Mark Pilgrim (presenter)
Encyclopedia
Mark Pilgrim is one of the most recognisable personalities in South Africa
. He has hosted numerous radio and television shows over the years, most notably as a DJ on 5FM
, 94.7 Highveld Stereo
and 94.5 Kfm as well as the host of Big Brother (South Africa)
and the Power of 10
.
in 1995.
After 9 years they parted ways and he joined 94.7 Highveld Stereo
in Johannesburg. In October 2007 Mark hosted the first chart show to be broadcast on 2 radio stations simultaneously. Take40sa (Saturdays 10-2 pm) can now be heard on 94.7 Highveld Stereo
and 94.5 Kfm in the Cape. He also currently hosts the Afternoon Drive Show on 94.7 Highveld Stereo
.
Big Brother South Africa 1
(MNET: 2001)
Big Brother South Africa 2
(MNET: 2002)
Big Brother Africa 1
(DStv: 2003)
Retail Therapy (MNET: 2002 - 2005)
Face 2 Face (SABC2: 2004)
Sex Etc. (MNET: 2005)
Blue Wave (CORPORATE: 2004-current)
What's Brewing (CORPORATE: 2007-2008)
Power of 10
(MNET: 2008)
As a voice artist, Mark also spends a lot of his working day in post production studios, narrating radio and TV commercials.
Mark is a well-polished MC, having hosted numerous corporate gala evenings.
He is also a motivational speaker, sharing his story on testicular cancer
, how he overcame it and how it pushed him to follow his dreams.
in 1988. It was an aggressive form of cancer and spread to his lungs and kidneys. After 9 months of chemotherapy
he was declared to be in remission
. Mark is now an ambassador for CANSA (Cancer Association of South Africa) and a friend of the Reach for a Dream Foundation.
, Mark suffered a sudden and severe heart attack. The condition was precipitated by extremely high cholesterol
brought on by a genetic condition. Two weeks after the heart attack, Mark was able to resume filming of the Power of 10
. With the help of medication, he now continues to lead a normal life.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. He has hosted numerous radio and television shows over the years, most notably as a DJ on 5FM
5FM
5FM is a South African FM radio station that follows a Top 40 music format and is owned by the South African Broadcasting Corporation , South Africa's public broadcaster...
, 94.7 Highveld Stereo
94.7 Highveld Stereo
94.7 Highveld Stereo is a radio station that broadcasts on the 94.7FM frequency from Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.- History :The station first went on the air on September 1, 1964, as the first SABC regional FM service, Radio Highveld. At that time the station broadcast hourly news bulletins...
and 94.5 Kfm as well as the host of Big Brother (South Africa)
Big Brother (South Africa)
Big Brother South Africa is a television series in South Africa produced by Endemol. It has had a total of 2 seasons as well as a celebrity version. The first season aired in 2001...
and the Power of 10
Power of 10
Power of 10 is an international Sony Pictures Television game show format featuring contestants predicting how a cross-section of local people from the host broadcaster's country responded to questions covering a wide variety of topics in polls conducted by the broadcaster and production...
.
Radio career
Mark Pilgrim joined 5FM5FM
5FM is a South African FM radio station that follows a Top 40 music format and is owned by the South African Broadcasting Corporation , South Africa's public broadcaster...
in 1995.
After 9 years they parted ways and he joined 94.7 Highveld Stereo
94.7 Highveld Stereo
94.7 Highveld Stereo is a radio station that broadcasts on the 94.7FM frequency from Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.- History :The station first went on the air on September 1, 1964, as the first SABC regional FM service, Radio Highveld. At that time the station broadcast hourly news bulletins...
in Johannesburg. In October 2007 Mark hosted the first chart show to be broadcast on 2 radio stations simultaneously. Take40sa (Saturdays 10-2 pm) can now be heard on 94.7 Highveld Stereo
94.7 Highveld Stereo
94.7 Highveld Stereo is a radio station that broadcasts on the 94.7FM frequency from Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.- History :The station first went on the air on September 1, 1964, as the first SABC regional FM service, Radio Highveld. At that time the station broadcast hourly news bulletins...
and 94.5 Kfm in the Cape. He also currently hosts the Afternoon Drive Show on 94.7 Highveld Stereo
94.7 Highveld Stereo
94.7 Highveld Stereo is a radio station that broadcasts on the 94.7FM frequency from Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.- History :The station first went on the air on September 1, 1964, as the first SABC regional FM service, Radio Highveld. At that time the station broadcast hourly news bulletins...
.
Television career
New Moves (e-TV: 1999-2000)Big Brother South Africa 1
Big Brother (South Africa)
Big Brother South Africa is a television series in South Africa produced by Endemol. It has had a total of 2 seasons as well as a celebrity version. The first season aired in 2001...
(MNET: 2001)
Big Brother South Africa 2
Big Brother (South Africa)
Big Brother South Africa is a television series in South Africa produced by Endemol. It has had a total of 2 seasons as well as a celebrity version. The first season aired in 2001...
(MNET: 2002)
Big Brother Africa 1
Big Brother Africa 1
The first season of Big Brother Africa began on May 25, 2003 and ended on September 7 of the same year, lasting 106 days. Mark Pilgrim was the host.-Housemates:*Abby...
(DStv: 2003)
Retail Therapy (MNET: 2002 - 2005)
Face 2 Face (SABC2: 2004)
Sex Etc. (MNET: 2005)
Blue Wave (CORPORATE: 2004-current)
What's Brewing (CORPORATE: 2007-2008)
Power of 10
Power of 10
Power of 10 is an international Sony Pictures Television game show format featuring contestants predicting how a cross-section of local people from the host broadcaster's country responded to questions covering a wide variety of topics in polls conducted by the broadcaster and production...
(MNET: 2008)
Other work
In addition, he is a regular DJ at nightclubs around the country. He is also an experienced corporate deejay, entertaining delegates at numerous functions over the years.As a voice artist, Mark also spends a lot of his working day in post production studios, narrating radio and TV commercials.
Mark is a well-polished MC, having hosted numerous corporate gala evenings.
He is also a motivational speaker, sharing his story on testicular cancer
Testicular cancer
Testicular cancer is cancer that develops in the testicles, a part of the male reproductive system.In the United States, between 7,500 and 8,000 diagnoses of testicular cancer are made each year. In the UK, approximately 2,000 men are diagnosed each year. Over his lifetime, a man's risk of...
, how he overcame it and how it pushed him to follow his dreams.
Consumer Researcher
Before getting involved in the entertainment industry, Mark completed a B.Com in Industrial Psychology and Business Economics, and was a quantitative consumer researcher for 9 years. He started at Market Research Africa, and then moved onto Research International and finally Kauffman Levine. Mark was also the Johannesburg Chairman of the South African Market Research Association (SAMRA).Cancer
Mark was diagnosed with stage 4 testicular cancerTesticular cancer
Testicular cancer is cancer that develops in the testicles, a part of the male reproductive system.In the United States, between 7,500 and 8,000 diagnoses of testicular cancer are made each year. In the UK, approximately 2,000 men are diagnosed each year. Over his lifetime, a man's risk of...
in 1988. It was an aggressive form of cancer and spread to his lungs and kidneys. After 9 months of chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
he was declared to be in remission
Remission
Remission may refer to:*Remission , the state of absence of disease activity in patients with a chronic illness, with the possibility of return of disease activity*Remission , the reflection or scattering of light by a material...
. Mark is now an ambassador for CANSA (Cancer Association of South Africa) and a friend of the Reach for a Dream Foundation.
Heart attack
On 14 July 2008, one episode into the recording of South Africa's biggest ever game show, the Power of 10Power of 10
Power of 10 is an international Sony Pictures Television game show format featuring contestants predicting how a cross-section of local people from the host broadcaster's country responded to questions covering a wide variety of topics in polls conducted by the broadcaster and production...
, Mark suffered a sudden and severe heart attack. The condition was precipitated by extremely high cholesterol
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a complex isoprenoid. Specifically, it is a waxy steroid of fat that is produced in the liver or intestines. It is used to produce hormones and cell membranes and is transported in the blood plasma of all mammals. It is an essential structural component of mammalian cell membranes...
brought on by a genetic condition. Two weeks after the heart attack, Mark was able to resume filming of the Power of 10
Power of 10
Power of 10 is an international Sony Pictures Television game show format featuring contestants predicting how a cross-section of local people from the host broadcaster's country responded to questions covering a wide variety of topics in polls conducted by the broadcaster and production...
. With the help of medication, he now continues to lead a normal life.