His other - slightly less positive - reaction to his work as a musician was when 'I suddenly realised I didn't want to be in an orchestra pit when I was 40'.

Whelan, 42, started out as a clarinettist. Having learned the instrument since the age of 10, he studied at Trinity College of Music in London for four years. His former career as a musician certainly has helped him in his second career as a radio presenter.

He moved to Hong Kong 18 years ago as a clarinettist for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra before later being taken on as a newsreader and then presenter for RTHK's English-language radio channel Radio 3.

'A colleague said I should be on air, I thought I should be a producer at that time. But Roger Draper, who was a senior manager at Radio 4, gave me a voice test, so I started reading the news in 1995. Scary, embarrassing moments - we all have them. You read a news summary and you have the scripts the wrong way round,' he laughed.

'But I found I had a bit of aptitude for it. When I used to play clarinet, I used to get really nervous, but I don't get nervous when I'm doing radio, so I must have found my niche in a way. I loved the radio, the recording, the live music. It's where you feel happiest. I'm now 42 and have 13 years of radio experience.'

Whelan has had the six-morning-a-week Morning Brew programme on Radio 3 for the past five years. 'Previously I did a weekend programme and a quiz show,' he said.

'I love talking to people on air. You can really make somebody's day with one sentence. I often wished I had been a doctor; they can really change people's lives. But if someone asks you to play a record for their wife's birthday, I guess you do give pleasure in a small way.'

For those interested in a career in radio, whether as a presenter, producer or backstage operator, Whelan admits that the choices of radio stations in Hong Kong are limited. But the internet is opening up a whole new area of opportunities.

With the amount of editing software and sophisticated recording devices now available, Whelan suggests that budding producers and presenters create their own radio packages to show their potential to local and international radio stations.

'Definitely learn digital editing,' he advised. 'I use a system called Adobe Audition and I think it is brilliant. I would get as much free education as you can. Like if you get the chance to learn about the nuts and bolts of sound engineering. Be an apprentice in someone's studio. Take in as much of other people's wisdom as you can.'

Whelan's previous music career has helped him greatly in his second career. He often interviews classical and pop musicians on his show, along with well-known conductors.

'I've been lucky in that I've had a pretty full-on music education, so when it comes to producing live music, editing and producing jingles, I kind of know when it is right. It's like the musical ear thing,' he said.

While he might not have enjoyed the prospect of being in an orchestra pit at the age of 40, Whelan still acts as musical director in his spare time for stage productions by the Hong Kong Singers and was recently director of a major production of The Wizard of Oz.

But Whelan warns that people have to know where their niche is before embarking on a radio career. 'You've got to have an aptitude and make people feel comfortable when you interview them. And while you hone up a bit on the research when interviewing people, don't overdo it. You're not there to know more than your guests.'

Among Whelan's guests have been British writer and commentator Ben Elton and former Wimbledon tennis champion John McEnroe, who was notoriously rude to umpires.

As well as on-the-job training - either voluntary or paid - and testing out your skills with digital editing, Whelan also suggests budding radio presenters and producers check out local media studies courses at universities, which will often have a radio/internet element. The course will help provide the training and an academic qualification.

Whelan is certainly satisfied with his change in career.

'I came to radio at the age of 28 with only a musical education, not a journalism education. I didn't think for the life of me that I would be interviewing prime ministers on the radio, which I have done, including Canadian prime minister Kim Campbell.'

Sound advice

How to change careers

Check out what local radio stations there are and teach yourself digital editing

How to get the idea

Talk to people involved in radio - presenters, sound engineers, etc - and get an idea about what the job entails

How to plan

Buy a sound recorder and get used to whatever technology you can. This includes trying out practice interviews so that you can gain a feel of what it would be like to operate in a studio

How to get it going

If you have the money and time, apply for a media studies course to provide you with practical and academic qualifications

How to make sure it works out well

Volunteer for on-the-job training with a sound engineer or producer. Hone your speech and recording talents'