Television presenter and broadcaster Ben Shires returned to his Leeds roots on Wednesday, sharing his way into the creative field, inspiring the next generation of media professionals at Leeds Trinity University’s 17th annual Journalism and Media Week.
Best known for hosting CBBC favourites Officially Amazing and Match of the Day Kickabout, Shires shared insights from his career and reflected on the joys and challenges of working in an ever-evolving industry.
Born and raised in Leeds, Shires originally studied law before pursuing his love of performing, which landed him in the presenting world; a leap, he admitted, that required both confidence and adaptability. With a nod to Kids TV having changed from being presenter-heavy to more animated, he said: “If you’ve got a passion for communicating things in a clear, exciting or funny way, there’s always going to be a space for you somewhere,” he said. “It might just be that your career isn’t solely focused on TV anymore.”
The presenter said the most valuable quality for anyone entering media is authenticity: “The important thing is to sort of stay true to who you are, because that’s why people like you in the first place,” he added.
Further discussing how the industry has shifted since his early days, Shires believes adaptability is now essential. From podcasts and YouTube to streaming and live events, he encouraged aspiring media professionals to embrace change. “Expecting the unexpected and being able to adapt and change to an ever-shifting media landscape; that’s a really overlooked quality,” he said.
Shires also spoke candidly about imposter syndrome, motioning that even the most experienced broadcasters can feel moments of self-doubt. “I think imposter syndrome is a truism of everyone who has ever got a job that they’re excited about,” he said. “I think you can talk yourself out of jobs or opportunities because of self-doubt, and it can be crippling.”
“Imposter syndrome is a truism of everyone who has ever got a job that they’re excited about”
Beyond broadcasting, Shires uses his platform to support Leeds Hospitals Charity, helping raise funds for projects that improve the lives of some of the youngest patients in the region.
“If I can do something that genuinely helps people, giving up a bit of my time and helping to raise some money that will fund this or help to facilitate that; that will have a real-world impact on a child’s life, that is an amazing feeling,” he said.
For Shires, the overall message was clear: stay authentic and grounded, embrace change, enjoy the journey and make sure to laugh while doing so.