天美传媒

From the classroom to the KISS radio studio

鈥淚鈥檝e wanted to be a presenter ever since my second year at Beds where we worked in the Uni鈥檚 TV Studios and now it鈥檚 finally happened. To be honest it hasn鈥檛 sunk in yet! I鈥檝e had hundreds of people congratulate me, it鈥檚 just been mad really.鈥�

Sam Darlaston, graduated 2015, BA (Hons) Media Performance

Sam Darlaston, who graduated with a First Class Honours in Media Performance from Bedfordshire last year, is the , after he won the competition which asks listeners to audition to become 鈥榯he fresh face of KISS鈥�.

Three weeks ago Sam sent in a video of his presenting skills and after being whittled down to the final 20, and then final five following another homemade video, he was announced live on air yesterday as KISS鈥� latest recruit.

鈥淚t鈥檚 absolutely surreal,鈥� exclaimed Sam, 21.

鈥淚鈥檝e wanted to be a presenter ever since my second year at Beds where we worked in the Uni鈥檚 TV Studios and now it鈥檚 finally happened. To be honest it hasn鈥檛 sunk in yet! I鈥檝e had hundreds of people congratulate me, it鈥檚 just been mad really.鈥�

Whilst at Bedfordshire Sam, who originates from Nuneaton but is still currently living in Luton, took every opportunity which came his way.

He worked on the 天美传媒鈥檚 community radio station, Radio LaB 97.1fm, and attained work experience in a paid role at Applause Store where he still works today as a TV Audience Manager 鈥搘orking on shows such as the X Factor helping to organise the audience.

鈥淢y three years at Bedfordshire provided me with the best education; I鈥檝e loved it. I arrived wanting to be an actor, and I still hope to pursue this one day, but now hopefully everything I鈥檝e done on the course, like the radio unit, will set me up now for my role at KISS. I鈥檓 so happy I can鈥檛 believe it, but trying to take it in my stride.鈥�

After Sam鈥檚 first Chosen One application, he was told he had made it to the final 20 鈥楶resenter Academy鈥�, where he had to visit the studio and interview former winners.

He then made it into the Final Five where he was tasked to make a three minute video.

In this clip he admitted he didn鈥檛 have a camera, a microphone, or any lighting, however Sam stated he did have 鈥渃onfidence, personality and determination鈥�, and then proceeding to produce a hilarious piece which includes an interview with his nan and a shot of him feeding his hamster.

The video, made on a mobile phone, attracted some 2,000 hits on YouTube, but Sam still said he didn鈥檛 believe he stood a chance of winning.

---

However KISS thought otherwise and spokesman said: 鈥淲hen we called Sam to tell him he鈥檇 won and we asked him why he thought he鈥檇 been selected as the chosen one he said he was 鈥榡ust being himself鈥� and we think that鈥檚 why Sam shone through right from the start; he has a natural engaging personality.

鈥淚t also helps he鈥檚 pretty funny too! He鈥檚 already made a good start with his own YouTube content and we believe our audience will embrace him as one of their own.鈥�

Maria Wiener, a Senior Lecturer Media Performance at Bedfordshire was one of Sam鈥檚 lecturers, and congratulated him saying she was 鈥渆xtremely proud鈥� and 鈥渆xcited鈥�.

鈥淪am has a very critical and creative mind, is an intelligent, talented, highly driven performer with a charismatic personality and a great sense of humour.

鈥淗e is not afraid to take risks, to step outside of his comfort zone and to use his imagination to produce outstanding results either as a team player, or as an individual.

鈥淪am, just like all of our graduates, has been encouraged, nurtured and supported to pursue his dream career, so to see him succeed in this competition is the most wonderful news.

鈥淗e now joins a long trail of successful graduates and forms an inspiration for our students.鈥�