Testimonials

FROM LEE DESTY ; EDITOR BBC SOUTH TODAY
Alina came to us via BBC Talent and I think everyone will agree she’s been a fantastic example of how that “open access “ route can produce real stars. She’s been with us for four years and I know she’s cemented a very strong place in the hearts of minds of South Today viewers and Radio Solent / Southern Counties listeners.

Alina has been a popular, reliable and consistent performer in a professional field notorious for falling foul of viewers who seize on contradiction or inaccuracy.

She’s also become a key part of the “presentation” family on South Today , building a strong and lively relationship with Sally and Roger to give our programme endings many "feelgood" moments. Her delivery of live weather forecasts out in the field have always been delivered with a real confidence and awareness…whether it be Cowes Week or the opening the Spinnaker Tower.

I know all of you will join me in wishing Alina all the very best for the future.

FROM RICHARD MURRELL – SENIOR DIRECTOR BBC NEWS
Alina took time out of her busy schedule to help us out on the BBC News & Sport Tour. From my directing position, I could see just how much difference her coaching made to our guests.

I hope we will have a chance to work together again.

RTS AWARDS
Alina was the winner of the Best Newcomer Award at the RTS Awards in 2003. The judging panel below praised her warmth and on-screen charisma.

Ben Adler, Features Editor, Channel 4
Lisa Ausden, Head of Network Consumer Programmes, BBC
Jane Bolesworth, Head of Features, Tyne Tees
Sue Bourne, Independent Producer, Wellpark Productions
Dippy Chaudhary, Head of Current Affairs, BBC TV London
Stuart Cosgrove, Channel 4 Director Nations and Regions
Angie Daniell, formerly 10x10, Bristol
Dave Dixon, Tyne Tees cameraman
Tessa Finch, Head of Factual Programmes, former head of Bristol documentaries and editor Good Morning Anne and Nick
Andy Glynne, Documentary Filmmakers Group, London
Tony Ham, Bafta winning editor
Fergal Keane, Network Reporter and Author
Claire Lewis, formerly Meridian, now BBC Science and Arts
Oswald Morris, Oscar winning cameraman
Mike Neville, presenter Tyne Tees Television - Mr North-East!
Andre Singer, founder of Cafe Productions

COMMENT FROM A VIEWER
 
I am not a regular viewer of your programme but yesterday evening I watched your weather forecast and heard, once again, a young lady who made a great impression on an earlier occasion

At my age, I find it very irritating attempting to listen to the many programmes in which the actors or commentators seem content to mumble, gabble, drop their voices or turn away. By contrast, this young lady's delivery is first class: her articulation is perfect, her voice clear as a bell and unaccented, and her message is purposeful and attractively presented, without any silly quips or self conscious gestures. Furthermore, it looks as though this comes quite naturally to her.

Thank you; greatly appreciated.
Ron Holley
Gosport

LETTER FROM ANDOVER & BASINGSTOKE ROTARY CLUB
Dear Alina,
I would like to express my thanks and those of the Andover, Anton and Basingstoke Deane Rotary Clubs for your great talk last night.

From the comments last night and the phone calls I have had this morning your relaxed and amusing talk was greatly enjoyed by everyone. The insights into your career, the workings of weather forecasting and its presentation and the operation of South Today was a fascinating subject and went down extremely well.

You have now a band of confirmed fans in Andover and Basingstoke.
Many thanks again for making such an excellent evening.

Alex Collister

From Roger Johnson – Presenter & Sports Journalist BBC South

I worked with Alina for four years on the BBC's regional evening news programme for the south of England - South Today.  She is one of those rare individuals who is the same off-screen as she appears on it. A genuine, engaging and vivacious performer - Alina's likeable nature is immediately apparent. I worked with her at many public events and quickly noticed she has that rarest of talents - to make the person she's talking to feel like the most important person there.

Alina is an accomplished performer in any environment. More than a safe pair of hands - she adds sparkle to any presentation or event. She is also calm under pressure: I never saw Alina falter in the high pressure environment of live BBC1 television - even when things were going wrong behind the scenes.

Professional and thorough - she achieves the highest standards while remaining modest and personable. I would recommend Alina to anyone.

From Chris Holly, Client Services Director, M-Corp

Many thanks for the professional voiceover work you provided for a demanding and high profile FTSE100 client in the delivery of 8 International Case Studies. Working evenings, fitting words into sound bites that were impossible were all very much appreciated and enabled M-Corp to deliver a superb job.