Olivia Sopel
1. When you were at Brighton & Hove High School, and what is your fondest memory of school?
I was at BHHS from 2003-2008, finishing in Year 11 (or Upper Five as it was known back then!). It’s so hard to pick just one fondest memory – my friends and I were very much into performing and would put on skits/assemblies a lot, which I have great memories of. Another would definitely be the Cantabile choir tour to Barcelona when I was in Year 11, which was just so much fun.
2. Who was your favourite teacher and why?
This would have to be a tie between Mrs Schilt (Drama) and Mrs Ashdown (English). Mrs Schilt made Drama GCSE and school plays so much fun and Mrs Ashdown inspired me to be a journalist. They both really helped me have more confidence in myself.
3. What were the benefits of being in an all-girls school?
I think for me, the biggest benefit was feeling I could be completely myself without judgement – I could be creative and silly without negative consequences. It also gave me a fantastic group of friends who are still in my life today.
4. What did you want to be when you ‘grew-up’?
It varied – but while at BHHS being a comedy writer was a great dream of mine!
5. What do you do now, and what are the most rewarding and challenging parts of your job?
I’m a journalist at BBC Radio 4, working on news programmes like The World at One and PM. Before that I was at the BBC News Channel, so have been across both TV and Radio news for a while now. The most rewarding part of my job is when I hear something go out on air that has been my personal project from start to finish – there’s nothing like hearing your work broadcast to millions of people. I’d say the most challenging part of my job is the time element – for the World at One for example, we start our programme meeting at 8am and go on air at 1pm, so have just 5 hours to put a programme together from start to finish responding to breaking news and getting top quality guests on air. But as challenging as it is, it’s always worth it!
6. What are you most proud of so far?
That’s a hard question…with regards to my career it would be the documentary I produced for BBC 4 which looked at the hidden World War Two history of BBC presenters. It was the first time that I had taken an idea I had from the very start and along with an amazing team turned it into a well-produced, great piece of journalism. Seeing it go out on TV felt like a real accomplishment.
7. What was the best piece of advice you were given whilst at Brighton?
Another tough one. As strange as it might sound, I’d say it was probably the multiple times I was told to stop talking so much – I was EXTREMELY chatty in class. While not appreciated at the time, I do think that it (finally) got into my head that I didn’t have to fill every space with sound – learning the ability to listen and appreciate the quiet was very important. Ironically I now work in radio, so actually do have to fill every space with sound – but still!
8. What advice would you give to your 18 year old self?
Believe in yourself! That would be the biggest piece of advice to myself at any age, but especially then – believe in yourself because you have the skills and the tenacity to get you where you want to go, you just need to believe you can.
9. What book, film or piece of music would you recommend to your younger self and to your fellow alumnae?
I’d definitely recommend getting into Margaret Atwood from an earlier age if you’re into English – I devoured all her novels at University and wished I had read them sooner. Also just reading books and watching films from outside your comfort zone/knowledge base – I remember watching Les Choristes at school and then exploring more and more French films after that.
10. How would you like to be remembered?
If people remember me as a kind person who makes people laugh, I’ll be happy!
