--- title: 10 things nobody tells you about presenting a TV show by Zara Gladman description: Zara Gladman shares her experience of presenting a documentary series, taking readers behind the scenes of Rogan Scotland’s Mythland. image: https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/KCA_9629.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films/presenting-tv-show-zara-gladman#main-content) [![Rogan Productions Limited Logo](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/assets-2026/RP-white-with-padding.svg)](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/) - [UNSCRIPTED](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/unscripted) - [DIGITAL](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/digital) - [IN CINEMAS](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/in-cinemas) - [SCOTLAND](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/rogan-scotland) - [SOUTH AFRICA](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/rogan-south-africa) - COMPANY - [ABOUT](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/about-rogan) - [TEAM](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/meet-the-team) - [IMPACT](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/social-impact) - [TIMELINE](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/our-story) - OFFICES - [LONDON](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/our-offices/london) - [GLASGOW](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/our-offices/glasgow) - [JOHANNESBURG](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/our-offices/johannesburg) - [AWARDS](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/awards) - [NEWS](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films) - [CONTACT](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/contact) # 10 things nobody tells you about presenting a TV show by Zara Gladman *By Zara Gladman on Nov 2, 2026* I had my first formal TV presenting gig this summer. A new documentary series Mythland, directed by Chris McMillan, has [now dropped on BBC iPlayer](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0033jck). If you’d prefer to watch ‘live’, then episodes will be broadcast at 9pm on BBC Scotland from Halloween onwards. It’s potentially one of the last shows to appear on the channel. ### Here are ten things I learned ![IMG\_3785-lo](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/mythland/IMG_3785-lo.jpg?width=2000&height=1500&name=IMG_3785-lo.jpg) 1\. Selecting a thick cord dress, paired with a cosy leopard-print bomber jacket to wear for the first block of filming felt like a good move at the time: fun, stylish, colourful on camera! And it would have been, if Scotland hadn’t experienced one of the hottest summers on record. As beads of sweat dribble down your back and you dart into the shadows in between takes to avoid the unseasonably hot Fife sun, you’ll curse this decision. As will Adam the cameraman (cord is rustle-y = bad for sound). 2\. You will fixate on food like never before. Lunch is everything. Snacks are everything. Any delusions of being ‘healthy’ will go out the window on day two. Those spicy rice crackers will last approximately 7 minutes in your company. 3\. The schedule is aspirational at best. Fantasy fiction at worst. Don’t make evening plans, you’ll still be in a field or at a contributor’s house or on a motorway. This is your life now and you must submit to it. #### ![IMG\_4340-lo](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/mythland/IMG_4340-lo.jpg?width=2000&height=1500&name=IMG_4340-lo.jpg) A field at dusk, somewhere near Falkirk 4\. Write your name on your copy of the script. You will lose the script five times a day. And steal a script. Your script will be stolen. The script will be in a car footwell, scrunched up in your pocket, in the bag for life with the spicy crackers, in a pub toilet or at home on the kitchen table, covered in highlighted notes that you carefully made the previous evening. 5\. You must relinquish control. As the presenter, you have a simple role to play. You are one little cog in a much larger machine. You are not the researcher, nor the producer or director. You can speak up and share your opinion, of course, and your views will be heard — but ultimately, you do not have editorial control. This is the part that will give you (a control freak) the most anxiety. But you must make peace with this. Trust the process. 6\. A reusable metal straw will allow you to stay hydrated (during aforementioned unseasonably hot weather) without having to reapply your lipstick 500 times a day. 7\. Presenters are also actors. There’s a surprising amount of acting involved in making a documentary. Act like you’re meeting this contributor for the first time. Act like you’re not unbearably hot or cold. Act like today is yesterday and tomorrow is today. 8\. Bonding is supercharged. Spending 12+ hour days together – often in unusual settings or scenarios – expedites the bonding process. Whether you’re huddled outside a hotel at midnight during a fire alarm, in a ditch at 2am scanning the sky for UFOs, cooking dinner in an 18th-century house during a power cut, or soaked to the bone on a boat on Loch Morar, you’ll be glad of such good company. Coffee orders will be memorised, musical tastes exchanged during the long car journeys and sleep-deprived hysteria will generate in-jokes that endure beyond the shoot. #### ![IMG\_4546-lo](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/mythland/IMG_4546-lo.jpg?width=1920&height=1536&name=IMG_4546-lo.jpg) #### A lovely bunch all round 9\. Brew your coffee the night before your 6am call time. Leave it in the fridge overnight, top up with milk and ice – enjoy a smug iced coffee first thing (particularly enjoyable during the aforementioned heatwave). 10\. This is the most fun you’ve had at work in a long time. I usually hate early mornings but somehow, I was excited to wake up at 5am. The days are long but it’s a total privilege to do it. And I’d like to do it again, please! ![IMG\_4620-lo](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/mythland/IMG_4620-lo.jpg?width=1920&height=1440&name=IMG_4620-lo.jpg) #### With the legendary Adrian Shine Finally, shout out to my fellow presenter Evelyn Hollow (strawberry iced matcha latte), who somehow looks iconic even on 3 hours sleep. Watch Mythland this autumn on BBC iPlayer (27 October) and BBC Scotland (31 October, 9pm). Each episode explores a local legend or mythology in Scottish culture, from witches to monsters and fairies. In truth, I am terrified to watch it (for fear of dying of cringe at myself) but I loved the process and there are some fascinating stories, get into it! Article reproduced with permission from[Zara's Substack](https://zaragladman.substack.com/). ## Search ## Latest News [![10 things nobody tells you about presenting a TV show by Zara Gladman](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/KCA_9629.jpg)](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films/presenting-tv-show-zara-gladman) ### [10 things nobody tells you about presenting a TV show by Zara Gladman](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films/presenting-tv-show-zara-gladman) [![Mick McAvoy joins as new Head of Rogan Scotland](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Hero%20Banner%20Image%20for%20Blog%20Post.png)](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films/mick-mcavoy-new-head-of-rogan-scotland) ### [Mick McAvoy joins as new Head of Rogan Scotland](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films/mick-mcavoy-new-head-of-rogan-scotland) [![Nearly Two Years On, Binge Drinking & Me Is Still Changing Lives](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/assets-2026/covers/Panorama_Binge_Drinking_Clean_Poster-lo-e1733150844440.jpg)](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films/nearly-two-years-on-binge-drinking-me-is-still-changing-lives) ### [Nearly Two Years On, Binge Drinking & Me Is Still Changing Lives](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films/nearly-two-years-on-binge-drinking-me-is-still-changing-lives) [All Articles](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/films/) ###### SEARCH ###### FOLLOW [![x](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/assets-2026/socials/x.svg)](https://x.com/RoganProduction) [![facebook](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/assets-2026/socials/facebook.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/RoganProductions/) [![instagram](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/assets-2026/socials/instagram.svg)](https://www.instagram.com/roganproduction) [![vimeo](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/assets-2026/socials/vimeo.svg)](https://vimeo.com/roganproductions) [![in](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/assets-2026/socials/in.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/rogan-productions) [![youtube](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/assets-2026/socials/youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClOwgTv7NpU1wJh9gmIyv5w) [![tiktok](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/hubfs/assets-2026/socials/tiktok.svg)](https://www.tiktok.com/@roganproductions) ###### SUBSCRIBE ### New films, screenings and stories straight to your inbox. © 2026 Rogan Productions Limited | [Privacy Policy](https://www.roganproductions.co.uk/privacy) | Company Registration No. 08385838