Extra Time with Alex Payne
Alex Payne, of Sky Sports fame, in front of what looks like a flame? Sky really don’t do subtle! Lets see what makes the Bath supporting, Flatman Fan and Rugger man tick shall we…
Where are you now and what are you doing?
Alex Payne: At home, recovering from a great Heineken Cup final and preparing for the Rugby Players Association Awards tomorrow night. Presenting a dinner in front of an audience is infinitely more of a worry than live tv.
When/where are you next due to cover an event?
Alex Payne: We’ve got another busy weekend at Twickenham, with the Aviva Premiership final on the Saturday and England v the Barbarians on Sunday. Over the last month I’ve spent more time in TW2 than at home.
How sporty are you – typical calories per day, distance you run/walk/swim?
Alex Payne: About three months ago I had happily set sail for middle age. But the kind people at Sky Sports Publicity signed me up the Men’s Health Six Pack challenge; six weeks of intensive training and stripped down diet. I’ve never done anything like it but I got pretty into it all, and although it’s finished I’m trying to keep the exercise bit going. Diet not so much.
#icantgoadaywithout - favourite bit of technology and why?
Alex Payne: iPad. My wife and I can be sitting next to each other, and she’ll have to email me to get my attention.
Hey Alex – you now get iPad enabled shopping trolleys. You can take a good thing too far.
Which sports journalist or player would you recommend on #followfriday?
Alex Payne: @DavidFlatman and @MrAndrewCotter often work wonders with 140 characters or less, @SuperGavHenson has a unique take on life too but gold goes to @dunnatron who was a remarkable (spoof) human being. He’s gone a bit quiet of late though…
Who is the most famous person from the world of sport to #follow you?
Alex Payne: We’re fairly tight knit at Sky and a lot of the presenters follow each other. Gary Neville and Lewis Moody seem to be the two highest profile sportsmen.
‘Payne’ hangs out with ‘Moods’ and ‘Fods’
Oddest place you have ever Tweeted from?
Alex Payne: I’m not really an instant update tweeter – if I’m doing something odd or weird I’m probably trying to work a way out of it.
Who was your first #sports crush?
Alex Payne: Crikey – I really can’t remember. Kournikova is the obvious answer, but before her?? Mia Hamm maybe?
Twice World Cup winner and Olympic Gold Medal Winner – Mia Hamm and her ‘pony tailed warriors’ made soccer cool in the USA. For Girls. Becks is doing his bit for boys now.
Tell us your sporting superstition
Alex Payne: I did used to have a thing about not treading on the white lines when warming up. No idea where it came from, thankfully long gone.
@ladygaga, @justinbieber, @IanJamesPoulter - Block? Tweet? Meet?
Alex Payne: Interviewed Poulter a few times back in the Sky Sports News days, he always seemed good value. Can I leave the other two?
Find out what Alex Payne did next @SkySports_AlexP
Alex Payne supports
Bliss - Supporting work with premature and special care babies
SkillForce - Educational charity working with 14-19 year olds
Wooden Spoon - Children’s Charity of Rugby
Alex Payne Biography
Tea boy at Sky Sports, though my work experience now extends to presenting rugby union.
