"The Next Chris Evans..."

There is a small resemblance... I guess... actually, no.

TFI Fridays, Radio 2, Top Gear, The One Show, the BBC are really going wild for the man!Active in broadcasting since way before my time, Chris Evans has been quite an attraction across radio and television! Having been both ridiculed by Clarkson-clingers and praised by beloved-breakfasters in recent months, Evans is undoubtedly one of the biggest and best broadcasters in the modern media era.

But there's something that tingles me tonsils slightly (don't worry, I don't *think* I'm ill!) is how when I mention anything to do with radio or broadcasting to anyone who may pursue other credible careers, they always seem to pose one "major" question to me!

"Are you going to be the next Chris Evans?" (Or, likewise, insert your first choice here!)

Now, first off, when I even considered presenting for radio, a career path I'm yet to make a decision on, I was 8. 

A short ass school boy who'd twist the banging 'noughtie' tunes on his 256MB MP3 player, go to the closest Woolworths store (oh, way back when) on weekends and buy the new Top 10 entry/ies each week on single CD, and then I'd lock myself in my bedroom (don't think dodgy now).

I would have one CD player which saw me turnover about 14 records each hour, if I was doing back-to-back, I'd have to voice act some Radio 1 jingles or what have ya until I'd skipped to the next "anthem". Some days I would find myself playing the entire Britney hits back-to-back! (I would auction this CD player on eBay, but it is about as weathered as a mangled dog lead!)

And, where's the jock appearing here? Well - take your pick, one day I'd act Scott Mills, maybe a bit of Mr Wogan the next, even remember giving Jo Whiley a whirl at one point (hey, don't judge an 8 year old!)

I let my imagination slip to a massive extent!

However, if I was to actually take on a career in presenting, I had to learn I couldn't do the Pips through my own act.

Oh, and more to the point, I needed to be myself. It's a hard lesson to teach yourself when you first start in front of a mic for real, and finding that personality is essential for anyone wanting to make it in radio, right from scratch!

So, should you ask me "Am I going to be the next Greg James?", my answer will have to be "No", the guys amazing at what he does and is a huge success story for Student Radio, but he will always be him, and I'll always be me.

For anyone taking this approach into radio - once you're on the mic, the listeners want to hear your creativity, your content, you! Not a tribute trip-up.

You can aspire to be anything you want to be, but make sure you're in it as you!

BBC Radio 1 - 26 Jul 2013 - Chris Stark stands in

^ One of the best 'shock' radio personality listens ever - co-host Chris Stark sits in for Scott Mills, but how will he cope trying to be himself?!