Worksheet 4: The Host

Aim: To explore the role and impact of the host

Biographies:
Vernon Kay (Born 1974

English television presenter

Radio DJ
Former model
All Star Family Fortunes (2006present),
Beat the Star (20082009)
Splash! (20132014).
The Whole 19 Yards - ITV 2010,
Home For the Holidays - Channel 4 - 2011
Let's Get Gold - ITV mini-series - 2012
1000 Heartbeats 2015 game show
He also presented his own BBC Radio 1
show between 2004 and 2012. Kay currently
presents his own show on Radio X.

Richard Hammond (born 1969)

British presenter, writer, and journalist,

Co-hosted Top Gear - motoring programme
BBC Two - from 2002 until 2015
Brainiac: Science Abuse (20032006),
Total Wipeout (20092012)
Planet Earth Live (2012).
In 2016, Hammond was scheduled to be
presenting The Grand Tour television series
to be produced by W. Chump & Sons. The
show will be co-presented with his former Top
Gear co-hosts, Clarkson and May, as an
exclusive distributed via Amazon Video to
Amazon Prime customers.

Phillip Schofield (born April 1962)

Ben Shephard (born 1974)

Co-hosts This Morning -ITV lifestyle

programme -, s since 2002.

English television presenter

journalist
Presenter on the now defunct breakfast
programme GMTV,
The Krypton Factor (20092010),
Tipping Point (2012present)
Ninja Warrior UK (2015present).

Dancing on Ice (20062014).

He currently presents these ITV game shows:
The Cube (2009present),
All Star Mr & Mrs (2008present)
You're Back in the Room (2015present).

Since April 2014, Shephard has co-hosted

the ITV breakfast show Good Morning Britain,

alongside Susanna Reid and Kate Garraway.

Have a look at the images of the four presenters: Vernon Kay, Richard
Hammond, Philip Schofield and Ben Shephard. What do they have in
common? What do some of them have in common? Is there an odd one out?

Have a look at the biographies. Are there any more similarities you can
point out from this information? Any other patterns emerging?

Fill in the grid what is the role of the host, i.e. what does the host
actually have to do; what do you think are the qualities of a good host?

Role of the host

Qualities of a good host
- have excellent written and
- be able to handle stress
oral communication and
and make quick decisions
presentation skills
under pressure
- enjoy contact with an
- be able to communicate
audience and with people
effectively
in general
- possess performance
- have research and
skills and a clear voice for
interviewing skills,
broadcasting
complemented by an
- have an attractive, strong
inquisitive nature
personality, being naturally
- have awareness of media
outgoing and confident
law
- have a broad range of
interests, including current
affairs
- have knowledge of the
requirements of the
relevant health and safety
legislation and procedures