Sue Charles – Q&A

Name?
Sue Charles

Age?
31

Where are you from?
Llandrindod Wells, Powys

How did you get started in broadcasting?
The local radio station (Radio Wyvern) was doing a youth programme called Street Cred. I took part with a few friends. We played the songs we loved and sounded off about the issues that bothered teenagers in the early 90s. They asked me back to make tea, turn up to roadshows to hand out car stickers, and eventually do a bit of broadcasting! I ended up presenting the news on TV by accident one Christmas. The presenter was off sick, I was producing and everyone else was on holiday. I phoned the boss to break the bad news and he said ‘well you’d better just get in there and do it’!

When was that?
Started in radio in 1991, television in 1998.

Why News broadcasting?
I’ve always listened to and watched news bulletins and had an interest in sport, politics and music. It made sense to try to do something along those lines for a living. I’ll often get home from a shift and put the news on, or get the latest from Ceefax. I know I really should get out more!

Where else would have viewers seen or heard you before?
I worked as a music reporter for Radio 1 and Radio 2. Also as a journalist with Radio Wales, and a presenter with Radio Maldwyn, Radio Wyvern and Sunshine Radio. Apart from Wales Today you might have seen me on Auntie’s Bloomers – much to my embarrassment.

What is your Best on-air moment?
The most rewarding ones are when you get to meet people you love and think this isn’t really work! So my proudest moments are probably interviewing musicians like Jools Holland, Manic Street Preachers and Edwyn Collins – and then making packages about them for Radio 1 and 2.

What is your Worst on-air moment?
Too many to mention – and frankly many I’d rather forget. An early radio broadcast where the words CDs and Videos came out as VDs and Cideos still haunts me. Otherwise being rugby tackled in a pool of mud while trying to do a piece to camera at a music festival. Then re-living the humilation on Auntie’s Bloomers. I’m still in therapy.

What would you like to do before your career ends?
Get a book published. I’m working on it!

What do you like to do in your spare time?
Boxercise, running, tennis, going to football matches, going to gigs, meeting and eating with friends.

What advice would you give to anyone that would like to get into the broadcasting world?
Be prepared to get up very early and finish very late.

A big thanks to Sue for taking part.

Posted by on Thursday 21 May 2009