Tom White: BA Hons Media Performance

Tom White

BA Hons Media Performance, 2005

"I am now a full-time studio assistant for Sky Sports."

At the age of six, Tom White watched his first football match on television – and he knew instantly what he wanted to do with his life.

While other kids dreamed of becoming star players, Tom set his heart on becoming a football commentator. And it was that dream which prompted him to apply to the University of Luton for a place on its Media Performance degree course.

The highly-specialised course has produced several successful radio and TV presenters and professional actors. Tom, who hopes to become the next John Motson, thought nothing of making the almost 300-mile trek to Luton from his home in Rennington, near Alnwick, in Northumberland to take up his place.

While studying at Luton, he worked two days a week at Sky Sports, in Isleworth, West London, as a studio assistant, or ‘runner’, which became a full-time job after he graduated with a BA (Hons) 2:1. Now, aged 22, he has his sights fixed on becoming a professional sports commentator within the next five years.

“It is a really interesting job,” he said. “I get to meet lots of ex-football, cricket and rugby players, carry out jobs in the studio, and work the autocue for the presenters. I am also gaining valuable experience, which will help me climb the ladder to becoming a sports commentator,” said Tom.

“I’m not sure why commentating appealed to me. I suppose that even at the age of six I realised I wasn’t good enough to play – and that commentating was the next best thing!”

As part of his job, Tom has already met such sporting legends as footballer Gianluca Vialli and cricketers Graham Gooch and David Gower.

“As a sports-lover, it’s a great job. There is a great atmosphere at Sky Sports and we have a good laugh. It is also good to see what famous sportspeople are really like.”

Tom, who lives in Twickenham, West London, says his ambition is to commentate on a match involving his beloved Sunderland FC – and then at the World Cup in South Africa in 2010. “That gives me just over four years,” he said, “which is something to aim for!”

Interview took place in 2005.