One of Tim's greatest passions is travel and he turns his hand well to writing destination guides, hotel reviews and other travel reports. Featuring his unique blend of accurate journalism and comedy writing, Tim's travel adventures bring locations to life in amazing technicolour.
Tim is an extremely experienced and professional journalist with a talent for telling stories. He is particularly interested in exploring local culture and will always look for personal angles. As an investigative journalist, his reports often offer in-depth insights into topics, or destinations. He loves unusual experiences and takes every opportunity to get off 'the beaten-track'.
One of his strongest assets is his ability to 'ghost write' and he adapts his writing style to reach a particular audience. His versatility extends equally well to his on screen style for television programmes, or web reports. His substantial experience and news background help to give his features consistent authority, but allow his material to vary in tone dramatically as the story requires. His articles are always well researched and written to an audience focussed brief from start to finish.
Tim's experience of documenting dramatic journeys began with two amazing stories during his time as a VJ with L!VE TV in 1995 /6. The first followed the extraordinary efforts of Birmingham Firefighters to bring Christmas toys to the poorest children in Croatia and the second saw Tim joining a dying man as he fulfilled his lifelong dream to climb Everest.
Tim's next stint as a travel writer began in 2001 with the birth of Twenty Four 7 TV. As part of the company's programme line-up, Tim fronted the travel show 'Go Away'. The initial on-line shows took him to destinations including the Balearic Islands, Cyprus, Tunisia and the Canaries.
Each 'Go Away' report included a fast paced TV package, an in-depth destination guide and three comprehensive hotel reviews to cater for varying budgets.
2004 saw the birth of 'The Spy Guide', a new style of travel show that whisked audiences around some of the most glamorous locations ever featured on the silver screen. Tim adapted his writing style and delivery to fit this adrenaline fuelled show perfectly, delivering fast paced, well timed, witty reports for the weekly output.
The detailed, interactive web site that supports the guide has always been one of its biggest strengths and Tim is extremely well versed in documenting additional, interactive content. The guide has evolved considerably over the years and an early revision saw the inclusion of activities in each location. Features such as camel trekking in the Sahara and bungee jumping from the top of Versazca Dam, (like Pierce Brosnan in 'Goldeneye') proved to be great pieces that added substantially to the main report.
In 2009 the guide adapted again to become a high-octane race against the clock. Naturally, the location reports themselves became more streamlined to fit the new brief but the guide retained its original flavour. When the guide ran with Motors TV at the start of 2010, the story focus had shifted to the question of whether it was possible to make the round trip within just 14 days.
Of course the drama of making the trip in high powered 'spy vehicles' and the addition of daring challenges along the way helped to make the guide great entertainment for an adventure hungry audience. A new 'dossier' is currently being developed, with production scheduled to begin at the end of the year.
Tim's relationship with the guide has always been close but the 2010 format played to three of his biggest loves; travel, motoring and James Bond films. This shines through on screen and on-line as he appears to put his heart and soul into every 'Spy Guide' report.
TRAVEL - IN TIM'S OWN WORDS
When I was offered my first long distance assignment back in the 1990's I was incredibly excited, but totally naïve. There are millions of ads that you'll come across on-line, offering courses that promise 'expenses paid holidays in exotic locations' if you learn how to be a travel writer. That is exactly what I expected!
Yes, I thought to myself 'a few great holidays like this and I'll be joining Judith Charmers'... Well there was my first mistake... I soon realised that holiday reports were anything but holidays! In fact, for the most part they appeared to be flat out, no sleep, no sunbathing, constant driving, constant flying, full-time jobs that tested my stamina levels to the limit. My education didn't end there though and I was soon introduced to the other down sides of the job...
After the first few days my body gave up trying to adjust to the ever changing time zones and I soon realised that it would be a very lucky travel reporter who didn't eat something disagreeable along the way. Of course I've since developed a 'cast iron' constitution, but back then I was a bit of a wimp. Carrying the camera kit on rough terrain, in the heat, with a dodgy tummy... Now that's character building.
Then, when I returned to England, the deadline to have everything voiced, cut and written up allowed no time for rest either. I can remember thinking that I needed a holiday to get over the holiday.
Should you ever embark on a similar assignment you'll also be amazed at the number of jealous quips that you'll get from your colleagues, who clearly have no idea how hard you've been working. Take my advice, never ask a travel writer, who's covered more than three countries in a few days on a low budget if he, or she has had a nice holiday... You'll live longer!
That said, I've seen some of the most wonderful sights that you can imagine and met some of the most interesting people. To me, that's what life is really about and mine is all the richer for the experience. Yes, travel writing and travel shows are very hard work at times but it is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world.
Yes travel is one of my greatest passions, I get itchy feet if I'm grounded for too long. It's a beautiful world and I'm at my happiest when I'm on the move.
