Star host

Tum turns to TV

By Suwitcha Chaiyong
Photos by Varuth Hirunyatheb
and courtesy of Channel One

The winner of The Star Season 9, Worawut Poyim (Tum), is known for dazzling audiences with his captivating performances. After winning The Star, the 21-year-old singer embarked on an acting career, with roles in the dramatic movie Pae Gao (The Scar), the TV series Fun Fueang (Dream), and the sitcom Baan Nee Mee Rak (This Home Is Love).

More recently, Tum tried his hand at hosting on the variety shows See Po Dam (Four Spades) and Wan Nee (Today), as well as on The Star Season 11 on Channel One. Tum has impressed viewers with his smooth and effortless hosting skills. He can interact with veteran hosts like Pa Ted Yutthana and Opal Panisara naturally, and often comes up with clever skits for the shows.

Student Weekly recently met up with Tum on the set of Today, where he told us all about his latest career.

Student Weekly: Have you had great speaking skills since you were a kid?

Tum: People have said that I was always talkative. I like to talk and come up with jokes. Since I talked a lot, teachers often gave me opportunities to present school projects. I was also a leader during camp activities where I would speak and sing.

I never dreamed of being a TV host when I was younger. I wanted to be a singer and a DJ.

Student Weekly: How did you feel when you were selected to be a host for three TV shows?

Tum: I was thrilled. I was determined to do a great job because the executives noticed my abilities and believed in me. They were terrific opportunities. But I still feel shy when a camera zooms in on my face. I don’t have clear skin, so I’m shy about seeing close-up shots of my face.

Student Weekly: Which job have you liked best so far?

Tum: I still like singing. I like to entertain people. Hosting TV shows is quite difficult. I’m not used to it yet.

Student Weekly: What makes hosting difficult for you?

Tum: A TV host must provide accurate and interesting information to the audience via the camera. I’m used to communicating directly with people, and there’s no interaction when you talk to a camera.

Student Weekly: On The Star, was being a host more exciting than being contender?

Tum: I felt more excited when I hosted the show because it was a live programme. As a singer, I knew the lyrics and melody that I had to sing, but as a host I’m still new and sometimes make mistakes. I just try to focus on entertaining the audience.

Student Weekly: What was it like hosting Four Spades with other singers from The Star, and also to work with veteran hosts on Today?

Tum: On Four Spades, all the hosts are inexperienced. Nobody leads the show and we all support one another. On Today, if I make a mistake, the other hosts help me out. Pa Ted Yutthana and Opal Panisara also give me a lot of advice about things like not repeating the same words too often. And Opal is so witty. She can make up jokes on the spot.

Student Weekly: Apart from yourself, which host on Four Spades impressed you the most?

Tum: Dome Jaruwat is cool. He’s good at arranging dialogue and he has great communication skills.

Student Weekly: Which part of Today are you particularly interested in?

Tum: Every section is interesting. The part called Krai Krai Kor Tam Dai [Anyone Can Do It] gives great tips. For example, one tip was about how to peel garlic easily — you can put garlic in an aluminum pot and shake it really hard, and it will peel itself. I also like the segment that recommends good restaurants because I’m a bit of a foodie.

Student Weekly: How do you create skits so naturally?

Tum: Some of them are based on scripts that we’re given. We have to get the timing right to make them work. There are also jokes that I sometimes create without intending to. I meet the other Today hosts often because the programme airs five days a week, and we always have fun and laugh together. For Four Spades, we still need time to improve.

Student Weekly: Is there anything else you’d like to say about the shows?

Tum: Today is a morning show that provides interesting information and the latest news. Four Spades is a variety show where you can enjoy guests, beautiful songs and hilarious skits.

comments powered by Disqus