s what probably gives me the most anxiety. Last year, (RevPro\u2019s) High Stakes, I found out just before the show that I was going to list her titles. I panicked then because \u201cI\u2019m out of my comfort zone.\u201d Suddenly, it was a goal. \u201cRight, we are doing every single championship\u201d. Thankfully, I did not miss one out!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/04\/44.webp\")
A photo of RevPro ring announcer Francesca Oliver making ring introductions (Photo Credit: British Wrestling Pictures)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nOver Time, Have Those Aspects Become More Manageable?<\/h2>\n\nWhich is why I ask stupid questions because I know I know, Andy would agree I know, but then there\u2019s this little voice in my head that goes \u201cbut do you?\u201d So, I always go to him and \u201cjust checking this\u201d. So that is a major anxiety, because I want to be good at my job. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nHow Important Is Feedback From Promoters And\/or Wrestlers in Impacting Your Announcing, Especially When You Work for Different Companies?<\/h2>\n\nI welcome it. Sometimes it\u2019s nice to hear \u201cyeah, it\u2019s great, well done\u201d, but especially now, because going and doing Ring of Honour, it was out of my comfort zone. I\u2019ve been so used to doing RevPro and doing a choice few local promotions, I kind of realised that I have been stuck in that bubble too long. So, since then, I\u2019ve taken other bookings from other promotions because the only way I am going to be better is by pushing myself out there and working with different audiences and different styles of shows. When I\u2019m at RevPro, it\u2019s very much TV style. We get straight into it because that\u2019s the way I\u2019ve always been as an announcer. It\u2019s not about me; it\u2019s about making the wrestlers sound good and get the crowd excited. But if a promoter wants something different, no problem, I have to be adaptable.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2026\/04\/22-6.webp\")
A photo of RevPro announcer Francesca Oliver. Photo Credit: British Wrestling Pictures<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhat Is One Piece of Advice You Could Give to Anyone Aspiring to Become a Ring Announcer?<\/h2>\n\nJust get involved. Just find a local promotion, get in touch, and start helping out. Start working on your craft, whether it is ring announcing or backstage interviews, refereeing, or wrestling itself. Just get involved in your local promotion because if I hadn\u2019t done that, I would not be where I am today. It\u2019s only because I got in contact, I started networking, and it was just a pure accident that someone had recommended to Andy Quildan that I got to RevPro, so I am so grateful for that. Then, because of that, every opportunity since has happened. Wrestling is one of the few industries left that you can work your way to the top in by starting at the bottom.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Francesca Oliver, with her distinct vocals, enthusiasm and range of colourful bow ties, is one of the British wrestling scene\u2019s most prominent ring announcers\u2014a staple of Revolution Pro Wrestling, RevPro since 2021. Francesca has also ring announced for many other promotions, including EVW, New Wave Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Chaos and NWE. Francesca has collaborated with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4960,"featured_media":158966,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[13,2192,19],"tags":[9721],"class_list":["post-158883","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international","category-wrestling","category-revpro","tag-francesca-oliver"],"modified_by":"Michael Joseph Sugue, Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158883","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4960"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=158883"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158883\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":158970,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158883\/revisions\/158970"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/158966"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=158883"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=158883"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=158883"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
No, ring announcing wasn\u2019t always the goal. I got back into watching wrestling, watching WrestleMania 31, and I just got sucked back into it like I was a teenager. Watching it religiously, I thought, “I have a history of performing. I love wrestling; it makes sense to get involved.” \u00a0So, I got in contact with Gloucester Wrestling in 2016. <\/em><\/p>\n I was looking to be like a Renee (Paquette) figure, backstage role. I went along to their show, met everybody and then, unfortunately, that ended up being their last ever show. But because I had already started networking, I ended up attending on a \u201cHooked On\u201d event Gillian Gordon was hosting in Cardiff in 2017. A few weeks later, I saw that Pro EVO (now EVW) were looking for an announcer. I was like, \u201cMmm, I feel like I could do that.\u201d I went and did it. Then I was asked to do every single one from then on. I saw the opportunity. I thought, why not, and here we are!\u00a0 It was a good move. I found the one thing in my life that I love so much!<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n 100%, they were a foundation. I have always done dance and drama since I was three years old, which brought me confidence. I studied Performing Arts and then worked at Haven Holidays as entertainment staff. So that is really where I learned mic skills and more. Even at college, I would host shows, but there it became more of a job. Everything since then has all been connected. Also, it got me to a level where I walked into wrestling the people told me I was good. That\u2019s all you need, really. If people appreciate what you are doing, you are doing something right!<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n You know, it just kind of happened. So, as far as my mic voice, it\u2019s what I developed over the years in the other industries. But the actual announcing, I would say, was almost mimicry. I watched it and was like, ” This is what I got to do\u201d. Then that\u2019s what came out. <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n So yeah, a lot of water. I try to do a lot of vocal warmups before the show, but sometimes time runs away from me. What helps is if a heel is out first, I like to make my voice gravelly to portray that, which will help with my vocal warm-up. Days leading up to shows, I avoid dairy because it creates mucus on your vocal cords, which is so difficult because chocolate is my main diet! But otherwise, I am sure you probably notice I go all out every time. I get asked regularly how do you do this? I\u2019m just grateful that I have that ability because it\u2019s obviously an uncommon thing.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n I have always watched as a fan. I remember a few people saying to me that they have never noticed a ring announcer watching it like a fan, but if I am there ringside and it\u2019s happening in front of me, how can I not? I couldn\u2019t be there, be in the moment and almost switch off and pretend it\u2019s not happening. The wrestlers are incredible athletes, and they put so much into what they do. How would I not enjoy that? I do get distracted easily, which sometimes is not great. There was one time with EVW where someone next to me was talking away, and I\u2019m trying to watch. The next thing I hear is \u201c1, 2, 3\u201d. I said, \u201cRing the bell\u201d. But when I looked at the ring, the ref was knocked out. It was a fan who had counted the pinfall! I was like, \u201cOh no!\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Several times, when I have been ringside, I have been the first to get up and move out of the way. When we were in York Hall, some fans might remember that with the lighting rig, I would stand up and then hide behind it. No one could get me here. But yesterday, Sha (Samuels), he didn\u2019t mean to, he stood on my foot as he was walking away! So, there are always hazards to the job. There are always times wrestlers take offence to you, like the CTC, so you are not far out of the drama. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Still now, just getting it right because I am my own worst critic. Andy Quildan (RevPro promoter) would agree that I ask stupid questions, but I ask stupid questions, so I don\u2019t make stupid mistakes. Which I have done a few of those in my time as well. Just wanting to get it right and provide the experience that it is meant to. Now I would say Mercedes Mone\u2019s titles, that\u2019s what probably gives me the most anxiety. Last year, (RevPro\u2019s) High Stakes, I found out just before the show that I was going to list her titles. I panicked then because \u201cI\u2019m out of my comfort zone.\u201d Suddenly, it was a goal. \u201cRight, we are doing every single championship\u201d. Thankfully, I did not miss one out!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Which is why I ask stupid questions because I know I know, Andy would agree I know, but then there\u2019s this little voice in my head that goes \u201cbut do you?\u201d So, I always go to him and \u201cjust checking this\u201d. So that is a major anxiety, because I want to be good at my job. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n I welcome it. Sometimes it\u2019s nice to hear \u201cyeah, it\u2019s great, well done\u201d, but especially now, because going and doing Ring of Honour, it was out of my comfort zone. I\u2019ve been so used to doing RevPro and doing a choice few local promotions, I kind of realised that I have been stuck in that bubble too long. So, since then, I\u2019ve taken other bookings from other promotions because the only way I am going to be better is by pushing myself out there and working with different audiences and different styles of shows. When I\u2019m at RevPro, it\u2019s very much TV style. We get straight into it because that\u2019s the way I\u2019ve always been as an announcer. It\u2019s not about me; it\u2019s about making the wrestlers sound good and get the crowd excited. But if a promoter wants something different, no problem, I have to be adaptable.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Just get involved. Just find a local promotion, get in touch, and start helping out. Start working on your craft, whether it is ring announcing or backstage interviews, refereeing, or wrestling itself. Just get involved in your local promotion because if I hadn\u2019t done that, I would not be where I am today. It\u2019s only because I got in contact, I started networking, and it was just a pure accident that someone had recommended to Andy Quildan that I got to RevPro, so I am so grateful for that. Then, because of that, every opportunity since has happened. Wrestling is one of the few industries left that you can work your way to the top in by starting at the bottom.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Francesca Oliver, with her distinct vocals, enthusiasm and range of colourful bow ties, is one of the British wrestling scene\u2019s most prominent ring announcers\u2014a staple of Revolution Pro Wrestling, RevPro since 2021. Francesca has also ring announced for many other promotions, including EVW, New Wave Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Chaos and NWE. Francesca has collaborated with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4960,"featured_media":158966,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[13,2192,19],"tags":[9721],"class_list":["post-158883","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international","category-wrestling","category-revpro","tag-francesca-oliver"],"modified_by":"Michael Joseph Sugue, Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158883","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4960"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=158883"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158883\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":158970,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158883\/revisions\/158970"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/158966"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=158883"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=158883"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=158883"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}You Have a Background in Performing Arts and Have Worked in the Entertainment Industry. How Did These Skills Impact Your Transition to Announcing?<\/h2>\n
Your Speaking Voice Differs From Your Announcer\u2019s Voice. How Did You Develop Your Style of Announcing?<\/h2>\n
Given How You Are Constantly Using Your Vocal Cords, Besides Drinking Lots of Water, How Do You Both Protect Your Voice While Maintaining Your Performance? Do You Have to Pace Yourself?<\/h2>\n
What Is the Atmosphere Like at Ringside as a Ring Announcer? Do You Find You Have to Separate Yourself as a Fan From Your Role?<\/h2>\n
\n
What Are the Biggest Dangers of Being at Ringside?<\/h2>\n
\n
What Was the Most Intimidating Part About Announcing When You First Started?<\/h2>\n
\n
Over Time, Have Those Aspects Become More Manageable?<\/h2>\n
\n
How Important Is Feedback From Promoters And\/or Wrestlers in Impacting Your Announcing, Especially When You Work for Different Companies?<\/h2>\n
\n
What Is One Piece of Advice You Could Give to Anyone Aspiring to Become a Ring Announcer?<\/h2>\n
\n