5fm's Gareth keeps it real
2003-02-06 14:07
Cape Town - Forget about all the nasty things you've heard about 5fm's new DJ on the block. Gareth Cliff, 25, is witty, funny and intelligent - and, he's not afraid to speak his mind.
A horse of a different colour - Cliff got into radio by mistake, he says.
"I was bored between classes and started working at Tuks FM."
He had regular clashes with management and was eventually fired. One of his mistakes was to run a competition on penis size.
But, his outrageous "tell it like it is" style soon got him noticed and he started working at Johannesburg-based Radio 702. Although he was successful with his 702 breakfast slot, Cliff says, boredom set in, hence the move to 5fm.
"The 702 audience was twice my age, I wasn't really relating to them." The newsy format also got to him as he was a more entertaining kind of guy.
A legend because he stopped
And how does he feel about the hoo-haa when Alex Jay got the boot and he first started at 5fm?
"Thank God, it was over for him, so he can be a legend. A legend like Elvis - but Elvis became a legend because he stopped.
"The man was there for 17 years. I loved his shows and used to listen to him when I was growing up, but it really was time for him to go.
"Alex has the capacity to reinvent himself. He's clever and his come-back is going to be spectacular."
Although he has been working in radio for only four years, Cliff's love for the medium is evident.
"Radio is magic. It's like being in a fantasy world where you can use your imagination. You tell the same story to many people and they're all going to have a different picture in their minds.
"It's also the only democratic medium there is - everybody can tune in, regardless of race or age. If the government was more like radio - they would get a lot more done," he adds.
But, Cliff's mouth has got him into trouble more than once. In his first month at 5fm there were seven complaints lodged against him at the Broadcasting Complaints Commission (BCC).
He dismisses them, saying: "I talk about what's real. And it's probably bored, white housewives with nothing better to do. I would like them to rather worry about having regular bowel movements."
Girlfriend is not too impressed
Not surprisingly, he loves receiving hate mail, like the one from a guy who wants him dead.
"I just think I must be doing something right if I have such an effect on people."
But it's not only the listeners he has in a tizz every time he opens his mouth. His girlfriend is not too chuffed with him either.
"She says to me: 'Don't talk about things we do', but then I do. I can't help it, people want to hear about ordinary, real problems. Besides, I'm not in a boyband, I don't have to behave myself."
And what does his future plans entail? First, he is a firm believer that one should not overstay one's welcome. So, he does not want to stay in radio too long.
The 25-year-old's plan is to go into politics someday - when he turns 40 (his studies in politics and international relations should come in handy).
"I wanna do something real in the world, good things. But until then I'll play radio, TV, whatever."
Titbit: For those anti-Valentine's Day folks out there don't miss Gareth's Valentine surprise. He is on-air Mondays to Fridays from 19:00 to 22:00.