Mark Pilgrim (presenter)
Mark Pilgrim (born 20 September 1969) is a South African media personality who has hosted numerous radio and television shows, most notably as a DJ on 5FM, 94.7 Highveld Stereo and 94.5 Kfm. He has also hosted Big Brother Africa 1 and Power of 10.
Radio career
Mark Pilgrim joined 5FM in 1995.[citation needed]
After 9 years they parted ways and he joined 94.7 Highveld Stereo in Johannesburg.[citation needed] In October 2007, Pilgrim hosted the first chart show to be broadcast on 2 radio stations simultaneously.[citation needed] Take40sa (Saturdays 10-2 pm) can now be heard on 94.7 Highveld Stereo and 94.5 Kfm in the Cape.
Television career
- New Moves (e-TV: 1999-2000)
- Big Brother South Africa 1 (MNET: 2001)
- Big Brother South Africa 2 (MNET: 2002)
- Big Brother Africa 1 (DStv: 2003)
- Retail Therapy (MNET: 2002 - 2005)
- Face 2 Face (SABC2: 2004)
- Sex Etc. (MNET: 2005)
- Blue Wave (CORPORATE: 2004-present)
- What's Brewing (CORPORATE: 2007-2008)
- Power of 10 (MNET: 2008)
Other work
He has been a regular DJ at corporate functions and nightclubs around the country.
As a voice artist, Pilgrim has spent many hours in post-production studios, narrating radio and TV commercials. Mark has performed as an MC for numerous corporate gala evenings.
He is also a motivational speaker, sharing his story on testicular cancer, how he overcame it and how it pushed him to follow his dreams.
Consumer researcher
Before getting involved in the entertainment industry, Pilgrim completed a B.Com in Industrial Psychology and Business Economics, and was a quantitative consumer researcher for 9 years. He started at Market Research Africa, and then moved onto Research International and finally Kauffman Levine. He was also the Johannesburg Chairman of the South African Market Research Association (SAMRA).
Cancer
Mark was diagnosed with stage 4 testicular cancer in 1988. It was an aggressive form of cancer and spread to his lungs and kidneys. After 9 months of chemotherapy he was declared to be in remission. Mark is now an ambassador for CANSA (Cancer Association of South Africa) and a friend of the Reach for a Dream Foundation.
Heart attack
On 14 July 2008, one episode into the recording of South Africa's biggest ever game show, Power of 10, Pilgrim suffered a sudden and severe heart attack. The condition was precipitated by extremely high cholesterol brought on by a genetic condition. Two weeks after the heart attack, he was able to resume filming of Power of 10. With the help of medication, he now continues to lead a normal life.
Family
He married Nicole Torres in Mauritius on 7 July 2007. Their first daughter Tayla-Jean was born in April 2010, followed by their second daughter Alyssa in 2012.