Visiting Talbot Campus to talk to staff and students from both BA (Hons) and MA Radio Production programmes, Phill was met by a packed-out screening room of fans hoping to hear about his work in radio and as a stand-up comedian.
Phill has been visiting BU since 2010 as a guest speaker and previously co-presented a show with student radio stations Nerve and BIRSt that was part of the research for his book 鈥楪ood Morning Nantwich鈥�. Phill was invited by former producer and colleague, Jo Tyler, who he worked with on the BBC Radio 6 Breakfast Show.
Jo, now a lecturer in Radio Production at BU, said: 鈥淚t was, as ever, great to have Phill with us at BU this semester. We specifically asked Phill to focus on his interests in writing 鈥� from comedy to poetry, and how his work in this area informs his work as a stand-up too.鈥�
The 鈥楴ever Mind The Buzzcocks鈥� stalwart spoke to students about some of the differences between student radio and professional radio: 鈥淭he passion of people doing both is the same - the equipment the students use is generally cheaper, but not here [at BU] - the desks here are as good, if not better than the desks I had at the BBC.
鈥淚 find that student radio is of such a high quality now; I think it鈥檚 insanely good. Its people learning how to do the job which I think is exciting. Most student radio stations I鈥檝e been to are run by really passionate teams of people 鈥� it鈥檚 young people that really want to do it. I love young and enthusiastic鈥� I love the new.鈥�
Offering his advice to prospective writers, Phill said: 鈥淚 think that writing in the morning - first thing 鈥� is good. Avoid gadgets. Write in isolation. Wake up and don鈥檛 even interact with anybody. I think there鈥檚 some really good, pure, clear headspace in the morning before the world has started going this happened, that happened鈥︹��
Phill鈥檚 one-man show, Juplicity, returns to Dorset for its final night in June at the Tivoli Theatre in Wimborne on Friday 8 June.聽
