You’re bound to be familiar with the voices that tell you which television channel you’re watching, when the News will be on, what Ken and Deirdre are up to in the Rovers etc… But, you’ve probably never been able to put a face or a name to the voice. Well, if you’re watching ITV1, the chances are at some point you’ll have heard Mark. He’s a Continuity Announcer, employed by ITV to point you in the direction of programmes you might like to watch and to keep you up to date with what’s happening with the schedules.

‘How do you get a job like that?’

Well that’s the million dollar question! If there was a real defined career path involved, you can be sure it’d be well subscribed to. Broadcasting is viewed as a glamorous business and these days everyone wants a shot at it. But for every one that succeeds, there’s bound to be ten times that number who won’t. The competition’s fierce and in this industry, no-one takes any prisoners. But don’t let that stop you. Real talent will always break through one way or another. It’s just all about finding that golden opportunity and grabbing it with both hands.

Mark’s broadcasting career started from a very early age. He entered Steve Wright’s Young DJ competition whilst he was still at school. The entry was broadcast on the BBC Radio One Breakfast Show and although not exactly the most inspired piece of broadcasting, Mark was hooked.

He studied on a variety of media courses in the 90′s, not really for a qualification so much as a show on the student radio station. Whilst at Farnborough College of Technology in Hampshire, Mark presented a daily ‘Drivetime’ show on FCT FM. Student radio is the breeding ground for most new radio talent these days, and it’s about the only place left where you can do absolutely anything you like, within reason of course. But with no real commercial constraints, it’s a playground for trying out new ideas.

Guildford’s County Sound Radio Network had, at the same time, lots of community programming airtime and consequently Mark ended up producing and sometimes presenting a number of feature ‘packages’ for on-air use. It wasn’t anything of earth shattering importance, but it was real radio and that was all that mattered!

Inevitably a move to London followed this and from 1999, Mark was asked to present the weekly Cadbury’s Fuse Chart Show on the Student Broadcast Network. This was the nationally compiled student radio chart, which was syndicated live to radio stations all across the country by satellite. Mark also presented an afternoon show for SBN and some of today’s new commercial radio broadcasters still get in touch to tell Mark they used to listen!

It was around this time that Mark was approached by ITV who were recruiting for new continuity announcers for ITV2. He jumped at the chance to have a go, and by Summer 2001, Mark was regularly presenting live announcements on ITV2 at the weekends. The TV industry went through lots of changes over the next few years, lots of jobs disappeared and most digital channels, ITV2 included, reverted back to pre-recorded announcements. Luckily though, in 2004 an opening on the full time staff took Mark over onto ITV1, and the rest, as they say, is history.

So, if there’s one piece of advice to be offered, it’s to get yourself some broadcasting experience. With the arrival of the internet and video sites such as youtube, it’s probably easier than ever to do it these days. Colleges, universities and of course hospitals all have their own radio stations. There’s no better grounding for a potential career in broadcasting. Keep practicing, and don’t be afraid to contact broadcasters for their opinions. You never know who’s watching!