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Edith Bowman

Radio 1 DJ, Edith Bowman, 31, hosts Edith Bowman, weekdays 1-4pm, which replaces Colin and Edith, the show she co-hosted with Colin Murray. Prior to joining Radio 1 she co-hosted MTV’s Hit-list UK with Cat Deeley and Capital FM’s Cat and Edith Hit Music Sunday

Ever since Francis Ridley, my old boss at MTV, set up Money Management in 2000, the company has looked after me. I knew it was the right decision as the previous agency which represented me made me feel like a very small fi sh in a big pond. I needed a more personal level of looking after. I trust Amanda with my life. She doesn’t give me any b******t. If we get negative feedback about a programme, or I haven’t won a particular job, then she’s blatantly honest about why and that’s what you need. We communicate daily, whether by phone, email or meeting up. It’s a really special relationship. You’ve got to get on with the person before you trust them with your career.

The agency is both proactive and reactive, so you feel that they’re carving a career path for you. Amanda has worked with some amazing people. She’s highly thought of by professionals within the industry. In fact, I would go with Amanda’s judgement over my own as she knows best.

I don’t have a particular preference between TV and radio – I enjoy both. I’ve just presented Reading [Festival] with Zane [Lowe], and Colin [Murray] and I will probably do Glastonbury next year. I’d love to do a prime-time chat show one day. The nice thing about radio is you can turn up looking a bit rough, which is handy if, like me, you’re going to lots of gigs in the evenings. I enjoy the immediacy of radio: our Radio 1 show is all about involving the audience and getting their opinions – that’s diffi cult with TV. Since 14 August I’ve been working solo; it’s another challenge for me. We’re slowly introducing new things, such as movie stuff, on the show. People think you have an easy life working 1-4pm, but I’m in the studio from 10am and three hours of live radio fi ve days a week is quite exhausting.

When we fi nd time, Amanda and I have glam nights out. We went to the Glamour Awards, which was brilliant [Edith won Radio Personality of the Year]. Or we get Francis to pay for expensive meals out, as we like Roka for its sushi and cocktails. Amanda is always jet-setting – my boss at Radio 1 and I always take the mickey – she’s not posh but has an amazing demeanour… Amaaaanda. She’s a real lady.

Amanda Hart

Talent agent Amanda Hart, 39, joined Money Management in 2001, prior to which she worked at another agency representing presenters such as Zoe Ball, Andi Peters and Simon Mayo. Her clients include Melanie Sykes, Dougie Anderson and Edith Bowman

Edith is totally real. She’s exactly what you see: whether on TV or next to you at lunch, she’s the same person. I’ve never heard a negative thing said about her by anybody who’s worked with her. If a problem arises, she’s always a safe pair of hands and works with the team. That’s really important, because it’s not all about Edith. She’s bright, she knows her own mind and people warm to her because she’s an approachable person. In terms of audience appeal, she’s mainstream enough to reach a wide audience, even though she’s also considered to be the cool DJ chick with a lot of credibility in the music business. There aren’t many people who can straddle the two.

I hold her diary and she feeds into it. I would never put things in it willy-nilly, which is why we talk every day. She never stops, she’s one of the busiest people I know. If anything, it’s a case of holding her back – not wanting to wear her out. You’re there to protect your client as well, so when they are working they’re happier and more rested. I don’t ever tell her what to do, but I will sometimes ask, “are you sure you want to do that?”, and she’ll go, “actually, that’s all going to be just too much.” When you’re so busy, it’s easier to say “yes” than “no”. People are generally so fond of Edith, they understand if there’s something she can’t do; it’s not through want of trying.

For Edith, it’s never been about the money, it’s about the quality of the work and so I would never lose her something over money if it was a job she really wanted to do. The average agency fee is between 10-20 per cent of everything an artist earns, but we would never publicly discuss an individual’s earnings.

Edith’s still a rising star. She’s proved herself to be this fantastic broadcaster in both radio and television. Clearly we’d like her to do as much TV as she can and she’d be totally capable of a chat show. The whole thing is pacing. We’ve never been after a fast buck. It’s about building it up gradually. How her career progresses from here will be dictated by how much she can do. The will is out there and she will just go from strength to strength.