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Monday, November 26, 2007

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Voice of London's 'tube' fired for remark

A London subway train

Emma Clarke, whose voice calmly prompts Underground riders to "mind the gap" reportedly called the transportation system "dreadful."

A London subway train moves from the platform at Finchley Road station in London. (Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

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KAI RYSSDAL: This final note for the international travelers among you. Those who've been to London will recognize this:

EMMA CLARKE: Mind the gap.

The voice of the London Underground is a woman named Emma Clarke. Or perhaps we ought to say it was Emma Clarke. Clarke has been fired for saying she avoided the "dreadful" Tube whenever possible.

She says she was misquoted on that "dreadful" thing. But it probably didn't help that Clarke also recorded fake ads mocking her own warnings to Tube passengers.

CLARKE: Passengers are reminded that like all voice-over artists, I probably look nothing like you imagine and may turn out to be somewhat of a disppointment.

Same applies to radio program hosts, we should probably say.

The Underground said the ads had nothing to do with Clarke's firing. It was all because she called the Tube dreadful.

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