WM girl set for TV fame

Jun 6 2007 By Graham Young, Birmingham Mail

BBC WM travel girl Punam Verma loves nothing better than spending a weekend abroad on holiday.

But, having landed a new TV job in Dubai, she's now set to spend her holidays in Walsall!

The 35-year-old has one of the most recognisable voices in the Midlands after years on WM's breakfast and drivetime shows.

Now she's set to become a famous face in the Middle East after landing a job with Dubai One TV.

"A friend of mine sent me an e-mail from Dubai with details of the job and I just applied," she said.

"Last year I spent six months at UCE getting a diploma in journalism and was just coming to the end of a six-month journalism contract with WM and going back to the travel reports when I got this new post."

Punam didn't even have to fly to Dubai to land the job of her dreams.

"I just sent over a two-minute showreel and the producer liked it so much she just decided to take me on saying 'I've really got faith in you'.

"Travel is my real passion and the programme will be about Dubai hotels and restaurants and aimed at ex-pats and visitors.

"My brother-in-law Nithin is going to be over there for a couple of years from September with my sister Maggie so it's great that I'll have family over there. But I'll have to come back to Walsall to see my parents for my holidays."