James Dagwell – Q&A

Name?
James Dagwell

Age?
32

Where are you from?
Lived all over the shop when i was a kid – South London – Devon – but mainly grew up in Crowborough in East Sussex.

How did you get started in broadcasting?
I was a runner for GMTV – ie. photocopied scripts and made tea for celebs appearing on the programme. It’s still the most glamorous job i’ve had.

When was that?
I was there when the station launched in January 1993. It was during my year out before University.

Why News broadcasting?
I have a passion for stuff that goes on around the world – reporting and presenting the news is the perfect way to satisfy that.

Where else would have viewers seen or heard you before?
My first on-screen job was as a reporter/presenter for a now-defunct London cable news station called Channel One. Then ITV1 Westcountry as a reporter/presenter on their regional news from 1998 until 2000. More recently i reported for the 7 o’clock News on BBC Three before that got junked. (I’m sensing a pattern here…)

What is your Best on-air moment?
Probably my second-ever day as a presenter when I anchored the early morning coverage of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales for Channel One.

What is your Worst on-air moment?
There’ve been a few – most memorably ballsing-up a live 2-way by going completely blank. There was a lot of tumbleweed for what seemed like hours.

What would you like to do before your career ends?
Work in New York as a reporter/presenter for a year or two – and be a presenter on a global news channel.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love travelling and try to get away to as many random places around the world as possible.

What advice would you give to anyone that would like to get into the broadcasting world?
Be persistant – but be good at what you do. Too many people want to get into TV because it’s perceived to be glamorous but once inside, don’t have the passion or talent to get anywhere.

A big thanks to James for taking part.

Posted by on Thursday 21 May 2009
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