Antoine Jones found more than he bargained for when he visited a local wholesale store. For during the outing with his mother in April, the 15-year-old was spotted by local television producer Jonathan “JT” Talbot.

Now the Berkeley Institute student is the new host of ‘In the Know with Antoine Jones’, a youth news, sports and entertainment show premiering tonight on Channel 82.

Antoine spoke to Lifestyle about the chance encounter and how it has quickly changed his life.

• Q: So how did you and JT meet?

It was actually pretty crazy. My mom and I were home and low on Pepsi, so we decided to go to the wholesale store.

My mom knows a lot of people, so while we were there she called out to him. I was still looking around the store and popped over. That’s when Jonathan was like, “You would be good for a show”. He showed me a video of ‘The Underground’ [another show he produced] and said if I was interested I had 48 hours to respond to him. When I got back home, within 30 minutes of us meeting, I called him back.

• Q: Why did you act so quickly?

Because I was excited and have never actually been around the entertainment industry before. When I was younger I wanted to be a rapper, but I wasn’t very serious about that.

After I reached out to Jonathan we started meeting and bouncing ideas off each other for a youth TV show to keep young people up to date about what’s going on in the community.

In the weeks and days that followed we started testing some things out, like on Instagram and Facebook by posting pictures and little soundbites or teasers. I shared them with family and friends and they liked it and how it was presented.

It wasn’t just like a regular show, it was catchy and was appealing. It was topics that people also wanted to hear, listen to and see.

We cover fashion, news, sports, entertainment and what’s going on in Bermuda, and also events going on like the Miss Bermuda pageant and Cup Match.

• Q: What do you want to do now in terms of your career? Do you still have rapping ambitions?

No, not really. I actually want to be an architect when I get older. I like creating things and when you’re an architect you are creating something for someone else, like a house, and they will enjoy that space and be able to live in it and sell it on to someone else for them to create memories in. It’s like leaving a legacy by creating something that others can enjoy.

•Q: What was your first experience on camera like? Was it scary?

Yes and no. I was pretty used to public speaking before from my time at Whitney [Institute] as head boy, but I wasn’t used to interviewing other people, so that was nerve-racking.

At first I was really nervous, but once I saw that the people I was interviewing were even more nervous than me I became more comfortable. Now when I go into an interview I’m a lot more at ease.

• Q: So who have you interviewed so far?

First we went to the Evolution Fashion Show rehearsals and interviewed some people performing in that.

I interviewed Dkembe Dill, an up-and-coming reggae artist who has also sailed on a lot of tall ships. He will be in our first episode.

I also spoke with the Miss Bermuda pageant contestants and local radio host Power Girl [Patrina O’Connor-Paynter].

One of my favourite interviews was with Ornella Fado, who has a TV show [‘Brindiamo!’ on NYCTV Channel 25] filmed out of New York. She was filming an episode here in Bermuda a few weeks ago and they hired Jonathan to videotape it and I helped out as well.

We told them about our show and she interviewed me and I interviewed her. I liked getting the chance to be on both sides.

• Q: What is the difference between being the interviewer and the interviewee?

When you’re being interviewed there’s a bigger chance you’ll be surprised because you don’t know what they will ask and you have to be ready for anything.

When you’re being interviewed you have control over the questions, but that experience was good because it showed me how to be on both sides.

It was fun talking with Ornella and it’s great because I get to be on her show. It’s different from just staying in Bermuda. Now it’s going to be overseas and people from away will know who I am.

• Q: You will also do a segment on fashion. What has that been like?

I’m very articulate when it comes to my clothing. I usually have to be matching and I always try to look good.

I’m also a sneaker freak. I have about 14 pairs right now. It could be a lot more, but I don’t have the money for it.

We will be having a segment for the show called “Sneaker Reviews”. A lot of young people are sneaker heads, so I’m feeling they will like it.

• Q: What do you want young people to take from this show?

I’d like for them to get the sense they’re welcome and to get a better understanding of what’s going on in Bermuda.

I want my show to be a voice for young people and let everyone know what’s going on in the community. That’s why it’s called In The Know. It keeps you updated with the news, sports and politics, but also lighter topics like fashion and events.

• Q: Over the summer you have had to fit in filming, photoshoots and planning for the show. How will you balance everything once school starts?

I’m hoping to address that in one of the episodes. I feel like it’s so easy to get distracted, so I want to help people prepare for their tests by giving them tips and things like that.

I’m going into S2 this year and have to take the IGCSEs. What I’ve learnt is your transcript is your most important document in life and will follow you later on down the road. So what you do now in high school impacts what you do for the rest of your life.

But I don’t think it will be hard to balance the show with school. I’m pretty sure I can keep my grades up.

I’ve been on the honour roll since middle school and I was on the principal’s list for part of M3. My average was 92 per cent that year. I’m also on the honour roll at the Berkeley Institute now.

•Q: What is your advice then to other young people?

My advice is to stay focused and be yourself. Don’t try to fit in.

A lot of young people try to go into high school and do what everyone else is doing. In my mind you’ll be around those people for four years and after that some of those people you’ll never see again.

When I was in middle school I thought those people I was around would always be with me, but high school made me wake up. I realised how important it is to stay focused and think ahead when it comes to school work.

• Q: Do you suspect you will be more popular when you get to school next week and once your peers see you on TV?

To be honest, I think I’ll just stay around the same people I was with before because they’ve always been with me and I know they like the real me. I learnt that lesson in middle school.

Everyone in school knew who I was back then, but I was more of a geek. Since high school though I’ve come out of my shell. Last summer I started getting around more people and going out more. I used to stay at home and go on my computer a lot because I’m into graphics, but last summer I went out to Cup Match and met other people.

When I started high school it was great because everyone just started coming to me and knowing my name. Now with the show even more people know who I am.

It’s a good feeling, but I’m the same person. I haven’t changed at all.

• Antoine’s 30-minute show, ‘In The Know’, will air on Mondays on Channel 82. For more information visit Facebook: In The Know.