Seconds Out: Oli's latest monthly blog

Hello Racesharer’s and welcome to my latest blog. It’s a slightly different one this month as I’ve decided to share with you an after dinner speech I recently gave for my old school. I had never done a ‘turn’ before and didn’t really know how to approach it, however I am often asked how I got into broadcasting and my route to ITV so I decided for the speech to document my journey from growing up in Somerset, via school in Peterborough to ITV. I’m almost certainly not wise enough for my lessons below to count for very much but if there are any of you reading this with family members who perhaps want to explore a career in the media then hopefully the chapters of the speech (broken down into key lessons I’ve learnt along the way) may prove useful. If nothing else, hopefully there are some entertaining anecdotes along the way….. as always, I hope you enjoy the blog and are keeping well.

Lesson 1 – don’t be a sheep!

My route to Oundle was a slightly unusual one given I grew up in Somerset, and went to a prep school in Dorset called Port Regis – most, if not all the children at that school would go on to the likes of Sherborne, Bryanston, Marlborough or Millfield. Having appeared in a school play at Port Regis, I learnt that Mr Lowe (Oundles then head of drama) was in the audience and suggested I take the Drama Scholarship. Given my Grandparents’ desire to save money on my school fees I was made to learn a monologue for the scholarship and off I went to Oundle (wherever that was! Miles away, it turned out) to see if I could get it. Remarkably, I did get the scholarship. So now I had a decision on my hands – do I follow my friends, play it safe, stick to home comforts – or step out of the comfort zone and walk into the unknown.

The first few weeks was full of regret and fear to be honest, I’m sure everyone in this room knows the feeling….what if people don’t like me, what if my teachers are horrible…what if I can’t get in the sports team….whatever the doubt, when we first arrived at Oundle, we would have all had them in some shape or form.

But after a couple weeks all those concerns subsided. So without walking into the unknown I wouldn’t have made the friends I have – but as well as my mates it also introduced me to some brilliant teachers, in particular one, who guided me in a way that without question helped make me the man I am today.

Now - for those wondering about my acting career – my debut role at the Oundle Theatre came as Knuckles in the third form production of Bugsy Malone. Some bright spark decided to cast the whole third form in it which meant 120 odd 13 year olds charging round rehearsals. Not to go all Daniel Day Lewis on you but that very much didn’t bring out the best in me with one Oundle critic describing my performance as “the worst debut ever”. That, along with being a total menace from start to finish in rehearsals meant I was subsequently banned from appearing in a school play again. HOWEVER – if you do some very loose calculations you will work out that on a POUND to WORD ratio I was one of Britain's highest paid actors for the 5 years I was at Oundle due to the scholarship affording my grandparents the luxury of a term a year free.

Lesson 2 – Do Your Research.

So having very rapidly shelved any visions I had of being the next Hugh Grant I decided to pivot my attention to broadcasting. In truth, I had always known that broadcasting was what I wanted to do. I was fortunate in that sense. At Oundle we had the incredible opportunity to practice those skills over our very own radio station called Oscar Radio. I hosted the breakfast show during my fifth form year which only added fuel to my fire of wanting to make a proper go of broadcasting as a career.

The summer of fifth form (aged 16) meant work experience and despite my careers advisor suggesting a career in landscape gardening beckoned for me – I decided to use my ambition and experience from Oscar and try my hand at radio on a more professional level. So off I went to Burghley Horse Trials in Stamford. Many of the pupils at Oundle would know Stamford for the nightclub Keyhole Kates – for me, Stamford is the home of, to date, the most embarrassing moment of my career. Aged 16 with a radio pack under my arm and a voice barely broken, I was sent to interview the dressage riders after their tests for Burghley radio. The radio channel that was broadcast to the spectators at the event. Now as a bit of context here, in the sport of dressage during a three day event – the lower the score the better the test. 10 = amazing. 80 = awful.

Having NOT done my research – I thought 99.9 was 0.1 off perfection. As the rider who had just scored the WORST score in the history of professional dressage approached me in what I assumed were tears of joy, I braced myself to ask my first ever actual radio question “what an UNBELIEVABLE test, explain to our listeners how thrilled you are with that?”

She very sweetly, saw my inexperience, wiped the multiple tears off her cheeks and politely asked me to start the interview again. I rarely leave a stone unturned now.

Lesson 3 – Gamble

Gamble. Take risks. Responsibly, of course.

I was actually suspended for gambling at Oundle – my headmaster Dr Townend hauled me into his office after some computer whizzkid had seen us beating the fairly weak internet protection system and betting from my boarding house's prep room. Now when he read me the riot act with a print out of every bet I had placed I did try and argue that as a school that aspired to educating future industry leaders and successful entrepreneurs I was actually recording a very healthy Profit + Loss but sadly that didn’t wash so I packed my bags and headed back home to Somerset for a week. Where I was ironically, able to gamble.

But I don’t mean that sort of gambling – I mean take risks, gamble with opportunity. As mentioned I was fortunate in knowing what I wanted my career to be from a young age, it meant that I was never interested in university – despite the schools very obvious keenness in sending me that way. I applied for various jobs and aged 18 I was offered my first full time job in television as an editorial assistant at Racing UK. Essentially a glorified tea boy. I loved it, I think it was probably the happiest and most carefree time of my life. I earnt peanuts but made great mates, all with the same passion for racing – we had a blast – learning as much as I could, absorbing as much knowledge and information from respected people in the industry I had always looked up to.

Every month we had an office tournament which I did quite well in. One day, I would have been about 20 at this stage, when making another round of teas a professional gambler and racing pundit Dave Gutfreund walked up to me with a briefcase with 15k cash and asked me to go play poker in casinos for him. He essentially was investing in me! As anyone who has ever lived with me will attest to, poker has been a huge part of my life (bordering on obsession probably). To be fair these lads were the benefactors of my interest when they sent me to Vegas a day early for a mates stag do to play in (and win thankfully a poker tournament). I don’t remember much of that week from then on to be honest, not sure any of us do! As I’ve documented before to the Raceshare community, poker has taught me so much that has helped me in my career. How to read a room, when to press someone on an answer, when to ease off, different cultures, walks of life, adapting instantly to different people. Poker brings people together from all walks of life and I think one of the reasons for me being ok at my job is being able to connect with everyone. Ultimately we are being broadcast into everyone's living rooms which is a wide demographic.Poker taught me that and I advocate teaching it to your kids for that reason!

After playing in a few poker tournaments for Dave and having a good bit of success – I thought long and hard about whether to do this full time – but the universe always has a part to play and before I went to hand my notice in I got a phone call from Sky Racing in Australia asking if I wanted to move to Sydney to launch their new international racing channel. Now at this stage I had only presented 4 or 5 shows for Racing TV and they were very much graveyard shifts. I have no idea how Australia had seen me present a show given my own family hadn’t seen me do it yet, but now I had a big decision again; stay in the UK or move to the other side of the world.

I gambled, packed my bags and was all set to fly to Australia with all my things neatly packed up and ready to come with me, until my house decided to burn down two days before my flight. It meant that I left for Australia for a three year contract with the clothes on my back which stank, a passport, and a WHSmiths bag with a Racing Post in it and a bottle of water. The lady at check in thought I was both incredibly unhygienic and mental. It was the biggest gamble ive ever made but the most successful one. Going away to learn my craft gave me the safety net of being able to make mistakes and learn on the job without the concern it would negatively impact me long term. I left England as a boy who couldn’t really present television shows, and returned a man with enough confidence and experience to feel at home in front of the camera

Lesson 4 - Chance your arm.

Not long after I returned from Australia Channel 4 lost the racing rights and it went to ITV who offered me the job as host of The Opening Show – the equivalent of the old Morning Line – although everyone still calls it the morning line to be honest. I was proud when I was offered this job, I grew up watching the morning line and it meant a lot to be asked. I don’t take it for granted.

One of my jobs during the afternoon coverage at ITV racing is to interview racegoers in the crowd. We call it ‘colour’. Sometimes the colour we do involve celebrities - sometimes it is racegoers enjoying a drink and a day out.

We were at Doncaster for the St Leger – the last of 5 ‘classics’ in the flat season. A prestigious day for British Racing. The racecourse had received an email from the Hollywood Actor, who is best known for his role as Spiderman, Tom Holland’s representatives enquiring about the availability of a box for Tom and his fiancé – also an A Lister and also a fellow actor Zendaya. The racecourse were understandably incredibly excited about this and so laid on the best box there was. Next to the Royal Box, looking over the finish line. The prerequisite for this box was that Tom and Zendaya agreed to be interviewed by us on ITV Racing to essentially promote how wonderful a day they were having. Tom’s manager agreed, saying that wouldn’t be a problem and they were excited to come racing. Understandably this was a big interview for us at ITV - I was tasked with interviewing them. Every make up artist, sound engineer, floor manager, lighting technician came along so they could take a picture for their sons, daughters, friends and family. So off we set, heading to Box 1 at Doncaster Racecourse to carry out the interview.

We knocked on the door and nervously walked in, ready to meet two genuine superstars….. unfortunately for us, it wasn’t the real Spiderman Tom Holland, but a lad called Dave from Barnsley who was dressed as Spiderman on his stag do. We did interview him, and it was great – and thanks to his friend's ingenuity – Dave and his mates had the time of their lives – in Doncaster's best box free of charge. So perhaps there's two lessons there – 1) say you're spiderman and you'll get the best box to sporting events. 2) chance your arm. Life is more fun that way.

Lesson 5 - Never guess…

There is a difference in chancing your arm, and guessing – and the next lesson I have learnt is never guess…..

I learnt this when I appeared on Celebrity Pointless. I don’t profess to being a celebrity and I can assure you how I came to be on that show was humbling to say the least. There was a huge snowstorm in the north of England which meant the trains were cancelled and therefore the multiple gold medal winning Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey could not make it down to London for filming. The show's booking agent was desperately scrambling around to try and find someone to replace her. She rang my agent who represents a number of presenters and Olympians – he very kindly offered me up. She requested an extra 30 minutes to try and find someone, and I quote “more famous”. Anyway, they couldn’t. So off I went to the studios where it was filmed. Up against me was Curtis Pritchard from Love Island and his brother AJ Pritchard, a Strictly professional dancer. In the first round the question was “Famous people who achieved a lot in their 20’s”. There was a clue and initials. For example, one clue was “invented Apple” (SJ) – Steve Jobs. You get the point. I gave my answer and got a solid 34 point answer. Last to go was Curtis Pritchard, from Love Island. He was very much in the think tank before deciding to answer the question “wrote and directed Citizen Kane in 1961” (OW). He said he wasn’t sure but thought he knew….. the tension in the studio could be cut with a knife. Alistair Armstrong the show's host asked him for his answer…..So Curtis, who do you think wrote and directed the Oscar winning film Citizen Kane in 1961 with the initials OW…. “was it Oprah Winfrey” he answered. Curtis and AJ got knocked out in the first round. So, never guess. You’ll only look a fool.

But all those lessons pale into insignificance to the one that for me was the most important and has had the biggest impact on my life.

Lesson 6 - Have a mentor.

The first time we properly met was on the Ramblers cricket tour of Somerset. This is normally reserved for sixth formers but due to a combination of lack of numbers and the fact I lived in Somerset I was picked up on the way to the first match to join the tour. The beers were flowing and I was having the time of my life ahead of the game which saw us bat first. I was batting at 7 – my soon to be mentor turned to one of his colleagues Mr Hapsburg and said “please tell me Bell isn’t drinking?” – they looked over at the exact point I was being bet by Toby Saul, the captain, to down a pint. It was the third and final leg of an opposition hat trick that innings. Mr Pedley, from that moment on took me under his wing and I’m so glad he did.

He gave me the confidence and belief that despite my grades not being wildly impressive I wasn’t thick. When there was a huge urge from everyone at the school to go to university he assured me it would be a bad decision and the best thing for me was to head out into the big bad world and work my way up from the bottom. He saw something in me, gave me belief, gave me his time, thoughts, wisdom and devoted so much of his energy to bring out the best in me. That is what being a great teacher is. We would talk about everything, from field settings in cricket, the second world war, to the best bet at Wolverhampton. I was young, ambitious but would fight against the grain. He gave me the belief that that was ok. He fought against what his colleagues would say was the right way to handle me and stood up for me and made me understand as a young man that making mistakes is ok, that fighting for what you want is ok, and to head out and chase your dreams. I know I'm not alone in this view but you are the greatest teacher I have ever had. Mr Pedley and I had quite a successful Lower 6th where I was meant to be learning about the Nazis in the second world war. Whilst everyone was making their notes and writing their essays, I had a spot on the back row with a Racing Post waiting for me every Monday morning for double history. At the end of the class everyone would hand their work in, I would hand over the day's tips. My Mum knew something was up because every school report was “Oli needs to concentrate, he's the class clown etc etc, he's a nightmare to teach”. However, History was “Oli is a delight to teach, diligent, hard working….”

My hero growing up was Ian Wright – there was an amazing video of him being reunited with his mentor and former PE Teacher – Sid Pigden – who Ian thought had died a few years previously. Ian is surprised by Mr Pigden at the old Highbury and as soon as he sees him, bursts into tears and says “Mr Pigden, I thought you was dead”. It chokes me up watching it every time.

I too have thought my mentor was dead when he collapsed in front of a few Ramblers at Lords due to severe dehydration, or over hydration. I can't remember what the paramedics said. Either way, it was scary – he knows what he means to me and so many other Oundelians. He really did shape my life in a way I can’t ever express properly but without your support at Oundle I would absolutely not have had the career I have had.

It is because of him that I probably also learnt not to take life too seriously…

Lesson 7 - Don’t take life too seriously.

TV is serious business. You can be cancelled in a second and everyone watching at home has an opinion. Lots of people will hate the way I present a show or criticise me for how I pronounce a word or something silly like that. None of that matters really. What matters is enjoying life. So don’t take life too seriously, whatever you do. Run around, play sport, gamble (responsibly of course), enjoy the company of your friends, drink, laugh, be merry and have a really good time. The small stuff will only ever be that. I know I am incredibly fortunate to do something I love and have always set my heart on. I understand I am in a rare position here, but I see so many people who strive to get to the top of their respective trees and when they are there they are stressed, tired, angry, never content, and don't have time for their partner's kids. Despite achieving so much, life seems like a real struggle. TV is ego driven and competitive, at times it can be quite nasty and ruthless but I do think one of the reasons I have been able to have a career for as long as I have is because I don’t take any of it that seriously and it’s never a struggle. My attitude is that I may well be replaced by someone better than me tomorrow but I can't really control that, so I'm going to have the best time for as long as I can. We have to laugh, smile and enjoy the rollercoaster for as long as we are on it. Be kind to everyone, from all walks of life and karma will reward you in ways you don’t know or possibly can't see. But it will reward you.