DJ Debbie Mac, Waking up Manchester every weekend takes some time out of her busy schedule to tell us how she got in to radio.

I started at a little tin pot radio station down south, putting CD’s away for a very nervous and suspiciously anorexic looking drive-time presenter called Tony.  The young boss of the station went on an ego trip and decided to start his own radio presenter course (despite the fact he had never been on air in his life). He trained a few of us young’uns up and then threw us on the air.  My first show was on a Saturday night and my voice was quivering so much you couldn’t understand a word I was saying.  Weirdly, off the back of that, I was asked to present a Friday night show on a slightly bigger station with a guy who used to close my mic so that he got all the air-time.  He was a rather large fella who used to stink of BO and wobble on his chair, baring me the crack of his arse on a weekly basis.

Despite that I persisted with my dream and landed a full-time gig on Vibe FM, East Anglia as part of the original line.  Peter Andre launched the station … woohooo!!!  He guessed what perfume I was wearing.  Was he flirting?

From there I went to work in London at an internet radio station for Bruno Brookes, who I remember most for constantly stealing my fags.  Then to Hallam FM, Sheffield and back down to London to work for Capital FM.

A year into my 2 year contract at Capital, a new boss, who hated women (in every respect) started and binned off everyone with a cleavage.  That’s probably why I managed to hang on for a year longer than all the other girls!  If you are female and fancy a go on the radio, you have to be aware that ladies are in the minority.  You need to develop the skin of a rhino and prepare yourself for a bumpy ride!

I do believe that everything happens for a reason and that’s why I have ended up in Mancland.  I’ve never been happier than I am working for Galaxy.  Everyone who works there is slightly unhinged, which makes for some very entertaining days. 

So if you fancy a radio career, my advice would be to get some experience by helping out at your local station or try getting a show on hospital radio.  If you manage to get your foot in the door, radio is probably the most fun you could have at work.  If you can call it work.  Lets face it, we play tunes and talk in between .. it’s not rocket science is it!