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HomeNewsInspirational student will be presenting on BBC Radio 1 during November

Inspirational student will be presenting on BBC Radio 1 during November

November 3 2023

This is an update to a story that first appeared in December 2022.

A former St Joseph’s student from Hebburn will be presenting the early morning BBC Radio 1 breakfast show every Friday in November 5.00 – 7.00am.

Chris Cameron is a phenomenal student. He became a Catholic after having attended CYMFED FLAME in 2017. Chris was immensely moved by the experience and felt God calling his to serve his community through his love of music. Chris is visually impaired and has only 3% vision. Despite these challenges, he is deeply rooted in his faith and believes his vocation is to spread Christ’s love through music and radio. Chris studied his GCSEs and A-Level’s at St Joseph’s, including excelling at A-Level Philosophy, Ethics and Theology and has gone on to study a BA and MA at Sunderland university hosting his own shows on SPARK FM and winning national student radio awards in 2021 and 2022.

Chris was live on BBC Radio 1 this morning and would love any support from our Diocese as he presents each show.

We wish Chris all the very best and we are holding him in our prayers.

Listen to Chris when he appears on BBC Radio 1 on Friday 10, 17 and 24 November between 5.00am and 7.00am.

Original article first published in Decmeber 2022:

A Sunderland University student who dreams of being a successful national radio presenter has won the opportunity to host his own BBC Radio 1 show next week.

Chris Cameron, a former pupil of St Joseph’s Catholic Academy in Hebburn, only has 3% vision, but has never let his blindness stand in the way of achieving whatever he sets his mind to.

In fact, his former St Joseph’s teacher Andrew Young describes him as a “role model” and an “inspiration” to everyone who meets him.

Chris was named Best Newcomer at last year’s National Student Radio Awards, but this year took Gold in the best presenter category at the awards, as well as the Bronze award in the Inclusion, Diversity and Equality category for his documentary on asexuality.

“He’s absolutely amazing,” said Mr Young, who is head of religious studies at St Joseph’s, which is part of Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust.

“I met Chris when I first joined the school in 2015 and he was in year nine. He has 3% vision and is severely restricted in terms of his blindness, but when I first got here, he was trying out for the school football team. When he’s got his heart set on something, he just goes for gold.”

And that’s exactly what he’s achieved with his radio career so far, with his Gold award helping him to secure his own show on Radio 1 on Thursday 29 December 29 between 6.00pm and 8.00pm.

After successfully completing his A-levels at St Joseph’s, including an A-Level in Religious Studies, Chris joined Sunderland University to study media production.

He also joined Spark FM, Sunderland University’s student radio, as a presenter and quickly got into the role.

After being named best newcomer in the country at last year’s Student Radio Awards, he received feedback from executives at media companies like Bauer on how he could take his career to the next level.

Now, after being named the best presenter of student radio in the country, there is no stopping him.

“He goes from strength to strength and inspires everyone he meets,” says Mr Young.

“Now he will have the chance to go down to the studio of BBC Radio 1 in London and see how everything works in a national radio station. “He’s a role model for other students and everyone who meets him. “He’s salt of the earth – just phenomenal.”

Download the full Press Release here.