Jenni Poikelus, who hosts Yle’s new Hengaillaan program, believes that self-irony makes life much easier.
Introduced by the Ylex radio channel Jenni from Poikelu, 35, has already been able to follow the new Hengaillaan program as captain for a few weeks. The program piloted together with Riku Rantala is a domestic version of the Swedish quiz show På Spåret.
The show recently caused a stir when the contestants of the opening episode Cristal Snow and Sauli Koskinen were subjected to severe online bullying after their TV appearance.
Although Poikelus is used to live broadcasts on the radio, he was nervous in advance about how differently everything happens on live television. What happened happened, you have to move forward according to the plan.
– On the radio, I can stare at some paper and color it while I speak. There you don’t have to look at the camera in the same way as on TV.
Known for his sense of humor, Poikelus says that, despite his entertaining nature, he is not a person who walks into a room and automatically takes over the situation. He describes himself as a more reserved observer who studies the dynamics of the social situation of the moment.
– It takes me a while to be able to be myself in a new club.
Jenni Poikelus says that she is a slow-warming type in the company of new people. Pete Anikari
Dream
Already as a child, Poikelus was interested in comics and popular culture. He found out a lot about things and researched things.
Later, the opportunity to appear in school plays also entered the picture, and the attention received from the stage felt exciting and intoxicating at the same time. However, a career as an entertainer did not seem like a realistic option.
However, his career slowly began to take shape, when Poikelus began to think about what kind of success in the entertainment industry would be possible in Finland.
– If I told my friends that I wanted to be a Hollywood actress, I eventually had to take a few steps down, he laughs.
After studying at a folk college and later at a university of applied sciences, the idea of radio work slowly began to pop into his head when he received encouragement in that direction.
– It gave me such confidence that I could really be good at this.
Even before her career, radio was a big part of Jenni Poikelu’s everyday life. Pete Anikari
Role
As a radio personality, Poikelus feels that he is himself, but consciously emphasizes some features.
– However, it’s a job I do every day, and it’s a big part of my life. It would be really difficult if it was someone else. But it’s kind of a performance role, so every time Mikki opens up, I think more about what I’m going to say.
Sometimes a joking performer persona is also a safe place to hide.
– For me and many other entertainers or comedians, throwing the flap is such a role. It’s easy to get behind, it’s kind of an elevated version of myself.
When he was asked to be the host of the Hengaillaan program, Poikelu was especially excited by the fact that as the host of the program he is himself without a role.
– When you are yourself, you are more exposed in front of people.
He explains how it’s much easier to do a sketch where he’s wearing a wig and playing another person who may not exist.
– Then it’s not you. If someone criticizes that character, it doesn’t hit you in the same way as a criticism of its very own self.
The radio personality is a kind of elevated version of himself for Poikelus. Pete Anikari
Diaries
On the radio, Poikelus has brought out a lot of memories and revelations about himself, including some embarrassing ones. One of them is reading your own childhood diaries out loud on Ylex frequencies.
– I can read them because I was still a child when they were written. I can’t even read my teenage diaries, they’re so bad.
The reason for sharing embarrassing diary entries is that in Poikelus’ opinion it is important to be able to laugh at yourself in your work and also in your personal life.
– Life is so much easier when you don’t take yourself so seriously.
In addition, talking about many topics that are considered shameful breaks the stigma around them. For example, the things on the pages of the diary have appeared as quite universal issues: many have struggled with the same themes, such as the shame brought by the first period.
– And at the same time, you take the guns away from others when you talk about them yourself, he laughs.