Presenters

Listening to the sounds of Sailing By under the covers as a 10-year-old (how sad is that!), I often imagined myself in a dinner jacket at Bush House keeping the nation's fisherfolk safe.

But at university in Hull (ahhh, the smell of freshly caught fish!) ... I belatedly discovered the path to fame on the radio involved journalism training ... not just an ability to read the shipping forecast.

Eventually, with a degree and a diploma in radio journalism - from Falmouth (cue seagulls again), I got my first job on local radio in Plymouth. It was there that, as a trainee, I grabbed a 20-minute recorded interview with Neil Kinnock at Plymouth Airport.

A scoop! Until I discovered the tape had jammed after just 10 seconds.

In my first telly job, at Television South West, my early duties included reading out childrens' birthday cards with the station's mascot - a wide-eyed rabbit called Gus Honeybun.

I even had my turn under the desk with my hand up ...erm, operating Gus's ears with a cunningly concealed internal wire. Ooops, another trade secret out of the bag.

Dominic scans for a local fishing forecast!

Now, as landlocked presenter for East Midlands Today I consider myself lucky to have stumbled on a career that combines many of my early passions - playing around with microphones and bits of wire, spreading malicious gossip and discovering just how mad, friendly and interesting people really are.

Top 10 list

1. Best Song Ever: Stereophonics' Mr Writer.

2. Best TV Show Ever: Anything with Kylie Minogue

3. Best personal TV moment: My interview with her sister (Well it's a start!)

4. Best place in England: Banks of the River Walkham near my old primary school in Devon. Happy memories...

5. Favourite / worst food: I love authentic Chinese cuisine, but loathe pre-packed, inauthentic, supermarket Chinese cuisine.

6. Favourite / worst drink: A Guinness in Dublin (best). Seawater. (I'd make a lousy trawlerman) (worst)

7. Favourite / worst animal: I once had a gorilla in a zoo named after me ...so, Gorilla. Worst: See above. He was eventually shipped overseas because of his disruptive behaviour.

8. Favourite name for boy / girl: Matthew. Elizabeth, Anna and Francesca.

9. Favourite sport / least favourite sport: Live rugby / anything I'm forced to participate in

10. Favourite politician / historical figure: Dennis Skinner (aka Beast of Bolsover)