Latest ! 2011 Nominated: ExpressFM Awards, Best Entertainment Show !
A message from Mark:
Radio has been a passion for me for as long as I can remember.
The evidence !
In the 70’s - recording Fluff and 'Pick of the Pops' with a mike in front of the radio and a 'Keep Out' sign on the bedroom door !
Second-hand reel to reel for 12th birthday and lots of editing with a chinograph pencil and cutter (which I still have !) – great fun.
Portsmouth Hospital Broadcasting, mobile discos – and lots of stories, Radio Victory, BBC Bristol, St Mary’s Hospital, Bedford - whilst doing the Masters at Cranfield and most recently, The SkillSet 'Route Into Radio Programme'.
Looking back, to be honest, I blame the Careers Master !! (part time as he was also the Music teacher !). There I was with Grade 1 English Lit and Language and great feedback on my stories and essays – and the Careers Master suggests I should do English at A-level...... and teach........So some years later and I am a Chartered Engineer, MD, NED etc – and wishing I had continued to write and talk ! I worked my way up the qualification and career greasy poles with some success – so lots of real life experience there............then came some unexpected challenges...................Around 2002, whilst I was an MD in the UK and VP in Europe, flying endlessly, I got a pain in the neck.................then I developed what I called a 'John Wayne walk'. After months of tests they found a 'fatty lump' in my spinal cord just where the neck pain had been. We practiced 'wait and see' until the neck pain was unbearable and the airport trolleys were holding me up ! Operations followed – the last on my 50th birthday, having 'Happy B’day' sung to me by 2 physios! Another challenge was that all this meant I became a w/chair user.
Friends suggested I go back to radio – as they said – 'we all know you can talk, and you can do radio seated - mostly !' Importantly, they also muttered something about being great at connecting with people and winning over an audience.................
I saw the SkillSet 'Route Into Radio' course advertised in Radio Mag – the course was the 3rd pilot nationally and to be held in Hants and IOW. The programme was sponsored by SkillSet in conjunction with SEEDA. Before I applied for the 'Route Into Radio' placement, I never thought I could get back to radio, with the shifts in technology and the turbulence from legislation, rationalisation, etc. From nowhere I actually managed Distinctions for the both the Units I took as part of a Diploma in Media Studies, which were required for the Route Into Radio course. Route Into Radio also included placements and talks at Commercial and Public Service stations. My in-station placement was with the BBC in Southampton. Just by 'being around' at the joint radio and TV studios, I have been involved in undercover radio and TV features on the trains, written and presented a series called Radio Coach (script examples in the pack). My work and interviews went to air on BBC Solent, national BBC Radio 4 ('You & Yours') and BBC South Today TV.
What do I bring ?.....life experience, someone said a 'smile in my voice'. A lifetime interest in radio.
So – What about the Express FM Sunday Breakfast Show ?
Since joining Express FM, I have been given great opportunities to learn and improve my radio skills. The Ops Manager, our very own Rob James obviously had a cunning plan to allow me to develop, with shadowing other presenters, then our successful 'Radio Coach' series on Adrian’s Big Drive Home.
I was really excited to be offered the Sunday Breakfast Show – I have been able to design the format, features and even the jingles, using ideas I have had for many years for a breakfast show!
I like to give our listeners a fast moving, feature-rich Show. There is just 1 rule on the Sunday Breakfast Show 'if I am up, everyone’s up' !
Musically we have 4 tracks from a Featured Artist, , 2 tracks from the Express Archive. We go 'Under the Covers' – a special track as listeners wake and may like a cuddle ! Each week also we have a Comedy Spot and a 'Take 2' spot where we play 2 different treatments of a well known song.
Features include Famous Birthdays, the Showbiz update (prepared and presented by the brilliant Vicki Hemmings) and the Boating Spot, where we provide the day’s tide times and a selection of news for all who enjoy their boating in our beautiful area. ....................and don’t forget the 'Tea Spot', our '1st Foot on the Floor' and the pesky neighbours with their noisy collection of chickens !
Those Questions !
Favourite Record & Album? Chicago – If You Leave Me Now & Barb Streisand - Guilty
Food You Can't Do Without? Roasts and Chinese
Favourite Film? My Fair Lady (Rex & Audrey) & Star Wars !
Favourite Celebrity? Kenny Everett & Steve Wright
Funniest Radio Moment? Lots! – like hospital radio where I got the
patients to bang their bed-pans in time with Wogan’s Floral Dance – Ward Sister not amused though............. !
Your Dream Car? Bentley GT Coupe
Three Things You Would Take On A Desert Island.....
o A magical refilling bottle of whisky !
o An endless supply of my fave food ! and of course –
o A solar powered, battery back-up web connection to listen to Express FM
Why Do You Love Portsmouth? I was born in Portsmouth (Chichester Road !), went to school and Poly here and have seen all the changes that make it the city it is today – but most of all Portsmouth People will always 'go the extra mile' to help.
Thanks for listening ! Keep in Touch ! and of course - Keep Smiling :-)
