Biography

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Karl Wells is a food critic, restaurant reviewer and former CBC Television personality. He appeared daily on Here and Now on CBC Television and for three years on CBC Country Canada Channel.His weather forecast and live community reports were a 'must-see' for thousands of viewers across Newfoundland and Labrador and in many other parts of Canada.

Karl has received many awards over the years from various community organizations. For example, he has been named an ambassador of Newfoundland and Labrador by Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador. Recognition awards have also come his way from organizations as diverse as St. John's Clean and Beautiful, Easter Seals, the Corner Brook Winter Carnival, the Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games, the St. John's Association for the Mentally Retarded, and the Janeway Children's Hospital.

Early Years

A happy baby and not 'camera-shy'

Karl Wells was born on October 23, in a mining town called Buchans, in central Newfoundland. His parents, Leonard and Elizabeth, ran the town's small hotel. He is the youngest of their three children, Leonard Jr., Betty, and Karl.

At Buchans with his Dad, Leonard

When Karl was about 1-year-old his parents moved the family to St. John's, Newfoundland to start a small grocery business. It is the city he still calls home. And it was here, as a child, living above the family grocery store on Golf Avenue, that he developed an abiding interest in radio and television, and its personalities and performers.

Karl, age 4, at family picnic

Family and friends can remember Karl standing on a piano stool at age 4 to entertain living room guests with his impersonation of Elvis Presley. He would also present the news and weather from a 'make-believe' living room studio. His 'pretend' microphone was his mother's hair brush!

School Days

While at school Karl's natural talent for performing was put to use by his teachers. He was often called upon to read stories to his class.
This encouragement helped Karl develop a desire to continue entertaining his classmates and friends, both inside and outside school. Re-enacting scenes from movies and television shows was a favorite pastime.

Grade 1, the serious student

In grade five a visit to a local radio station so impressed Karl that he decided to seek a career in broadcasting. He was just ten years old!
A Christmas gift of a tape recorder followed and soon he was making his own 'at home' newscasts and radio programs.

'On-air' at VOWR Radio

During high school Karl auditioned to become a volunteer announcer at VOWR, a local non-commercial radio station. He got the job and at age sixteen a successful broadcasting career was launched!

University

After high school Karl attended Memorial University to earn a degree in English. For the next five years, while attending university, he became even more involved in radio work, as well as television and stage work.

At Memorial he studied speech and privately took lessons in voice from a former member of the Sadler's Wells Opera Company. His teachers encouraged Karl to continue performing on stage. As a result he found parts in various productions.

Shaw's Devil's Disciple, 1975

He acted in the Memorial University Reader's Theatre production of Under Milkwood by Dylan Thomas, the Shaw Festival's touring production of The Devil's Disciple, and the St. John's Arts and Culture Centre's production of The Music Man, starring Gordon Pinsent. His voice lessons paid dividends when he placed first in the Kiwanis Music Festival's open tenor solo competition.

Karl (far right), rehearses with Gordon Pinsent (center)

Karl joined the staff of the campus radio station, Memorial University Radio where he would prepare and read the daily campus newscast. While there he also covered a provincial election and took part in a 'for fun' staff production of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Next came a stint at ETV (Educational Television), the campus television studio. Karl was hired as a part-time announcer, camera operator, audio person, video-tape operator, and production assistant! And he did it all for the modest sum of $2.25 an hour! But the education he received there in all aspects of television production was invaluable.

A young CBC announcer

It was during his university years that Karl first worked for the CBC. He auditioned for work as a radio actor and subsequently appeared in many different roles in a host of national and regional CBC productions. Later he would work as a summer replacement announcer for the CBC in radio and television.

Towards the end of his formal education at Memorial, Karl decided to complete the required courses for a degree in teaching, as well as English. His talents as a performer would come in handy during a year of student teaching at MacPherson Junior High in St. John's.
Although he enjoyed teaching, his heart was set on a career in radio and television and it would not be long before his dream was realized.

Karl Wells graduated from Memorial University in the spring of 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education degree.

CBC Years

In the spring of 1976 Karl went back to the CBC as a replacement announcer. A fortunate event occured during that summer. A permanent member of the announce staff left and Karl was given the job of a full-fledged CBC announcer! At that time he worked in both radio and television.

In radio, he hosted Newfoundland Today, Radio Noon, and On the Go. He also hosted a number of variety shows like Saturday Night Jamboree, Hymns of Praise, and a series of programs about the history of country music with his in-studio co-host, George Hamilton IV. He was also the first host of the weekend arts magazine, Weekend AM.

On 90 Minutes Live with Peter Gzowski

In television, Karl read the news on-camera several times a day. Occasionally, he would have an opportunity to do some acting. For example, in 1977 he appeared on Peter Gzowski's 90 Minutes Live as the male companion of a Queen Elizabeth II impersonator, named Jeanette Charles. He also played a burgler on the popular children's program, Skipper & Company.

Then, in 1978, Karl was offered the position of weather reporter on the CBC Newfoundland and Labrador suppertime news program called Here & Now. He appeared in that capacity on CBC Television for nearly thirty years.

Much has happened in Karl's life and career since the late seventies. Perhaps most significant is the position he now holds in the minds of thousands of television viewers in his native province. The late CBC broadcaster Harry Brown said it most succinctly when, in commenting about Karl Wells' impact as a broadcaster, he said, "The man is a Newfoundland and Labrador icon."

The 'weatherman' around 1980

During Her Majesty the Queen's visit to Bonavista, Newfoundland for the 500 year anniversary celebrations of Newfoundland's discovery, Karl was part of the CBC contingent covering the event. He appeared on the street at one point and was recognized by the thousands who had gathered to see Queen Elizabeth. Their appreciative cheers for Karl Wells were so loud that many who witnessed the event observed that he was given a better reception than the Queen! Some British tabloid reporters even sought him out to see who this person was who had stolen the Queen's thunder!

To learn more about Karl's years as a professional broadcaster we invite you to look at the Career section, as well as the many other sections of Karl Wells.com...