A De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) graduate has just started presenting one of the region's most listened to radio shows.
Ryan Arnold, 24, graduated from DMU’s Radio Production course in 2012 and has landed his dream job as the new weekend presenter for Capital East Midlands.
He said: “I play the biggest tunes and have a laugh every weekend. It’s going great and it’s so much fun – it’s my dream job and I’m very lucky to be doing it.”
Ryan, originally from South East London, was sure of his career early on. “I knew that I wanted to be in radio from quite a young age,” he said.
“At 15 I begged my local hospital radio station to let me on, but they said no. I was banging on the door and eventually I was given an hour slot to do my thing.”
Since then, Ryan has had experience at BBC Radio Kent, BBC Radio Leicester, Gem 106, Capital and Capital XTRA, as well as the university’s own student-led radio station, Demon FM, which he called a ‘great opportunity’.
It was this experience that got Ryan’s foot in the door. He said: “I was already working for Capital in a production capacity and when this opportunity arose I threw my hat into the ring and really wanted to progress my career within the company.
“I was offered the chance to pilot on a weekend show and I guess I must have done something right because I’m here now!”
RELATED NEWS:
* Comedians join students on air for Leicester Comedy Festival
And Ryan is under no illusion of the help that his course gave him to get him to where he is today. He said: “DMU gave me the opportunity to actually practice the skills we learnt about and the university’s facilities are exceptional.
“The biggest thing about DMU that I think helped was the character building and the personal experiences that I picked up being surrounded by the most creative people.
“If you want to get into radio then the course at DMU is, in my eyes, the best in the country.”
Ryan also has advice for radio hopefuls, and said: “It’s hard [to make it] and you will have to be determined.
“It’s the best job around which means everyone wants to do it and therefore making yourself stand out and making an impression is key.
“I’ve always been told that if you want something enough, it will happen. There were many people that doubted what I could do and, as hurtful as that was, it was my motivation to prove them wrong.”
Capital East Midlands broadcasts to the whole region from its studios in Nottingham on 96-106FM, DAB and online. You can catch Ryan on Saturdays and Sundays from 12-4pm.
Posted on Monday 20 July 2015