- Kevin Howells
- 26 Aug 07, 01:09 PM
Joined the BBC in May 1985 just at the start of BBC Radio Shropshire which I'm sure forever will be the best days of my working life. I left school at seventeen to join them having been born and bred in the county. Aside from two years working for John Cravens Newsround I spent the next 15 years having a great time at various local BBC radio stations up and down the country presenting all sorts of programmes.
I packed that in when machines started picking the same old music to be played on the radio (Dull) and I moved into sport, ending up in Radio Sport seven years ago.
Cricket became my number one interest when working at Radio Leeds after taking on the job of covering Yorkshire County cricket club. That involved spending time with a good bunch including Darren Gough, a young Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard to name a few.
Almost all ambitions achieved thanks to the job but still dream of making an appearance on the Archers one day and having my own country music show.
I still live in Leeds a great city, although home will always be Shropshire, which is one of Britain's best kept secrets
- Bill Frindall
- 26 Aug 07, 01:07 PM
Taught to score by a desperate young teacher on a rainy day at primary school, my skills were tested four days later when I was asked to deputise for an absent scorer at my local club.
My Test Match Special predecessor's demise coincided with the end of my six and a half cricket seasons in the Royal Air Force. I suggested to the BBC's Head of Outside Broadcasts that they might be one short, was interviewed within a week and eventually given the coveted job on a three match trial. Found 'not guilty' after four sessions of Test cricket, I was offered a permanent contract. That was 42 summers ago.
As a freelance I have been fortunate that TMS has proved be a splendid shop window. Commissions from newspapers, publishers and speaking agencies have flowed in nicely. I also market my own scoring books in the linear system I developed. Collectors buy copies of my score sheets of Tests and internationals, as well as the radial charts of famous innings I have been lucky enough to record. The BBC website bravely hosts my Ask Bearders blog and has yet to be sued because of my answers.
I have been extremely privileged to have worked alongside such great broadcasters as John Arlott and Brian Johnston. It has certainly been a lot more fun than a proper job.
- Jonathan Agnew
- 26 Aug 07, 01:06 PM
I was appointed BBC Cricket Correspondent in the spring of 1991, replacing Christopher Martin-Jenkins, having been a professional cricketer with Leicestershire for 13 years. I played - largely unsuccessfully - for England in 3 tests and 3 ODI's in 1984/85 and retired gracefully at the age of 30.
I gained my early love for radio at BBC Radio Leicester where I worked for a number of winters between cricket seasons, joining a long list of national sports broadcasters who cut their teeth at that particular radio station.
Although nothing can beat actually playing sport for a living, being in the position to commentate and report on cricket comes a good second. The amount of time spent away from home while on tours is obviously an issue, & I am very fortunate to have such a supportive and understanding wife in Emma, who also works for the BBC in the East Midlands.
The most enjoyable aspect of what I do is that every day is unpredictable and different. Being able to respond to various incidents instantly is the greatest challenge, while hopefully remembering at the same time that we are dealing with nothing more important than merely a game - albeit a great one.
- Adam Mountford
- 26 Aug 07, 01:05 PM
I am the BBC Cricket Producer responsible for producing Test Match Special and also looking after coverage on Five Live and other BBC outlets.
Getting the chance to work with some fantastic broadcasting talent and produce such a famous radio programme is a real honour and a thrill.
I took over from Peter Baxter during the summer of 2007 after he'd done the job for 34 years - I was a one year old when he first produced TMS !
Before doing this job I worked alongside Peter for five years and have been lucky enough to have toured Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, South Africa, the West Indies and Australia producing cricket coverage for the BBC. I've worked for BBC Sport since 1999 producing programmes like Five Live Sport and Sportsweek and working as the Golf producer where I was in charge of coverage of events like the Open and the Ryder Cup.
My career started in local radio as a presenter and commentator at BBC Coventry and Warwickshire and Radio WM. I was fortunate to be covering the Warwickshire Cricket team in 1994 when Brian Lara became a double world record holder and the Bears won three of the four major trophies in one season.
And in case you think I have the best job in the world , remember I have to work with Geoff Boycott !
