hotfeatures The face of London To


Hotminute speaks to Presenter of ITV London Tonight, Charlene White, and find out more about the lady that graces our TV screens. HM: How and when did you get your big


break in television presenting? When I was presenting for BBC Radio I helped out at a BBC broadcasting festival in Sheffield. Whilst we were setting up in the morning, the compere asked a couple of us to jump on stage to test the autocue to make sure it was working. Two months later the compere emailed me, it turned out he was the editor of BBC3 60 Secs News. He asked me to come in for a screen test, and the rest is history.


HM: You’ve also done radio from 5 live and Radio 1 Newsbeat to BBC 1xtra, how does it differ from TV presenting? When I was in radio I could roll into the studio wearing just about anything. These days a lot more thought has to go into it. In talk radio you have direct communication with the listener which is wonderful, and of course that kind of immediacy doesn’t happen in TV News so I’d say that was one of the biggest differences. I’m a bit of a news junkie, so radio or TV -- I’m happy.


HM: Which do you find most challenging TV or Radio?


Each has its own challenges. I wouldn’t say that one is easier than the other at all...


HM: Are there any TV personalities or news readers that have influenced your career? Growing up, the person I looked up to most in the industry would be Sir Trev - as he was the first person I saw who looked like me on the news. And of course Moira Stewart. But then I have a lot of respect for people like Anderson Cooper and Soledad O’Brien (American journalists) as the way they juggle the light and dark in news is fabulous.


HM: What are the highs and lows of your job?


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Lows: I would say that we tend to get immersed in stories, which can sometimes be quite harrowing. The earthquake in Haiti was a hard one for me as my parents are from the Caribbean, so seeing all the footage over and over again was heartbreaking. As a viewer you may see 2mins of devastating footage. As journalists we see a lot more than that when we’re putting stories together. You do however become immune to it sometimes, death and destruction is an everyday occurrence for us.


Highs: I get to meet incredible people, and hear fantastic stories. And I get to share those stories with viewers. Which is why I wanted to become a journalist in the first place. I’ve also been lucky enough to meet my idols. And not a lot of people can say that. Maya Angelou -- my favourite writer, and Jay-Z -- as I think he’s an incredible businessman and artist.


I don’t tend to buy in to hot spots if I’m honest! I get such little time to spend with my friends that I tend to opt for local spots in South London for Sunday lunch or something


HM: You’ve covered some hard hitting stories like the July 7th bombings, how do you keep your composure while filming? To be honest you do become immune to it eventually. Even with 7/7. Even though I didn’t know if all my family and friends were okay, you just have to put your “work” persona on tell listeners what they need to hear, and what they want to hear.


HM: What’s your take on the phone tapping scandal? The most interesting thing is the public’s reaction to it, in comparison to the “industry’s” reaction to it. The story is running and running as we thought it would. However, is the public still that interested? I’m not convinced... HM: What’s your most embarrassing TV/Radio moment?


Probably after I won my first award at the Radio 1Xtra annual award ceremony. I’d had a few too many while celebrating, and went back to the office to collect my bags. Made a detour to the studio, and ended up live on air talking with DJ G Child about why I deserved to win “Best Dressed”. I still can’t believe he actually put me on air. I was mortified when I woke up the next day.


HM: You wrote articles for the New York Post, tell us some of the stories you wrote about?


The latest series of Sex and the City had started, when I arrived in New York. And in one episode Samantha jumps off the back of a fire-truck to chat up a fireman. So one of my first assignments was to trek round all the firehouses in central Manhattan and find out the best places to pick up firemen. Just in case you’re curious, it’s the nearest supermarket to the firehouse -- as they go every night to shop for their dinner. And yes women in NY would dress up and go to the supermarket to find one.


HM: Word on the grapevine is you’re a shopping addict, so spill..what are your fave High Street stores? Yes, I do love shopping! However the older I get, the less patience I have for actually GOING to the High Street. So I end up looking online. I shop mostly in Reiss, Whistles, M&S and Asos. Three of those shops definitely show I’m getting older!


HM: What is the Charlene White outside of news broadcasting really like? Laid-back, approachable, loves a laugh and can often be found dancing the night away at various spots in London.


HM: Lastly what is your favourite HOT spot in London and why? I don’t tend to buy in to hot spots if I’m honest! I get such little time to spend with my friends that I tend to opt for local spots in South London for Sunday lunch or something. In the summer, nothing beats Blackheath Common or Greenwich Park, food, drink and the company of my friends and family. To me, that’s bliss.


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