“Tom Davies is arguably the best slightly-overweight eighteen-year-old radio presenter the greater Lincoln area has to offer”.

As you can probably tell, Tom has compered one or two fashion shows in his time

Tom’s first real encounter with the media came during his third year of secondary school, when he was pronounced the winner of the BBC On Tour World Cup Commentator Competition; however, it was a couple of years later when things really began to get tasty.

The government dictates that secondary school pupils must, at some point, undertake a week of work experience and Tom had hoped to spend his week kayaking with an outdoor pursuits company. Unfortunately, he was too lazy to get hold of a health and safety form and, at the last minute, he was able to secure himself a place at the University of Lincoln Media Department, part of which involved working at Siren FM. Whilst his friends enjoyed putting price tags on t-shirts or photocopying things for solicitors, Tom treated himself to an hour and a half for lunch and a 10 – 3 working day. Oddly enough, Siren asked him to come back and he was soon the station’s answer to Moira Stewart, reading the news on the breakfast show.

Tom quickly gained more of an on-air presence, becoming A Bowl of Cornflakes’ assistant presenter. His break came when, one morning, everyone else forgot to wake up leaving TD left single-handedly piloting the station and, a few weeks later, he was fronting Siren’s new-look weekend breakfast show, Wake Up to the Weekend. At the same time, Tom’s association with BBC Lincolnshire began, during which he would contribute regularly to the Saturday Sport programme as a reporter, eventually becoming a presenter on the station in his own right. During this time he also spent an afternoon working for Radio 4 and was invited to Television Centre for an interview with Radio 5Live controller Adrian van Klaveren, who has since been kind enough to offer regular career advice.

“When my internet’s broken and I’ve dropped my radio so the tuning dial only offers me one frequency, I love nothing more than listening to Wake Up to the Weekend”
– Melvyn Prior, BBC Lincolnshire

Tom began hosting live events when he took to the stage as compere at William Farr School’s annual Extravaganza production and made a lot of jokes at various teachers’ expense. Since then he has introduced people at various concerts, gigs, fashion shows and was the voice of the Lincoln Christmas Market in 2008. Tom agreed to become Siren’s Drive Time presenter in the summer of 2009 and spent the best part of a year occupying the 5 – 7 pm slot before working with the renowned and award-winning Barnie Choudhury on a re-launch of Wake Up to the Weekend, to be aired during hours which were far more agreeable with a hectic work schedule.

Undoubtedly the highlight of Tom’s career is winning the International Award decided upon by Someone with a Broken Collarbone for the Best Radio Show in the World. He describes the second most memorable event as coming up with the idea for said award. He was entered by Siren for the Sony Awards in 2010.

In addition to his media work, Tom has also spent time as an intern in the House of Lords and works as an outdoors instructor for Activities Away. He was house captain and head boy at William Farr School, as well as the founder and managing editor of the school’s radio station, WFR, and editor of the school magazine. He plays the drums and trumpet and was part of the school Big Band entry which wiped the floor at the Lincoln Music and Drama Festival in 2008. Tom hopes to study History and Politics at Warwick University next year.

“Seldom in my 35 years of broadcasting have I come across one so early in his career with such a flexible vocal talent and wit to go with it. I am reminded, constantly, of the late and great John Peel”
– Andrew David, Managing Editor, Siren FM

Popularity: 20% [?]