TV3 news anchor Colette Fitzpatrick chats with IFTN on how she is finding her new role as presenter of the daytime chat show ‘Midday’, her career ambitions and advice for those interested in a pursuing a career in presenting.
Colette Fitzpatrick is probably best known as the face of TV3 News of which she has been anchoring since 2006. With the launch of the new daytime show ‘ Midday’ on TV3, viewers will get to see more of Colette’s chatty personality shine through as opposed to her usual informative news presenting.
IFTN catches Colette to find out what she programmes she will be watching this autumn season, how out how she is enjoying her new role at ‘Midday’ and working alongside her news team co-presenters Alan Cantwell and Martin King.
Colette, how did you get into broadcasting?
Before coming to TV3 in 2001 I worked in the newsroom in Today FM where I edited and presented hourly bulletins and reported on a range of stories including courts and tribunals. I also produced the Sunday Supplement show, presented by Sam Smyth. I cut my teeth in broadcasting at East Coast FM where I co-presented the Breakfast Show, and produced the mid-morning current affairs show. I studied journalism in DIT Aungier Street after my leaving cert.
You have started presenting the new ‘Midday’ daytime show on TV3, how is it going?
Really well. We actually got an extra 10 minutes on air after our first week so we were thrilled. The show is essentially a conversation between adults. The viewers should feel they're at their kitchen table chatting about subjects like breast feeding, nightclubs, holiday nightmares. All the topics that people really talk about.
Was it an easy transition for you to be presenting with your co news anchor Alan Cantwell?
Well, we both get on really well and the show gives us a chance to show our personalities a little. It's much more conversational - we’re not in ''attack news anchor mode'' - this is just adults sitting around shooting the breeze.
How does presenting Midday differ from presenting the news in terms of schedule?
Lifestyle wise it’s fantastic. I now work a 10 to 6 shift - I was doing nights every second week so it's really nice having every evening off.
Can you reveal any of your upcoming guests that will be appearing in the future?
Our guests come from all walks of life. They are not just celebrities - we have mothers who work at home, mothers who work outside the home, single women, newly divorced people and the odd man!
What would you say to anyone who wants to try their hand at presenting?
Try it! The best way is to start as work experience through a college course. Make yourself useful. People are more inclined to help you and give you advice if you're helping rather than getting in their way.
Would you recommend training/acting courses for anyone who wants to get into the area?
There's dozens of courses out there and not all of them require hundreds of points. Do your research!
What would you say is the hardest part of you job?
Interviewing. Making it look natural and easy is a skill. The easier it looks - the harder it is!
What person did you enjoy interviewing the most?
Probably George Best - I interviewed him during a book launch in Dublin a few years back. A really nice accommodating guy.
Have you any ambitions career wise that you would like to fulfill?
I'm fulfilling them right now - I couldn't be any happier getting the chance to broadcast 2 shows a day - ’Midday’ and the ‘5.30 News’.
What do you think of TV3 Autumn schedule?
It's super. I'm really looking forward to ‘The Apprentice’. Midday is shaking up daytime TV and all the old reliable are still there – ‘5.30 News’, ‘Xposé’ and ‘Ireland AM’