Wow Wow Wow.
Wow is all I can say.
Throughout growing up, my family were always keen for me to get into a profession such as becoming a lawyer or some boring job like that 
However when I got to about 15 or so I began to take a real interest in the media and thought perhaps journalism was the thing for me. So… I did a little bit of work experience at the local evening paper and well that was that.
When I was younger my grandparents had a very funny opinion of what would corrupt little ol me, and rather bizarrly music was one of those things. I only really started listening to music in about 1995 and radio probably about the same time, although it was probably only the Radio 1 top 40, and that was when I had some real excitement about who was going . Apart from recording said top 40 on xmas countdown for a couple of years, the real first memory I have of distinctly listening to the radio was with Joanne, my best mate in VIth form, during one of our random drives to MaccyDs after school. Jo always had Chris Moyles on and absolutely adored him. But I just couldn’t get into him at all, there always seemed to be too many people there jabbering on, and as a casual listener I had no idea who Melinda or various other people were. However as he’s now my favourite DJ (and I’m gutted he’s going to breakfast… like I’m up then!) it shows things do change!
Getting my own car and driving about *lots* was really a major turning point for me in terms of my radio listening habits. Whereas at home I would tend to flick around the tv, particularly in the days of OnDigital when I could flick round MTV pretty easily. My favourite radio station back home was 97.4 Rock FM – the EMAP ‘big city’ Station for our area, covering Preston and Blackpool, but in reality having a massive range from lancaster down to about Stoke. There were some fantastic DJs on there… Glen Hunt, Rob Ellis, Mark Paxman, all who I listened to regularly. However radio was always one of those things that I imaged to be full of glitz and glamour and stars like the movies.
So when flicking through my University’s SU guide before I arrived, I was delighted to find a student radio station there. This could be something fun to do, and hey I might as well give it a try. I’d always been really self conscious about my voice but what the hell… lets give it a go. So I signed up, got a show and well you know the rest of it. Now here I am,
Station Manager of the Best Student Radio Station in the country, and hell it feels good to say that. I’m a very modest person but I do feel proud of the work that I and others have done at RaW. When I joined, the exec then won Best Station too. They were a wicked bunch of people and without some of them, most particularly Pat & Lev, and all the guys who are fantastic who left even before I came, but were so enthusiastic and supportive, I would never be in the place I am today.
So yeah, what is this place I am in today? Well I sit here typing as someone who knows exactly, well no that’s a lie, not *exactly* what I want to do, but at least I know *exactly* industry I want to do it in. Take a wild guess
I can’t think of anything worse than getting a graduate or a ‘sensible’ job just because it pays well and is secure etc. For me, and perhaps I’m being too idealistic about this, but I can’t think of anything worse than being stuck in a job that I’m not passionate about. I want to work in radio so so much and to wake up every morning to go to a job that I love would be completely fulfilling. This weekend I did some work for the BBC helping out at their new internal Music & Radio event. Although I was doing it for free, it was a great experience as I got to meet some fantastic people from BBC Live Events and various other depts including 1xtra, Radio 2 & Radio 3, and go to some very cool sessions, meeting the likes of Pete Tong & Simon Mayo. And it was weird, I had to wake up at 6.45 … NOT a nice experience for me, and walk through Clapham to the tube station, but I, and this sounds so ridiculously cheesy, did it with a spring in my step, because I was going to do something that would be the first step on the long path that I hope is ahead of me. I walked through the pouring rain, in the dark morning, tired as hell, smiling like a cheshire cat. I’m crazy as a coconut.
And then came the even better news… much much much gratitude has to go out to Chris for recommending me for work experience at the production company he works at. From Monday I’ll be doing some work experience there for 2 weeks. This does however mean I’m in London and er need somewhere to sleep! Hopefully I’ll be ok at my cousins for some of the time, but hey, if you have a sofa and don’t mind me crashing on it a few nights then let me know please! I’ll buy you muchos alcohol promise xx
Today however was the biggie. It was our, and by our I mean myself, Russ, Carter & Dom’s, first meeting at Radio 1 for our show on Xmas day… I’ll go into more depth about this when I haven’t just written the epic that is above, but my god, it was amazing. We did lots, we saw lots and there’s lots to do, and I really can’t wait. Radio 1… when it comes to real life, that is so the ultimate goalpost. I’m starting the finger crossing now….
but at the moment I’m listening obsessively to Radio 1. Wes was really good doing Christmas Lunch earlier. I think it was his first non chart main show (exc. early breakfast) and he was actually much cooler and wittier than I imagined him to be…Potentially Coxy’s pregnancy leave replacement, or is that certain to be Scott Mills?
