How Edwin Maher became a face familiar to millions

Q&A

Q: Who is your favorite anchor?

A: David Eades, BBC World

Q: Do you have any rituals, or habits, before you appear on TV?

A: That is an interesting question. I just like to spend time focusing on the content and breathing. Also making sure I have a bottle of lemon-flavored red tea with me in case my throat gets dry.

Q: How many words do you read on air per minute?

A: I can control the speed of my teleprompter so there is no problem. We all usually read at a similar pace which is typical of news anchoring these days - trying to be energetic and holding the attention of viewers.

Q: Apart from newsreading, what other work do you do for CCTV?

A: We usually have four days for anchoring and I also do voice coaching for Chinese writers who want to read the voiceover on their stories to improve their intonations and their delivery, rather than just reading the words.

Q: Any "accidents" during a live broadcast?

A: Anchoring Asia Today, I was reading the introduction to a story and half way through the merry sound of my mobile started playing. Trying to conceal any alarm on my face and not wanting to draw attention by reaching for the phone, I pressed my elbow discreetly against it to mute the sound.

Q: What do you think of the new CCTV building?

A: The English channel has only been there for six weeks. It's very new to us. It's a period of transition. When you are on the footpath, you look up and see, it's very big.