While revellers see in the New Year across Sussex, actor Brian Cobby will be counting down the end of the year in his usual soothing, hypnotic tones.

For the 73-year-old, whose voice is known to millions even though his face is rarely seen these days, has been the voice of the speaking clock since 1985.

As well as providing a vital service to clock-watchers across the world, his soothing tones have also helped a number of insomniacs get a good night's sleep when they dial Tim, the speaking clock, on 123.

Brian, of Vernon Gardens, Brighton, said: "Some women have told me, particularly elderly women, that if they can't sleep they phone the talking clock and listen to my voice. I suppose that's a good thing.

"I think I was lucky to be brought up in the Thirties when the BBC had Children's Hour and they used to have beautifully-spoken English. I was brought up like that and I have always spoken like this. I didn't acquire it at drama school."

During his career, Brian has also kept thousands of children entertained as the voice of the countdown on Sixties show Thunderbirds.

He became the first man to record the speaking clock when he won a competition among British Telecom employees to find a new golden voice, taking over from Pat Simmons, who had done the job since 1963.

He fended off competition from more than 5,000 entrants and 11 women finalists from across the UK to secure the role.

Brian, who has lived in Brighton for 35 years, then spent just under an hour recording the phrases.

He read from a 33-page script but only 86 words were used and he had to go back to do the whole thing again when BT staff realised they had forgotten the "o'clock" bit.

"I was working at the Withdean exchange as a night operator. BT was going public and they had this competition where they wanted to find a new golden voice."

Brian said he had always wanted to become an actor ever since he was a child and he started off as a broadcaster while on national service in Germany.

He also starred in a couple of films, including The Nudist Story in 1959 which, at the time, was rather racy and billed as being in "blushing Technicolor".

"Unless you are really sincere, acting is very hard work. I did cop out in a way by doing commercials but I would have been a fool not to because I was making so much money.

"My father didn't like the idea of me being an actor at all. It took a long time to make him proud but he was proud of me in the end.

"What I would have liked to have been was a Shakespearean actor but it doesn't pay very well.

"But while I was doing Shakespeare, commercials started.

Suddenly they got my voice and I was the flavour of the month and I never stopped for about ten years but it is rather looked down upon by other actors.

"I had great success and was very extravagant in the Sixties. I was recognised in the street.

"People did know my face as well as my voice because a lot of people went to see The Nudist Story."

Brian, who lives alone, retired from BT after he underwent a kidney transplant but still likes to keep active with voice-overs and film work.

"I had a varied stage career. The finale was ending up with BT but it also turned into another career and I still do the occasional voice-over for local radio.

"I still do the odd picture. I was in Evita with Madonna, standing on the balcony, and I had to smile at her. I must have smiled about 30 times."