With some people you do hear their voice and intonation. Always happenswith me when reading something by Clive James.
Chris Knight has just died, some might remember him from the Silhouette days... please log in to view this image
Like you say, great character and what a dare devil he was too. Nelsons Column springs to mind. RIP John Noakes. I don't know if he was ever given any honours, if not he should have been.
A lot of people will be recalling childhood memories. From a time when presenters and programme makers didn't assume that because their audience was younger they were a bit slow on the uptake and needed things dumbing down for them.