On Monday 12th May, Matt Talbott (year 9) appeared on BBC television with Martin Offiah. Matt made the draw for the Carnegie Challenge cup.

Matt writes:

"On Monday 12th May, I was invited as captain of the under 14, national semi-finalist rugby league team, to go and represent the school in the draw of the Carnegie Challenge cup. The draw was shown on the BBC news channel on the 6.45pm sports section and I was partnered by one of the greatest ever rugby league players, Martin Offiah.
 
A screenshot of the BBC News 

"We arrived at the BBC studio in Sheppard's Bush just before 6 o'clock, and after waiting at the front desk for Martin to turn up, were shown through to the floor where the news channel was based. The Green room in which we waited was very small and people rushed in and out, preparing us for our live television performance, either doing our make up or telling us what we had to do. Talking to Martin: I found that he was a really nice guy, easy to talk to, had a great sense of humour and was not a particularly big fan of Eastenders!
 
Matt makes the draw

"When it was finally time for us to go on, we were ushered through behind all the cameras to the side of the studio where a desk was set up with the bowl from which we were about to draw the teams. We were hooked up with microphones and suddenly the cameras came over to us. Martin said just as we started "you know there are around 3 million people watching right now" which strangely made me feel more comfortable. The whole 5 minutes of the sports section flew past with only one mistake about what year I was in at school from the presenter.
 
"The whole experience was really enjoyable and the Rugby League photographer took loads of pictures."
Matt with a rather large trophy ...