Trained as an actor, Nick Hirst spent some time bumming around in UK rock bands including The Breakneck Brothers, Nick Nasty and the Breaknecks, Rosedale Intake and Sarah Stone and Band of Strangers, writing songs and playing guitar. Looking for a sensible job, he worked as a performer and musician with various theatre companies in the UK before making the transition into broadcasting. Originally a freelancer with the BBC, he took the unusual step of moving to Saudi Arabia to work as presenter and producer on the English language TV and radio stations based in Riyadh.