Hey Nick, where is this caring figure of an ATCO based? I have flown in UK for many a year and I am yet to speak to him / her on the radio but it sounds great!
The one exception was one particular controller I used to speak to regularly in my last job on nights. She used to remind me of MSA with great concern in her voice when I used to reply "not above 1500 feet" when asked for my operating altitude at night.
Much of the time we don't even have to speak to anyone if we choose not to.