Writer and activist Katie Piper is no stranger to the world of presenting. A regular panellist on Loose Women and recent award presenter at the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises she has also been involved in various hard hitting documentaries over the years.
So, as BAFTA enters the final stages of the 2026 BAFTA Young Presenters competition what better time to ask her for some insights into the industry. Kara Gillespie, one of our 2025 competition winners, chatted all things presenting with Katie…
Standing out
KG: You’re supporting BAFTA’s Young Presenter competition this year, have you got any tips on how to stand out as a presenter?
KP: Sometimes we live in a society where we’re frightened of our differences, and we’re frightened of standing out… my advice would be don’t shrink yourself. Don’t minimise, don’t feel embarrassed about your differences, because often [like in the case of myself] it’s our differences that have helped us become platformed.
Actually, when you stop trying to put all these energies into being accepted and you practice radical self-acceptance it’s when you really shine. People start to notice you.
I think when you look at some of the best presenters, [people] like Davina McCall and Holly Willoughby, they go on telly and they are so friendly. They are so down to earth, and they are being themselves. I think the message there is if you present then show up as you, and then I think people relate to that and like that – and they want more of that.
KG: Be yourself – that’s the important part and let your personality show who you are and just be yourself.
Creating connections
KG: And what’s your favourite thing about being a presenter?
KP: I think it’s the amount of people you get to meet. Depending on what sort of television you make, say if you make documentaries, you get to meet so many different people with different backgrounds who live in different places who you might have not naturally met.
It’s [also] the variation of the women, and the people that I get to meet.
What is the purpose of this life… for me the purpose is to connect to a broad range of people and if I get to the end of my life and I’ve connected with thousands of people I’ll be happy.
Making a mark
KG: Are there any presenters that stand out to you right now?
KP: I work on Loose Women and that is quite unique in that the age range of the presenters is [wide]… like the eldest are 70-80 something – Janet Street-Porter, Gloria Hunniford – and then we have some young women GK Barry and Olivia Atwood in their 20s. Such a big age range which is quite rare in telly… I really admire that show and those women celebrating their age and not devaluing women as they get older.
I [also] love my documentaries. I love Stacy Dooley, I love Louis Theroux. I like presenters that go to unconventional places – sometimes they’re in danger, sometimes they put themselves at risk, sometimes they share their political views. I like that kind of range of presenters. But then I really like light entertainment, I love Rylan – I think Rylan’s funny.
Being yourself
KG: What advice do you have for aspiring presenters?
KP: I don’t think you should ever get distracted by other people telling you what you should and shouldn’t do, I think you have to go out there and do things and know what feels right …don’t ever let anybody put limitations on you.
KG: So, keep doing what you’re doing… don’t give up.
The BAFTA Young Presenters competition finds aspiring young presenters to host our events and content for children and young people. Two lucky winners, one aged 10-14 and one aged 15-18, then have the chance to front content for the Young BAFTA YouTube Channel and represent BAFTA at special events around the country.
Auditions for 2025’s Young Presenters will take place in June with the winners announced in July.
