Case studies: Presenter, Radio 1: Greg James

Greg graduated in 2006 with a BA in Drama from the University of East Anglia and started working in radio immediately.

I always wanted to be in radio - or TV and radio - from an early age. I was eight or nine when I took a tour of BBC TV Centre one Saturday afternoon, and I remember thinking: 'I'd love to work in a place like this.' I became obsessed with radio around the same time.

At school, I'd worked in hospital radio and made demos in my bedroom. In 2004, when I went to the University of East Anglia, I headed straight to Livewire, the student union radio station, and never left. At Livewire, I was making the same kind of shows I'd been making in hospital radio but in a 'proper' studio. I became Head of Daytime in 2005 and Station Manager in 2006 and I absolutely loved it. I always knew I wanted to be in front of a camera or in front of a microphone. In a way, it's showing off, I suppose.

At university I began studying English and drama but dropped English. I wanted more time for radio and for performance, so concentrated on drama, and that also meant I had spare time to get work experience at BBC Radio Norfolk, helping out on the Saturday sports show and guesting on the breakfast show. I tried to get as much extra radio work as possible. You have to be proactive. You can't wait by the phone clutching your degree. Times are tough now, especially in the commercial radio sector, but I found it easy to get work experience. You write a letter and ask a question.

My drama degree has helped me 'get on', I think, if only because it made me realise I love performing - although I knew I didn't want to be an actor. University life was also great for meeting and working with a range of people.

I'd won Best Male Presenter at the Student Radio Awards and the prize for that was an hour-long show on Radio 1, the day after my graduation. Because of that, Mike Cass at Galaxy in Newcastle offered to help me with demos and work experience. He also offered me a couple of shows at the weekend, which was the first point when I thought: 'This is getting serious'. I did more shows for Galaxy at Christmas and Easter.

Radio 1 then asked me to do more shows for them in 2007, gave me a really good producer - and lots of freedom. I've been working on the early breakfast show and covered for Scott Mills in summer 2008. From September 2009 I take over Radio 1's 1pm-4pm afternoon show, from Edith Bowman.

On national radio, obviously, you have a big audience and, for the first few months, that felt a bit weird. I worried at first: 'Does everyone like me? Did that last link sound good?' But I feel much more comfortable now and my confidence has grown. It's all about believing in your ability and trusting yourself. I always knew I could do it, but I battle with self-doubt as everyone does from time to time. It's about getting the balance right.

I love my job. I love being able to express myself on the radio. It's such a live and instant medium - and such a buzz.