Former Furze Platt student bags slot on Capital FM

A former Furze Platt student will take to the radio waves next week to an audience of almost half a million weekly listeners.

Tom Watts has made the dramatic jump from student radio to a weekday show at Capital FM's East Midlands station just months after graduating from university.

Beginning on Monday, the 21-year-old will co-host the radio station's drive-time slot every weekday from 4-7pm, to a rush-hour audience covering Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire.

Tom, from Highway Road, attended Furze Platt's infant, junior and senior schools before graduating from Nottingham Trent University in July with a degree in broadcast journalism.

"It's happened ridiculously quickly," said Tom.

"It's almost unheard of to go from student radio to industry so quickly.

"I went to uni to do broadcast journalism but I didn't know what I wanted to do and ended up getting involved in student radio."

The new host co-founded a student newspaper while studying at Furze Platt School's sixth form and quickly found himself on Fly FM, Nottingham Trent's student radio station, following his move to the Midlands.

During his time on the show, Tom was nominated for best newcomer and best male at the student radio awards, won a competition with The Hits Radio and worked at Capital FM.

"I got nominated for the awards which are judged by people who work in radio so that gave me confidence," said Tom.

"I feel ready. I've covered drive-time before for a week and it's so, so much fun."