As you all know, Presenters’ Corner is the blog where we like to tell you more about our lovely presenters here at Hochanda, by celebrating our appreciation for them with a fantastic Q&A. This month we’ve got the very entertaining Scott Worsfold, to tell us all about himself, his funniest moments on tv, and also his adventure to Tanzania! – If you missed last months Presenters’ Corner, with Scott’s partner Fiona, you can check that out here!
Hey Scott, welcome to Presenters’ Corner! Tell us a bit about yourself
I’m Scott and was born at a very early age, and grew up not too far away from the HOCHANDA studios in a town called St Neots in Cambridgeshire. I now live up north, where I moved to live with work many years ago. I live with my partner Fiona (you probably already knew that though) and our two brilliant children Jed and Shea…(you have probably heard me talk about them a little on the show once or twice also)
Can you tell us a bit about your love for theatre? Maybe a favourite show you have been a part of
I have always had a passion for the theatre. I was always in a school play and the first role was a squirrel and believe it or not, that didn’t even put me off. I studied in London at Mountview theatre and haven’t looked back. I have been in many different shows and all have great memories or stories. My very first professional performance was at the open air theatre in Regents park, London. What a great experience and amazing for my very first professional job. Since then, I have worked at some of the most amazing theatres, including the very modern Lowry, Manchester to the traditional and historic theatres like The Richmond Georgian theatre that was built in 1788 (and still has the original stage trap door and lift in place) to the fantastic world-famous Leeds cities varieties theatre, where the likes of Charlie Chaplin, George Formby Marie Lloyd and even the amazing Houdini have performed.
I have played many roles including a few actor/musician roles as I play piano and drums, which led me on to playing a punk drummer called Ginge in a national tour of “Too much Too young”, and playing live gigs every night, with Mina Anwar from the BBC series The thin Blue line as our lead singer (who actually got the gig for the thin blue line from that show as Ben Elton was in the audience…true fact lol)
Can you recall one of your funniest moments on tv?
To be honest there have been so many over my 15 years or so of live tv presenting. That’s the exciting thing about it being “live” I have had my rather embarrassing moment while I was presenting for another channel many years ago. It involved a pink snakeskin handbag and I’m afraid it was all a little too much for me and the giggles set in, and once they set in, they are very hard to stop. If you want to see this moment, it is there for all to see on you tube “pink snake TV blooper”…a very close second comedy moment was while presenting with the lovely Paula on a morning show on HOCHANDA….All I will say, is I never knew that Paula had a potty mouth like that? Lol
Do you have tips for someone going on TV for the first time?
Be yourself! It might sound simple, but if presenting on TV you have lots of things to think about and remember, and most of the time someone telling you things in your ear from the gallery. The last thing you want to be worried about is pretending to be someone you are not. Honesty is the best policy. People know if you are being “fake” so be yourself. Some people will like you, some people will not, that is how it goes. You will never be able to change that, you can’t be everything to everyone, but you can be true to yourself and your own personality, and at the end of the day, that is all what matters. Presenting is not being a character, its about being yourself, and asking questions you would ask if you were also at home watching.
Can you tell us a bit about your Tanzania adventure?
Sometimes as part of any presenting team you are asked to do some pretty amazing things. By far for me, the most amazing thing I have ever done for a TV show, was go on a trip to Tanzania for 10 days to film a documentary. What an experience. I had never travelled to Africa before, and so to go and see this vast landscape, venture 800m down a tanzanite mine, climb up to base camp 2 of Mount Kilimanjaro as well as visit children’s orphanage and many other places was something I will never forget. To see first-hand how hard life is for some communities and the people who live in them was a massive eye opener, and more often very hard to comprehend and accept. It is still available to watch on YouTube on, Tanzania Gem adventure. I am very proud of this work to be honest, and what an opportunity it was.
Your favourite thing about being part of the Hochanda family?
Being part of the HOCHANDA family is an honour. I feel like the long-lost cousin that the rest of the team have taken under their wings. I feel like a fraud though at times as they are all so talented and inspirational, the only thing I can do is watch on in wander as the rest create amazing projects. I treat every day I can be in the studio as a learning day and never take that for granted. I am so lucky to be part of such an amazing presenting and backstage team. I have never worked with a TV production crew and management team like it. People really do want the best for everyone and is supportive of everyone who visits the studio to showcase their talents and creative ideas.
Thanks for joining us once again in the Presenters’ Corner, we hope you’ve enjoyed a nice relaxing read. Be sure to look out for next month’s edition for a catch-up with another fantastic presenter. Learn more about Scott on his presenters’ page!