 Clarke spent three years as a DJ on Scottish radio station Beat 106, fronting the "Breakfast Show" and winning the Presenter of the Year at the British Radio Awards in 2004.Clarke later returned to Beat 106 under its new name of Xfm Scotland.On 7 November 2008, Xfm Scotland became Galaxy Scotland and on 10 November 2008, Clarke began hosting a weekday breakfast show with Vanessa Motion, "Des & Vanessa @ Breakfast".