Presenter profiles

Place of birth: Sunderland

Favourite place or view in the North East:

My back garden looking out down the River Wear to the sea.

First record you bought:

Jon and Vangelis' "I'll Find My Way Home", quickly followed by Godley and Creme's "Under Your Thumb".

Previous jobs:

 I worked as a reporter for the Shields Gazette and a national newspaper based with a press agency in Newcastle. As a teenager I had my own mobile disco and DJ'd in winebars and clubs in Sunderland.

Good memories:

Covering Sunderland in the Premiership a couple of years ago when they were winning all their games - that took some beating!

Bad memories:

I didn't particularly like visiting people (as a reporter) who had been recently bereaved. Sometimes people were pleased to see me and were happy to share their feelings.

There is one woman from Ryton who I will never forget. Her son had just died. I left her house in tears.

On a lighter note, any jobs that involved hanging around in the cold for hours were never top of the bill!

Best thing about working in radio:

The immediacy. We can be on air in seconds telling people what's going on. Radio can be received just about anywhere too. It's very different to TV.

Most interesting person you have interviewed for radio:

There are too many to mention really...but interesting sports people generally get my vote.

Best thing about your show: It changes all the time. We go on air with one game plan and come off having done something completely different. It really is a living thing! 

Person you would most enjoy being stuck in a lift with:

Lance Armstrong. I like many sports, but what he has come through is just amazing. I bet he has some good stories to tell!

Favourite party game:

Catchy kiss (the staff better watch out at this year's Christmas party then! - ed.).

Where you are when you get most of your inspiration or creative thoughts:

Probably the pub...or the golf course.

Funny sayings you like to use:

"Give it some clayppe". It's a Sunderland thing, I think, and "you live and learn". My Dad tells me I keep saying "so there you are" when I'm on air, but I don't realise when I'm doing it. He is my biggest critic but also one of my biggest supporters.

Proudest achievement:

Getting the Sunderland commentator's job five years ago at BBC Radio Newcastle. I don't do it now, but at the time I felt on top of the world. Oh yes, and meeting my wife, Julia, and getting married on my 30th birthday is probably the highlight (although I have to say that really, or I could be in trouble!).

Where you go for quiet moments:

The back garden or the golf course. I like canals and rivers for their tranquility.

Memories of teachers at school:

My favourite teacher was a guy called Ronnie Guidi. He taught religious knowledge at Whitburn Comprehensive. He had a very dry and quick sense of humour. I still see my old PE teacher, Dave Peacock, every know and then.

Favourite playground game or rhyme:

We played five-a-side at school. I was a mean hop-scotch player in junior school!

Any habits, annoying or otherwise:

I pull hairs out of my face when I've missed them with the razor. I also rub my nose a lot as well.