The 19-year-old student spent Friday afternoon shadowed by BBC disc jockey Greg James who was on a UK tour to find out about listeners' summer jobs.

Miss MacLean, who is from Drumnadrochit and is studying primary school teaching at Aberdeen University, has worked at the busy centre and adjacent Drumnadrochit Hotel for four seasons.

She and several colleagues, who were listening to the station at work earlier this summer when details of the tour were announced, e-mailed in to tell the BBC what they did.

It was the last day of the early morning breakfast show presenter's two-week tour.

Miss MacLean admitted to being nervous before going on air.

"I just hope my voice is not too sqeeky!" she said. "All my family and friends are poised ready to listen in. I do waitressing, bar work and the reception here. I enjoy it because a lot of my friends are working here too, it's a good laugh and there's lots of really funny people."

James only discovered he was bound for Drumnadrochit when it was read out to him live on Friday morning by breakfast presenter Chris Moyles.

He said it had been a whirlwind but enjoyable trip.

Iona MacLean with Radio One DJ Greg James at the Loch Ness Exhibition Centre. Alasdair Allen

"I have enjoyed it but I'm knackered now, we've driven about 2000 miles and been to a beauty salon in Bath, worked with the RNLI in Sunderland and at a children's lunch club. We want to find out what our listeners are doing during summer when they're off from university or on a gap year.

"It has been great getting out of London and I didn't know anything about coming here until earlier.

"I had never been up here before, the scenery is beautiful."

On air, Miss MacLean produced a surprise for James — a bright green Nessie costume in which he had to dress up in and then continue the interview, before offering directions to visitors.

He asked her how many times a day she was asked if she had seen Nessie, to which she replied the stock answer: "No, but I know people have seen her." She also described the sport of shinty to James which she said was like hockey but "much more manly!"

James is one of the emerging presenters on Radio One and will take over the station's afternoon slot from Fife-born presenter Edith Bowman in September.

Exhibition centre owner Robbie Bremner described Miss MacLean as a hard worker and important member of the 100-strong workforce at the centre and hotel.

h.ross@inverness-courier.co.uk

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