After an initial spotty career path during which I was a veterinary nurse, a payroll clerk & even an estate agent, I ended up selling CD manufacturing to computer games companies. One of my customers would tease me about being an avid gamer, so when he spotted an article in a trade magazine advertising for a “young & funky” female presenter who knew about video games for a new show on Nickelodeon, he challenged me to apply – so I really have him to thank for my resulting success.
I think I was the only person who applied that wasn't desperate to be on TV, and consequently I was very relaxed when they invited me up to Yorkshire Television to audition for the role. I got the job, and presented the show with Mike McClean & an animated fish called Bert for three series. It was enough to give me a taste for being in front of the camera, and also opened up opportunities in print journalism that I explain more in the section of this website where I have posted some of my articles. My next big break was with [.TV], or the Computer Channel as it was originally known. We had to pump out so much content each week on a limited budget that I learned the craft of making television from the ground up – and presenting Chips With Everything taught me valuable lessons in how to think fast, on my feet, and not come off looking too stupid. Another memorable episode in my life was travelling the world to present the Speedway Grand Prix series on Channel 4 in 2000. Interviewing the winner of the series live on Sky Sports was a nerve racking moment – and one that ended up being in Dennis Norden's out-takes show when I got sprayed in the face by celebratory champagne – which by the way, really stings when you get it in your eyes!
After a varied & interesting career, I now present the website review section of weekly technology show, BBC Click. I am also an active producer/director, being just as comfortable directing other presenters as I am being in front of the camera myself. In my spare time I love to write fiction, and have been working towards becoming a published novelist for as long as I can remember. I self-published a short story called 'Taken' last year as a trial of Kindle Direct Publishing - you can buy it for Kindle on Amazon if you like! |
My work has taken me on a pretty amazing journey over the years, but it all started when my brother, Matt, got a BBC Micro for his birthday. I remember playing Elite, a trading game that exists in a black & white line-drawn universe. I decided one day to see if I could reach the edge of the space in the game. After several hours of flying in a straight line I realised that this mysterious box sitting on the desk contained a world without boundaries.
My very first appearance on TV was when I was eleven years old and our family competed in a pilot for a new game show presented by the legendary Johnny Ball. Here is a clip from the show, when we were interviewed about our hobbies. The most recent addition to my ridiculously busy portfolio career is having my first book published; Working the Cloud - which is a business book published by Crimson. It came out in March 2013 and can be ordered on Amazon now. You can also join me on the website I have made to compliment the book - WorkingtheCloud.biz.
In addition I ran a Kickstarter campaign around Christmas to fund publishing a sci-fi novel based in the Elite Dangerous gaming universe. You can find out all about that and keep up to date with my progress by joining me on the MostlyHarmlessBook.com. |