It’s been proven many times that skill can get you places where only Character can keep you. We asked top children’s TV personality, Joanna Adeyinka-Burford presenter of the Cbeebies’ show The Let’s Go Club, a few questions about what it’s like to be in a competitive industry, which can reject you one minute and accept you the next. Joanna has also previously acted in programmes such as Holby City and Doctors and is now doing a lot of work for Cbeebies which is aired on the BBC channels and SKY TV.
How did you get to work for Cbeebies?
I’ve always wanted to be a children’s TV presenter so after attending performing arts school and working as an actress for a few years, I then began to pursue presenting. I won a competition to be the presenter on a behind the scenes show for channel 5 which gave me some great hands on experience and footage for a showreel! I wrote and sent my showreel to everyone I knew in the industry (which wasn’t a lot of people at the time) and ended up getting a screen test at CBBC. A few months later a researcher contacted me about a pilot they were making for CBeebies, I went along and unfortunately didn’t get the job but two years later the same researcher remembered me and contacted me again, this time I got the job and that was the start of my time at CBeebies.
What are some of the challenges you face, being a presenter on TV and how do you deal with them?
Presenting is not always a quick, easy or straight forward process and that doesn’t stop. I don’t have an agent so I have to be really proactive in building relationships and applying for new roles. It’s not always a ‘yes’ so I have to ground myself and not take it personally when I don’t get jobs! I’m a believer that the things that are meant for me will be for me and the things that aren’t, well they aren’t… and I’m happy with that too.
How do you balance work life, being a wife and a mother?
Although I dedicate a lot of my time to building my career being a wife and mother will always come first. I love my family! I try to do a lot of my work when the children are at school and Nursery so I can spend quality time with them when they get home. However I do value the fact that my children get to see me working hard and following my dreams, hopefully they will develop a strong work ethic for their careers and dreams in the future.
What are you passionate about?
I’m passionate about a lot of things! I love to dance and do anything creative, writing, designing, baking…. But one of my greatest passions is children! I love to look for the gold in them, to see them flourish and become all that they can be!
What would you tell your younger self?
I would tell my younger self not to give up EVER… not to loose heart in the tough times and hold on through the season. I would tell her to be bold, brave and fearless because who she is and who she’s going to become is awesome. I would encourage her to dream big, trust God in everything she does and tell her not to waste time dating ‘that’ boy… but if she does, she should know that the pain and heart ache she suffers will ultimately shape her for the better. I would tell her to choose her friends wisely and always stay close to her best friend, her sister! Finally … I would tell her that hard work and integrity is just as important as her skill. Her skill might get her there but her character will keep her there!
Any tips to any aspiring presenters?
Work on your craft. Practise presenting at any opportunity! Take any opportunity to hone in your skills. There are courses you can do but there’s a lot you can practice at home with your phone camera! Research other presenters and work out what it is you like about what they do! Build a strong network. Ask people who are in the industry for advice and stay in touch with them. You never know when an opportunity might come up that you are right for! Have unshakeable integrity!! Be on time, learn your lines and generally be a great person to work with.
Instagram: @joanna_adeyinka Twitter: @JoannaAB3
