Top tips for a career in TV presenting
Bebo’s brand new entertainment show, b-box, launched last month. The weekly magazine show will highlight the hottest picks in entertainment right now, whilst also turning the spotlight on the best new content on the social media network.
From unsigned acts to hilarious home-made videos, the series will give community members the chance to see their name in lights. The show will also cover newly released films, games and music and allow users to catch up on all 'Bebo Originals' programming.
We caught up with b-box's presenters, Alice Levine and James Cooper, and asked them what it's like presenting a show.
What advice would you give anyone who’s thinking about being a presenter?
Alice: It is really important to get as much experience as you can. By trying out different things you can learn more about what you like and what you are good at.
How did you first get into presenting?
Alice: At Leeds uni I presented an entertainment show which James produced. It was really great and we did all the editing and filming ourselves, even managing to bag some celebs for the show. It even won an award!
When did you first realise you wanted to be a presenter?
James: Well, when I was younger I wanted to be a videoshop owner! But I always loved making films when I was little, so presenting seemed perfect!
Alice: When I was doing the student TV I really loved it and knew I wanted to try do it as a proper job.
As a kid, were there any other jobs you wanted to do?
James: Well, there was the videoshop owner aspiration, but otherwise I wanted to be a policeman until I thought it was too dangerous!
Alice: There were loads of things I thought about. I quite fancied being a gymnast, but I wasn’t very supple!
How would you sum up ‘b-box’, Bebo’s new entertainment show?
James: It’s a weekly chunk of everything good on Bebo, it’s off the wall, lighthearted and shows some of the best UGC on Bebo.
What are the best and worst things about the job?
James: Some of thes best things are getting the chance to be creative, working at a fast pace and really having a hand in what is produced. There aren’t many down sides, but I think we have to be careful as we are best mates who work together so squabbles aren’t a good idea!
If you could interview any celebrity (living or dead), who would you choose?
Alice: Emily Pankhurst - everyone in the office reckons I’m a bit of a feminist.
James: Stephen Fry.
What’s been your funniest or most memorable out-take as a presenter?
Alice: I’ll never forget on a different show I was working on, asking Patrick Moore to film an ident for Bebo. All he had to say was “You’re watching Bebo” so then I turned the camera on and he simply said “Digital Camera”. It was hilarious!
b-box will be airing every Thursday from January to June...
bebo.com/b-box
