Sarah-Jane Crawford and E! have this week launched their first ever UK and Ireland search for a new television presenter, taking in applications from anyone in the region who fancies themselves the next big thing.
Ahead of the decision making, Sarah-Jane has given her top ten tips exclusively to Female First readers so YOU can get a heads-up on what they'll be looking for, as well as hints of what to expect if you make it and how you should be behaving in front of the camera.
1. Learn to stay focused. You're often called upon to deliver an important link to camera while mayhem is happening around you. Be it a busy red carpet, a loud festival or a chaotic studio full of guests. Regardless of all of the above you need to only think about what you're saying.
2. Practice your ability to multitask. You might have somebody directing you through an earpiece or counting you in and out of ad breaks or important time junctions but you need to be able to listen whilst keeping the presenting going strong.
3. Make sure you're in an outfit that fits you well and that you feel comfortable in. You don't want to over heat in the wrong outfit in the studio, be freezing on a cold red carpet or wearing something too short whilst sitting down - whoops.
4. Always research the subject matter or your interviewee before hand. Nothing more embarrassing than getting a major fact wrong on live TV when it could have been avoided.
5. Always be yourself. Authenticity is key and people will see through fake accents, or pretending to something or someone you're not.
6. Never take yourself too seriously and have a sense of humour, people that you interview in a live TV situation can be unpredictable and it's good if you can take the banter on the chin, and if you can give back even better!
7. Be open to last minute changes. In TV and radio things can change at a moment's notice. An artist might pull out and an interview dropped, or items and features need to be added in and it's important that you go with the flow and don't freak out when it does.
8. If you make a mistake, and you're only human so you definitely will, then move on quickly. Don't mentally beat yourself up over a slip of the tongue or a wrong question asked in an interview, as it will go on to affect the rest of your performance. People at home won't notice the things that you do.
9. Prepare as much as you can. If there is a script that you've been given then read it as much as possible before you hit the auto-cue. Even if you're prone to winging it, there's no substitute for practice.
10. Learn to freestyle and freewheel, practice talking freely about any subject until you're blue in the face. Play word association games so that you practice finding a link to any subject. You may be required to 'fill' which is the term used to describe the need to keep talking until the director or producer is ready to cut elsewhere. You don't want to dry up live on air. Shopping TV hosts are the best at this!
The casting call for E!'s new presenter opened yesterday (July 1) - all entrants must be 18 or over and can apply at www.eonline.com.
Tagged in Sarah-Jane Crawford