Blast Tour

In 1994 I was working as a Sales Manager in Ipswich but I had dreams of doing something completely different.

I wanted to be a radio presenter. I just didn’t know how to go about it. After sending out countless demo tapes to all the stations in England I was finally given my first break as an overnight presenter on local radio in the east of England.

It was a great start but the money was terrible. There was nothing else for it but to continue my job in sales during the day and work at my dream job during the night. 

For the next 4 years I worked a 16 hour day while I waited for my big break.

I’m not going to pretend it was easy but what got me through it was the thought of having my own show, and although it took a long time to come, I have never looked back.

In 1998 I was finally offered a “proper” radio job and I didn’t need to be asked twice. I had to take a drop in salary but there was never any question in my mind. I became the Drive-time presenter on SGR FM with a listenership of around 100,000 people.

Those first minutes of my first show were the most exciting and terrifying of my life. It was 2 O Clock in the afternoon and I was sitting in a studio I had never sat in before. I was sitting in the chair of a presenter who I had admired from afar for years. He was famous in the area and I was about to take over his show. Completely terrifying.

I will never forget those first minutes just before the news ended and I opened the mike to broadcast to thousands of people who had never heard of me before. It was the best feeling in the world but also the most terrifying.

If I have anything to the teach young people coming to BBC Blast on the Isle of Man, it’s to believe in your dreams. If you want something enough you just have to keep plugging away.

The role of a radio presenter has changed over the years and nowadays the ability to multi-task is vital. In most stations presenters must also be producers.

Broadcasting is high pressured and fast-paced. Commercials or news audio must be produced quickly and professionally. There is no room for mistakes and no room for procrastination but it is great fun when you finally hear your work on air.

The role of an audio producer is easier nowadays thanks to some amazing studio software. It means audio can be recorded edited and mixed far quicker than in the old days of reel to reel tape.

You still need a creative brain though; even the smartest software is no substitute for that.

I am looking forward to meeting all the Blast participants. We are going to be working hard but it’s going to be worth it!