An Altrincham teenager has been heralded as one of the best young sports commentators in the UK.
The Manchester Grammar School pupil Bruno Quinney was one of just 15 youngsters shortlisted from across the country for the BBC 5 live Young Commentator of the Year award for his commentary on a Manchester United v Chelsea match.
And after his tremendous achievement, 15-year-old Bruno, a year 10 pupil at MGS, now has his sights set on a career as a football commentator or even a chat show host.
He said: “When I found out I had been shortlisted I was extremely pleased. The hard part of it was keeping the news quiet for a short while as I couldn’t tell anyone.
“To be shortlisted in a national competition in which thousands entered is great, and the fact that people liked my commentary skills is even better.
“I’m sure that if I work hard and keep my ears open people will hear my name linked to this sort of thing again – hopefully in the not-too-distant future.
“One of the good things about making the shortlist was that the judges provided me with tips on how I can improve for the future.
“They said they loved my clip and my voice but in my full clip I sounded like a presenter too much at times, which I can work and build on to improve my skills.”
Football fan
Bruno’s interest in commentary was sparked a few years ago, when he would re-watch programmes like ‘Match of the Day’ and commentate over them, but his real passion lies in radio commentary as it allows him to describe not just the action on the pitch, but also the atmosphere and the reactions in the ground.
He also produces a football podcast called ‘Kick Off’ with his friend, which is broadcast on MGS’s school radio station. It features interviews and discussions about topical football issues, which Bruno sandwiches in between his schoolwork and homework.
He added: “The hard thing about commentary is that it cannot be scripted. It is always instinctive and you have to paint a picture for the audience so that it can be understood – which is one of the reasons why I enjoy it so much.
“One day I’d love to work at somewhere like BBC Radio Five Live or even on television, presenting my own show. I’m sure it would always be based around sport in some way but I am certainly open to developing my skills for things like chat shows.”
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