This week’s Campus Cutie is none other than the wonderful Abi Riem! Abi is a third year English and Drama student from Winchester…darling! She is best known for giving us all the latest news on XpressionFM (the university’s award-winning student radio station) and XTV (our student film and TV station) as well as being the former President of Soul Choir. When Abi is not presenting to the masses, she can be found sipping rosé before DSP or pointing out boys she’s matched with on bumble in the sanctuary. We took some time out of Abi’s busy schedule to catch up with her and find out a little more about what it means to be a presenter!
Hi Abi! How are you?
I’m great thanks; getting overly excited for Christmas already!
Us too! So, what sparked your interest in XpressionFM and XTV?
My dream is to become a journalist, so becoming part of both societies news teams really excited me. I’ve also always loved performing/acting, so they let me try out different types of performance.
What has been your highlight of being on the TV/ the radio so far?
That’s a tough one, I would say my main highlight for both has been meeting all the lovely people involved with the societies. But more specifically, I was lucky enough to present XTV’S Halloween Live, which was a two-hour live broadcast! It was a completely mad/exciting experience which involved fake severed hands, apple bobbing and interviewing students who had made some fantastic short horror films. And last week for Xpression I interviewed our local MP Ben Bradshaw, questioning him on subjects such as Russia’s possible involvement with the EU Referendum and his views on Jeremy Corbyn.
Sounds great! Do you have anything else exciting planned for the TV/radio in the next coming weeks?
I’ve got a couple of exciting interviews lined up for the Radio, such as interviewing a member of the Humanitarian charity, Human Appeal, about the current Rohyinga Refugee crisis. I’m also going to be presenting a satirical news show for XTV on the student housing palaver.
We’ll make sure to tune in! You’re in final year now, what are your plans after graduation? Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
I’m actually currently in the process of sending my application for the Broadcast Journalism MA at Cardiff. So fingers crossed I’ll get in! If not, I plan to take a year out and go traveling as I never had a ghap yaah. Hopefully, in five years’ time I’ll be presenting the news on the BBC…and consequently be able to afford nice cheese (that’s the real goal).
Good luck, we can’t wait to see you on our screens! What will you miss most about Exeter when you graduate?
Definitely all the wonderful people. It will be so sad not to just walk ten minutes to see my mates. I won’t miss the hills though…
Quick fire questions
Club night of choice?
DSP
If you could be any animal what would you be and why?
A dolphin because when I watched Blue Planet the other day they looked so happy.
Favourite music genre?
Jazz
Drink of choice?
Hot chocolate
Snapchat filter of choice?
The big mouth one!