By Rachael Fraser
Despite the fact they had been up since the crack of dawn, Heart FM’s new breakfast presenters Michael Underwood and Zoe Hanson, were still giggling and full of energy after their first show was broadcast this morning (April 22).
I caught up with the two radio DJs straight after their morning stint to discover they are as random in real life as we hear on the radio.
Michael Underwood and Zoe Hanson
And with Michael’s daily ‘Mikipedia’ – where he challenges Zoe to guess part of one of his countless random facts – baby talk and the life of their listeners, more hilarity is inevitably going to be heard on radios across the south coast.
Did you know the fact that if a chicken has red ear lobes it will lay eggs with brown shells and if it has white ear lobes it will lay white eggs? No, me neither. But Michael did, and that was one example of many facts that the listeners will learn.
“I absolutely loved it,” said former X-Factor host Michael, still smiling as he told me about his morning at the Segensworth-based studio, while speaking 19 to the dozen and challenging the speed of my shorthand note-taking.
“It seemed to fly by. Zoe said to me when you get to the end of the breakfast show on day one, you won’t remember what you did – and that’s right it was a blur.
“It got such a good response. You need to like somebody when you do this job. You’re relying on each other.”
He laughed: “Even on the way down here today I was smiling thinking of all the stupid things Zoe was going to say and do.
“I was more apprehensive about doing radio. There is a misconception that if you’ve done TV you can do radio as well. They’re two very different mediums. On radio you’ve only got your voice to connect with the listeners. I was a bit anxious, so I came in quite apprehensively.”
Although not entirely new to radio – he dabbled after graduating at Plymouth university – the 37-year-old has been used to television work and interviewing high profile celebrities, including a very non-diva like Jennifer Lopez and Tom Hanks, who Michael said were both brilliant and funny.
However, as a long-standing presenter at Capital FM Zoe will be showing Michael the ropes and especially the best places in the Western Wards. They’ve already been to the Talisman Pub in Park Gate and she is extremely excited to take him around the community so he can learn the area.
Michael is commuting from Kingston in Surrey, which he enjoys, but is equally thrilled to be shown around and learn about the different places.
“There are lots of things I want to show Michael like the Warsash to Hamble ferry,” said Zoe. “I don’t know the longest ferry ride he’s been on, but this one take about six minutes. It’s the size of this couch. It’s brilliant!
“I’m looking forward to taking Michael to the gold post box in Hamble and to the Jolly Sailor in Bursledon.”
Taking over the mic from JK and Lucy, who have switched to the station’s Saturday Breakfast Show, the new pair plan to kick-start the mornings of thousands of listeners with a jam-packed morning schedule of music, showbiz interviews, competitions and giveaways, as well as latest news and travel updates.
They will be supporting scores of charity events, including the Race for Life in Portsmouth in July, in which Zoe and a team will be taking part. And with Zoe recently a first-time mum and Michael’s second child on the way in June, they will inevitably be talking about parenthood, advice and daily happenings while juggling a hectic lifestyle with the early morning radio show.
“It’s really sharing our lives and the listeners sharing their lives,” said Zoe. “You find some great people.
“We’re both quite chatty and that was one of the things I was most excited about – finding out what makes him tick. He must have an edge to him.”
Michael added, while cheekily mocking Zoe: “And on October 26 we’ll be sharing the same birthday. Although Zoe was born in 1948, so I’m a bit younger than her, but we’ll be celebrating our birthdays together. A couple of Scorpios, that’s got to be dangerous.”
Tune into their show weekdays from 6am to 9am on 96 to 103 FM.