North West

Andy Johnson

Coming up with exclusive new evidence on the Michael Shields conviction, exposing how easy it is to get guns into the North West and even dressing up as Ringo Starr! - it's all part of my job presenting BBC One's Inside Out North West.

The show continues to go from strength to strength and this new series in 2009 promises to be no different.

But we couldn't do it without your help and are always on the lookout for stories so please don't hesitate to get in touch. The details are at the bottom of the page.

Dream job

This has been my dream job.

In 2007 I was shortlisted for both RTS Regional Presenter of the Year and for the Yorkshire Bank Broadcaster of the Year.

Getting followed by the Tunisian secret service filming for BBC 3, reporting from Diana, Princess of Wales' funeral or test-riding white-knuckle fairground rides are just a few snippets from my TV back catalogue!

After four years in Liverpool dressing up, pretending to be other people, and treading the boards as a Drama and English student, I managed to get a job in a district office on the Evening Post in Nottingham.

Cutting my teeth on council meetings, the magistrates' courts and collecting the 'best-dressed stick in show' result, (no, I don't know what it means either!) at the local agricultural show.

Award winner

I won a feature writer of the year award, did some sub-editing, before getting the chance to work for BBC regional television news.

I reported on everything from breaking the story on network that the Chilean dictator General Pinochet was leaving Britain from a Lincolnshire airbase, to a variety of 'And Finally's'.

'And Finally' included stripping off on a story about trying to sleep in a heat wave, with just a strategically placed teddy bear to cover my embarrassment!

Career highlights

I've reported for The BBC News Channel and was taken on by BBC Three, initially in London, to help launch their evening news programme.

The highlight was going to Tunisia to report on the African Nations Cup.

Having been tailed by the secret service out in the street, I ended up reporting live from the hotel roof in rain that would have done Manchester proud!

Prior to Inside Out I was based in Manchester, reporting both for BBC Three and BBC News 24.

Away from work, I live near Manchester. I love football, music, getting out for walks and gardening.

In an ideal world I'd be able to combine the lifestyle of Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall with the footballing ability and bank account of Wayne Rooney! A man can dream can't he?

Not that I'm greedy or anything but I'd also have a huge garden, growing my own fruit and veg, with assorted kids, dogs cats and chickens running around, as I listened to either the football or Jonathan Ross on the radio!

Life on Inside Out

There have been so many great moments on this show...

Andy Johnson on the guns special.

Hard hitting documentaries into the Michael Shields case, including a near death experience on Bulgaria's unlit roads!, an investigation featuring some of the most notorious ex-gangsters in Liverpool about the city's links with the drugs trade, and a lovely day with the incredible impersonator Stevie Riks (check him out on YouTube!) laughing myself silly and dressing up as Ringo into the bargain!

Past highlights include, chatting to football legend Sir Bobby Charlton, and going to France to retrace the steps of a boy soldier from Manchester who, aged just 16, led his troops over the top at the Battle of the Somme.

We've caught out bogus taxi drivers who prey on young women and examined why no one has been arrested more than 10 years since the IRA bomb devastated Manchester.

It's the people and the places of the North West that make this such a special job and place to work.

Get in touch

Inside Out is a really human programme. The fact that so many people have been touched by the issues in the show makes it really worthwhile.

I love presenting Inside Out in such a vibrant region.

Throughout 2009 we'll be bringing you stories that we hope will provoke, inspire and surprise you in equal measure. I can't wait!

If you've got any great ideas for stories for us or any comments about the programme please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Tell us your surprising stories by emailing insideout@bbc.co.uk or completing the form below.