Who holds the record for the most television airtime?

In the realm of British television history, a young girl named Carole Hersee has etched an unparalleled mark. Born in 1959, she became the face with the most screen time in UK history, starring in the iconic BBC Test Card that graced screens for decades.

Created by George Hersee in 1967, the Test Card was a practical invention, designed specifically for engineers to work on television sets and for prospective buyers to see a picture in shops. Stuart Montgomery, chairman of the Test Card Circle, explains, "Test cards were radiated for a pragmatic purpose, enabling engineers to work on television sets and supply a signal for the retail trade."

However, the Test Card with Carole Hersee's face playing noughts and crosses with a clown named Bubbles, became more than just a technicality. It attracted enthusiasm among fans, and the mystery of the unidentified music in the Test Card added to its allure.

Rob Crossan, a journalist, broadcaster, playwright, and contributor to various publications and programs, has delved into the history of the Test Card. Crossan shares, "The Test Card was required for the BBC, but there was no need for music. Yet, the music that accompanied Carole Hersee's Test Card became a cultural phenomenon."

Carole Hersee's image, once a staple on British television screens, is now mostly absent from flat screens. Sightings of 'Test Card F' featuring Ms. Hersee are rare today due to the redundancy caused by 24-hour coverage and the lack of need for engineers to 'tune' televisions.

Despite her initial frustration about the persistence of her image, Carole Hersee's legacy lives on. In 2024, searching for 'retro playlists' on a music app may reveal Ms. Hersee as the face of various mixes featuring big band, bossa nova, light orchestral, and other types of muzak.

The Test Card Circle, a society for fans of the test card, continues to celebrate its history. With about 200 members, a quarterly magazine, and an annual convention held in Worcester, the Test Card Circle keeps the spirit of the Test Card alive.

As we mark 300 years since the infamous pirate Blackbeard, it's clear that tales of swashbuckling pirates, real or imagined, continue to captivate us. Jack Watkins suggests that the enduring allure of Carole Hersee and the Test Card can be seen as a modern-day pirate story, a symbol of a bygone era in British television history that continues to fascinate.