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She’s the first voice many people hear in the morning, landing her dream job co-presenting on BBC’s 5 Live, we spoke to Rachel Burden on her success, the 3AM wake ups and what’s to come in the future.

Having been all around, growing up in Mallow, going to University in Dublin and living in Cardiff, Ipswich, Bristol, London and now finally in Manchester, it’s clear the presenter has lived an extremely inventive and impressive life. Taking time out of her assiduous life, Rachel told us of how she moved to Manchester along with the BBC’s move, when being asked if the get up and go was hard for her family she replied, “It was a doddle actually. Well, I wouldn’t say doddle but it was easy. It required some organisation but it wasn’t a difficult decision to make in the sense that I was starting on the breakfast programme anyway at that time, so it was kind of a career commitment move with a brilliant opportunity… it’s been lovely since we’ve been here, neither of us particularly wanted to stay in London.” With her husbands job flexible, children not at a crucial age in education, it was the perfect opportunity to pursue her dream working at 5 Live.

For most of us, we will be in the land of nod. But for Rachel, 3:20AM means get up and go, with a 4:30AM start at work, surely the presenter should live for her lie ins?

“No, well I suppose I do. 7 O’clock is a lie in for me. Because I’m not there in the week. My youngest boy is always up first and he always wants to come and get in bed and snuggle with me, so it’s really hard to deny him that. Funnily enough I let my Husband have a lie in, so I can spend some time with the Children.”

You’d expect a Mum of 3, with such a demanding occupation, whose constantly on the go, to find it complicated juggling the perfect work life and family life. However, life seems to be going particularly smoothly for the 40 year old and it’s only going to get better.

“Funnily enough it’s actually really easy. Because my Husband works from home, he gets up sorts the morning stuff, sorts the chaos in the house and then I come home mid-morning/ lunch time, have a quick kip do all the domestic stuff you have to do and then pick them up from school and then I hold the fort for the other end of the day. So it actually works well.”

The highlight of Rachel’s career has been landing her dream job at 5 Live alongside co-presenter Nicky Campbell. She has covered a vast number of major news stories and expressed to VIVA that the Olympics was particular high point.

‘There are times you think wow I am uniquely privileged to be doing this, like going to the Olympics. Probably that. There’s either breaking news or personal satisfaction, so I’ve really enjoyed Election programmes. But there was something unique about the 2012 Olympics that was just joyful. The news agenda is not a happy one, but it was almost like those two weeks in London made everyone get in the national mood and be happy which was so refreshing, it was a bubble of joy for two weeks.”

To have your ideal job is an incredible opportunity, but to work with someone you love is a bonus and for Rachel working with Nicky is wonderful. Having worked before the breakfast show which started in 2011, both had worked together on and off. ‘I’m reluctant to say I love it cause I don’t want him to read that (Laughs) But its brilliant, there’s nobody else that I’ve worked with that comes in with his commitment an the level of intensity that he brings, he never seems to lose that. It’s really exhilarating and keeps me on my toes.’

When being asked will she be attending Rio this year, we found out the wonderful news that she is expecting a child. “Thanks. Yeah so that’s sort of put everything on hold, so it was a tricky one for me, I was thinking can I go, can I take my baby? But then I decided it wouldn’t be ideal. In the end it’s one of those things it was life or career and family always comes first.”

Life is sweet for the 5 Live presenter and seems to only be getting better.

Rachel Burden co-presents BBC Radio 5 live’s Breakfast Show – weekdays from 6am till 9am.

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