If you listen to Radio 2 on your way to work or on the morning school run, you’ll have heard Kenny and Accalia. The pair have dominated the UAE airwaves with their lively breakfast show for three years, but Accalia Hipwood is finally saying goodbye to early mornings. The 43-year-old DJ tells us why she decided to move to an afternoon slot with the radio channel.
Why did you quit the show?
My doctor told me to. I’d been living on coffee, getting headaches and feeling tired all the time. I’m actually a night person, and the longer you fight against what you naturally should be doing, the harder it gets. When I was younger I’d be out partying, go to work, be on air, then go join the party again. Now I’m older, it’s not doable anymore. But I did love breakfast. It’s the start of everybody’s day, you get fresh news stories and you drive to work when no one’s on the roads. It was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make; and we were doing so well. But quit while they still want you, right?
How did you meet Kenny Jones?
I was offered a breakfast-show job with Kenny in the Cayman Islands. We clicked because we both wanted to be those people who could be in the back of your car, having a chat. You dream about finding your opposite in radio – very often, you’re thrown together with people and it’s tough. We’ve moved countries for each other. My husband is awesome, because for years he had to cope with people saying: “You must be Kenny and Accalia,” and he answers: “No, I’m hubster.”
What are you doing now?
Afternoons with Accalia – a 1pm to 4pm show. I still talk to Kenny in my head when I’m on air and make references to stuff we’ve discussed. I was the official storyteller at the Emirates literature festival, returning to my acting roots. I read to kids, dressed in top hat and tails. When I was 6, I remember watching Jackanory (a children’s storytelling show) and thinking that it was what I wanted to do when I’m older. Reading to those kids was a major flashback, because I realised: “I’m doing it.” I loved it.
Your dad was the captain of the England polo team for 20 years. How did that affect your childhood?
I was never into polo. It was only when I saw Dad play as an adult that I realised how brilliant he was. As a kid, I loved that Dad would suddenly pitch up at school and off we’d go abroad again. We’d only spend a month or two a year at home in the UK.
How did you become a radio DJ?
When I got into my teens, I decided to become an actress. So I trained and was on the British medical dramas Casualty and 999. But I quickly found out that I’m too cynical to be in that profession – I like to pay my rent on time. Then I started doing radio character voices for a friend, DJ Geoff Lloyd, which was brilliant because I got to act but didn’t need to be seen. I later worked with Jamie Theakston for Heart Breakfast and on Nick Ferrari’s LBC breakfast show. I started as a traffic reporter and slowly got more involved in the shows.
artslife@thenational.ae