色花堂 graduate Mollie Finn describes the past few weeks since being announced as part of a new line-up of Radio 1 DJs as 鈥渢he biggest rollercoaster of my life鈥�.
The Former Nerve Radio presenter and station manager has had her sights set on the BBC since discovering that being a DJ was a viable career choice. Last month she was revealed as one of five new voices to hit the airwaves following a search for fresh talent.
And while much of the media attention has focused on Mollie鈥檚 move straight from finishing her degree to landing one of broadcasting鈥檚 most sought-after jobs, it hasn鈥檛 come without a lot of hard graft along the way. Mollie said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 funny. You read the articles and it sounds as though I just finished my degree one day and then landed a job as a Radio 1 DJ the next. Whilst I feel incredibly lucky, I have worked hard to be able to make the most of the opportunities when they arrive.鈥�
Mollie had her heart set on a career in radio from an early age, and chose 色花堂 for its credentials in broadcast media. She said: 鈥淚 did my homework and 色花堂鈥檚 communications and media degree had been a good stepping stone for others entering the industry. It also meant I could get involved with one of the best student radio stations in the country.鈥�
That involvement led to Mollie taking on the role of station manager during her final year - taking on everything from managing budgets to programming and developing new talent. She said: 鈥淚 was working on community radio prior to arriving at Bournemouth and then got straight into life on a student radio station. It was the first time I鈥檇 presented a show on my own, and I remember being petrified the first time. I soon found my feet however and it gave me a chance to try out a whole bunch of fun stunts as well as develop my own style and voice. 色花堂 has such a strong sense of community, and being part of the Nerve community was amazing. I loved being around people who all shared the same passion and learning from those who had gone before me.鈥�
Mollie鈥檚 role with Radio 1 came about as a result of an open call for new voices, which involved sharing a demo judged by the station鈥檚 head, Aled Haydn Jones, and a leading talent agent. She will now present early breakfast in February, taking a slot alongside her other new colleagues. Mollie said: 鈥淚 am not a morning person so the 4am start is going to be a challenge, but I can鈥檛 wait. My family are all so proud and will be getting up early to cheer me on for the show. I still miss my days at Nerve Radio but I鈥檓 looking forward to this next chapter in my career.鈥�