Rav's new role is taking off; Rav Wilding has gone from Pc to pin-up via BBC 1's Crimewatch. Now the presenter is fronting a new series on the work of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. ANDREW BALDWIN reports

Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), August 21, 2008

Byline: ANDREW BALDWIN

TELEVISION presenter Rav Wilding has gone from catching criminals to catching the eye of the ladies in one swift move.

Rav, best-known as co-presenter on Crimewatch UK, is now set to turn his attention from robberies to rescues as presenter of BBC series Helicopter Heroes.

While this is the second series featuring the work of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance it's a new challenge for Rav.

"It started off when Richard Hammond had his big crash and the air ambulance crew rescued him.

"Everyone suddenly realised what a decent job these guys and girls do," he explains.

"This led to a little series being made, which Hammond presented.

"It was almost done as a thank you for what they did for him.

"But it went down really well and it's now got another series." For those who missed it last time the series follows the air ambulance crew on their emergency calls across Yorkshire.

While 31-year-old Rav does both the voice-overs and links there was no room for him to join the crew in the helicopter.

"On the aircraft you've got a pilot who's not medically trained and two medics up there," he explains.

"So you can only really squeeze one camera crew up with them, so it does make it difficult when filming."

Even though Rav spent eight years as a policeman in south London and became hardened to gory scenes he still finds some of the helicopter rescues stay with him once the cameras stop rolling.

"There was a father and son who were supposed to be out shooting on the moors and enjoying a friendly day out bonding together," he says. "But the dad ended up shooting his son in the stomach. "It was a complete accident - a fault of the gun - and the son was fine, but it really stuck in my mind.

"There was also a case where a motorcyclist had just left a bikers' cafe where loads of his mates were.

About half a mile away he had a collision and came off. The air ambulance arrived and while the crew found the bike they had to keep looking to find the rider because he had catapulted so far away.

"They ended up finding him at the bottom of a quarry. They treated him the best they could, but sadly he died from his injuries. It was so awful seeing them frantically looking for this person they just couldn't find."

Unlike some TV presenters, Rav's not the type to be spotted dancing the night away in a high-profile nightclub.

"Socially I don't do that much," he admits.

"Having been a policeman, I always think there are some nasty people out there who don't like what I do on the telly, so I've just got to be a little bit careful."

His physique has seen him feature as Heat's Torso Of The Week and any image search for Rav on the internet will reveal plenty of semi-naked photos.

While he's been happy to pose he also takes the attention with a pinch of salt.

"That's all flattering but it's all a bit silly really; so I don't pay attention to that sort of stuff," he says modestly.

The paramedics, pilots and fundraisers of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance will feature in 20 new episodes of the action documentary, starting on August Bank Holiday Monday.

YAA chairman Peter Sunderland said: "The series gives an accurate insight into everyday real-life emergency situations as they happen.

"There are no actors involved; these are real people involved in situations requiring emergency medical assistance."

The series will show a mission to get a critically injured two-year-old girl to hospital after a riding accident in Ryedale, North Yorkshire.

In another episode two motorists are rescued after being trapped under an overturned Porsche in Bradford.

And there is coverage of a dramatic incident in which a workmen is flown to Leeds General Infirmary after severing his hand with an electric saw.

The series promises to be a further boost for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which needs to raise pounds 7,200 a day to keep its two helicopters flying.

Helicopter Heroes begins on Monday at 9.15am on BBC1. It will be shown five days a week for four weeks.

Ten programmes will be repeated in the evenings soon.

Editor Ian Cundall said: "The first series of Helicopter Heroes proved a real hit for BBC1 and we're delighted the show was re-commissioned.

"We think the people of Yorkshire will really appreciate the mix of inspirational stories and wonderful aerial footage of the county."

'The paramedics, pilots and fund-raisers of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance will feature'

andrew.baldwin@examiner.co.uk

CAPTION(S):

FEET ON THE GROUND: Rav Wilding, presenter of BBC1's Helicopter Heroes, starting Monday; PART OF THE SERVICE: Top Gear's Richard Hammond leaves Leeds General Infirmary in the Yorkshire Air Ambulance