Chris Birks - Presenter on the Hit Music Network, Global
UPDATED 
Chris Birks has made the move from Mansfield 103.2 to the Hit Music Network for Global (Chris can be heard on Trent Fm, Leciester Sound, Ram Fm, Mercury Fm) So the Pips caught up with Chris again to see how he managed to take the next step in his career. The updated part of the interview can be found on page 4.
How did you end up as a presenter?
By good fortune, plus I had glowing references from the owners of my bedroom radio station. I was at college studying Media Production and the time came to get myself a work experience placement. I knew where I wanted to go and no one was going to stop me, I wanted to work at my local radio station Peak FM. I had always wanted to be a radio presenter ever since I heard a very talented broadcaster by the name of Chris Evans on a station in that there London. I saw Peak FM as my starting point and a very popular and well liked starting point at that. I spent my two weeks making mediocre warm beverages, going into town to record vox pops for the Christmas jingles that were going to be used on air and just having such an amazing time. Peak FM’s Programme Controller gave me a wider remit which involved prepping shows for presenters, providing support on outside broadcasts & events and he even trusted me to work alongside Sponsorship & Promotions to launch a £100k advertising campaign.
Then one weekend a presenter was off sick and the boss took a punt on me and parked me at the vacant early breakfast show at the weekend where I stayed for around four months. I still have so much respect the bloke who turned out to be my first Programme Controller. The time came for me to move on because I wanted to do more presenting so tearfully left Peak FM. Originally there for two weeks, I was there for a total of twelve months!
Who or what inspired you when you were trying to get into radio?
If this were a chapter in my book it would be called:* Chris Evans, my Dad and a bloke called Gareth.* Chris Evans was then and is now, in my opinion, the best broadcaster in this country and would stick my neck out on the line and say one of the best working in radio today, anywhere. He has this way of speaking to you, not the other few million people who are listening too, but just to you. His Virgin breakfast show enticed me into radio and from the moment I heard him, I knew that is what I wanted to do. I mentioned my Dad, he listens to so much radio whatever the format and enjoys every minute of his listening. If he doesn’t he switches it off. However his musical taste and choice of radio stations gave me even more enthusiasm for this amazing media platform we call radio.
Then there is the bloke called Gareth James. Gareth came to Peak FM whilst I was there to take over Drivetime and I didn’t realise he would have such an effect on me. He talks to listeners in the same way Chris Evans does, very personally. He finds the way of talking about another ordinary giveaway better than anyone else out there and continues to sound engaging, friendly and passionate about his job. No wonder he now works for the UK’s biggest radio group and the other weekend I heard him covering for Jason Donovan and he recently shared his desk with Emma Bunton…no jealousy there!! He probably doesn’t know the true effect he had on me, especially the morning we were freezing cold on an OB, talking about dogs and their fetishes. That is definitely a story for the book.