AS any struggling composer will tell you, it's not easy to make a living in the music industry.

Irregular work and bad pay are not conducive to a successful career - which is what makes Paul Farrer all the more unusual.

Two years ago, the West Malvern- based composer was approached by the BBC and asked to write some music for the pilot show to a new daytime TV quiz. The show was called The Weakest Link and the host was Anne Robinson.

The programme has since gone on to become one of the biggest TV quizzes on the planet, showing in 75 countries.

The music written by the former Dyson Perrins High School pupil is used in all of them and with each minute worth around £30, Paul admits he has done well, although he is not sure how well as money from the US has only just begun to come through.

There was bad news this week with the axing of the prime time edition of The Weakest Link by US TV station NBC because of falling ratings, although the daytime version of the show will continue.

Now married with a baby daughter, Paul was born in Worcester, moving to Malvern in 1985.

"I had piano lessons from a young age but I only got to Grade II or III," said the 29 year old.

"It gave me a good grounding in learning about music I like. I taught myself chords and progressions and stuff, it was really good fun.

"After my GCSEs I knew I wanted to get into this line of work. In 1993, I went freelance and just stuck with it really. That more than anything has helped me, knowing what I wanted to do."

Paul is full of praise for Anne Robinson, who has found international fame via the show.

He said: "She's like a mini Darth Vader, she really does look the part. She's got the whole pantomime villain thing down perfectly."

Paul has also composed music for other TV shows including Dog Eat Dog, all recorded and mixed in the studio at his West Malvern home. Since the success of The Weakest Link, he has seen his family's lives change considerably.

He said: "Financially, I'm in a much better position than 99 per cent of anyone else that makes music for a living. It's allowed me to be a bit more picky and choosy about the work I take on.

"The downside is that I know now why actors are typecast. People attach you to that, they say 'you write music for quiz shows'."

Now taking time off to look after his new daughter, Paul has his sights set on a project closer to home.

"I've never seen my music performed live and I'd love to do something for the ESO or something," he said.

"I had the idea of doing a symphonic work representing Malvern. I'm toying with the idea of that at the moment, it might be the project for this year".