Reporter Amy McGillivray sat down for coffee with children's television host Walter Neilands to find out if his job is all glitz and glamour.

Being a TV presenter is a dream come true for 21-year-old Walter Neilands.

The Mt Albert resident landed his job as a Sticky TV presenter two and a half years ago and still loves every minute of it.

"`What I wanted to do when I left high school was get into film and TV but I couldn't see how," the former Pukekohe High School student says.

He enrolled in film school but pulled out at the last minute because of the cost and signed up for Camp America instead.

After spending a summer as a camp counsellor mentoring American youngsters on their holidays, he returned determined to find a way to get into television.

Walter signed himself up to study communications but heard about the Sticky TV job and decided to give it a shot.

He made a DVD of himself, sent it in and was surprised to get a call-back.

He says the interview was a bit rocky but he got an audition. The rest, as they say, is history.

"I was walking on sunshine for ages," Walter says.

"I guess you've just got to take opportunities."

He now spends his days on the West Auckland Sticky TV set.

Being on the show has given him the chance to meet his fair share of interesting people. He's enjoyed talking to singers Guy Sebastian, Reece Mastin and Carly Rae Jepsen but one of the most memorable guests was pilot Mike Allsop.

"He was just a really cool dude. He's trying to do seven marathons in seven days on seven different continents."

Walter says what you see on Sticky TV is the result of plenty of back and forth between the directors and presenters.

"I'm a presenter but there's also writing to do. You get off-screen work and you do on-screen work. It's quite cool having that contrast."

He says the directors come up with a basic outline which the presenters script and send back for editing.

"I feel pretty spoilt just having a job on TV – that's pretty awesome," Walter says.

"I really enjoy having a laugh with the team."

He says one of the best parts of the job is the positive feedback from his colleagues on set.

"When everybody's laughing it's really encouraging.

"It's encouragement just shown through people enjoying what you do."

Being a role model for his young fans is another big part of the job.

Walter says kids often come up and say "Hi" when he's out and about.

"If I see somebody who I can tell recognises me but they are too shy, I walk up to them and say `Hi'.

"I reckon that's a bit of a responsibility," he says.

"I've got this privilege so I've got to use it."

- © Fairfax NZ News