Yes even presenters. They come in all shapes and sizes (though generally smaller than they seem on screen). There’s good ones, fun ones, grumpy ones, inapt ones, really inspiring ones, ones you quite fancy and even ones who become your friend and help you get into swanky clubs where you can’t actually afford to buy a drink but the loos are really nice.
Whether it was Mel Giedroyc or Richard Hammond I was working with, it was important to appreciate their personal style and work around it. Some on screen talent had the power to make a pencil seem exciting, others liked to ad lib, others had photographic memories. Writing for them meant understanding their skills and exploiting those strengths.
Becoming a wedding speech writer has made me appreciate even more how different people are. I love getting to know the clients I work with and making sure the speech reflects the person they are and the couple they’re celebrating. It’s kind of obvious but no two people are the same so why should their speeches be?