First-generation GPB First Channel news anchor Irma Gurieli turned 85

Irma Gurieli, one of the first-generation news anchors for the Georgian Public Broadcaster’s (GPB) First Channel, has celebrated her 85th birthday.

Irma Gurieli’s television career began when she was just 15, reading literary works on-air at the Funicular for broadcasts featuring young people. She was subsequently selected during the very first audition of a broadcast announcer competition and, from 1968 onwards, greeted audiences for many years from Georgian television’s famous blue screens.

The finest years of her life are intertwined with television theatre, where she served as deputy editor-in-chief and performed as an actress. She left an indelible mark on viewers through her distinctive character roles across numerous television plays. Alongside her work in television, she wrote for and performed in radio plays. Irma Gurieli’s name is associated with countless unforgettable screen and stage roles created over the decades. Yet beyond acting and television newsreading, she was also among the pioneers of foreign series voiceovers. More than 70 songs based on her poetry are preserved in the Georgian Public Broadcaster’s archives.

GPB First Channel wishes Irma Gurieli a very happy 85th birthday.