 Mitchell, whose parents ran an electrical shop (McClory & Sherry) in Warrenpoint, began his broadcasting career at the age of 17 at pirate radio station Carousel in Dundalk.He later worked as a BBC radio producer for the Walter Love show "Day by Day" and presented the early morning weekday show and Saturday lunchtime shows on Downtown Radio before he joined Ulster Television in 1987 as a continuity announcer and newsreader.He has presented a range of popular TV shows including UTV Life, School Around The Corner, End to End and Ultimate Ulster.