Karen Carpenter
In the Hot Seat
Where are you from? "Originally a little town in New Zealand called
'Twizel!' Ok stop laughing my parents still live there."
Age? "30 and lovin it!"
Favourite place? "Switzerland. Snow boarding rocks"
Favourite music? "Matchbox 20 and the Exponents... (and sadly Busted)"
Any special qualifications/achievements that you're proud of?
"Suisse Ski instructor's certificate, and appearing in Lord of
the Rings (I am a rohan princess)"
First job? "Selling sweets in the school canteen."
Dream job? "TV Presenting an extreme sport show."
How did you get started in doing what you do?
"Broadcasting school then.. I met a guy in a bar who was
starting a station... and before you ask, no I didn't! It's all about
right place right time."
How long ago? "God 12 years ouch!"
Where would you have been seen or heard since you started broadcasting? "Westport, Ashburton, Christchurch, Wellington,
Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire."
Best on-air moment?
"Every day after 8am ( between 6 and 8 i am still asleep)"
Worst on-air moment (embarrassing or otherwise)?
"Forgetting my name on my second day on air."
Describe a typical working day (if there is such a thing!)
"Get up at 4.30am run out door with my bowl of cereal. Walk down road while eating cereal. Read paper, go on air from 6 till 9 talk rubbish for 3 hours, 9 till 12 prep for next day record promos, Then write radio commercials all afternoon till about 6pm followed by a station event... sometimes I sleep but not often."
Any ambitions left?
"To learn who to windsurf with out losing all my teeth."
Biggest influence in your life? "My mum"
Any hobbies or special interests?
"Anything to do with sport... including good-looking men"
Any advice for those who want to get started in radio?
"Just do it, work hard and never give up."
Thanks to Karen for answering our questions, listen to "Gaz and Karen" every weekday morning from 6-9 on 97.6 Chiltern FM.
Questions used with kind permission of Mick's World.
Copyright: Karen Carpenter/Martin Phillp 2003
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