So you wanna be the next Rolf Harris?

If you fancy being a television presenter, read on…

What’s the job?
Being a television presenter is harder than it looks. Far from just standing in front of a camera looking exotic, you’re at the front end of a production team, delivering everyone’s hard work in an informed and entertaining way.

The proof
First class presenters like Rolf Harris get to know as much, and often more, about the issues they are presenting as everybody else on the production. So nine-tenths of Rolf’s work is done off screen. In the gaps between filming Rolf is out in the waiting area chatting to the public, talking to the production crew, being briefed by researchers on the cases he is about to see, giving and receiving advice on the work at hand.

Look at that technique!
Once in front of the cameras, a presenter needs a cool delivery technique. Presenting even the simplest piece is often a mixture of reading from an autocue, improvising on the spot, and reacting to the instructions delivered by the producer via an earpiece. The presenter is doing all this whilst giving the impression that he is talking quite naturally to the viewers in their sitting room. A tall order!

Getting down with the people
Presenters also have to be very good with people. Most presenting work involves interviewing people; often complete strangers. Rolf makes people feel at ease and gets the answers needed for the programme whilst always looking involved. In addition there’s reading the autocue, listening to instructions from the producer and noting which camera is running, whilst looking calm, composed, and completely in control. A tall order!

What do I need to be a TV presenter?
Technique is something that will come with training and experience. The raw material and talent will already be there, so it will be a mixture of the three ‘P’s:

Passion
It’s no good being a presenter on Animal Hospital if you’re not passionate about animals and it’s no good being a news presenter if you’re not passionate about current affairs.

Personality
If you’re the sort of person who can walk into a room full of strangers and strike up a conversation within 60 seconds, then you’ve got the inquisitive, easy, confident personality required for presenting.

Presentation
This isn’t just looking good. It’s far more a case of how you project your personality. Are you able to take in information and process it quickly? Can you form and present an argument succinctly? Can you ad lib without being boring?