How did you make the jump from university to working in TV?
“When I left university, I took a job in a pub, just to get me by. I always knew that if you wanted to work in the TV industry, experience was key. Whilst I was at the pub, I applied to lots of production companies and eventually got a part-time job with a small one, working on events. I worked after hours, or on weekends at first. I knew the experience would be good for my CV. Whilst in that job, I met someone at ITV who said they were looking for runners, so I went for that, and ended up doing that as a freelancer. I proved to myself I could do it, and so later, when I saw an opportunity to apply as a production assistant, I went for that and got that position too. After that I became a production coordinator, and eventually production manager. Most recently, I wanted to try something different so applied for a job as a producer for an advertisement agency.”
What is your job as a commercial producer like?
“Fantastic. No day is the same. One day I can be on set, the next I could be working with celebrities, or looking at spreadsheets working on budgets of £500k. It really varies. I can be working on something for social media, something digital or for TV. I’ve already had so many great experiences and met so many celebrities and amazing people – I really couldn’t ask for a better job.”
What would you say to someone young thinking about starting a similar journey to you?
“I would say never give up. Keep going at all costs. If you get shut down at any point during your journey, just keep going. And let’s face it, you probably will- especially in TV. You just have to keep fighting back, it only takes one person to see something in you, to see who you are, and then that’s it- that’s your first step. My journey was a series of steps and most of them were challenging. Even at the age of 28- when my mum died, I was going for the job as a production manager. This was a huge loss for me, it was a big knock on my mental health. It put me back in a bad place. But I kept on, went for another job, and here I am. You really can be whatever you want to be, you just have to keep on, and not give up, no matter what challenges you come up against.
“I’d also say, it doesn’t matter if you are different, it doesn’t matter who you love, what you believe in, or who you may have lost. It doesn’t matter -unless you allow it to stop you. If you really want to be something, no one can get in your way. I’m proof that this is true.”
What’s next for you now?
“I’m 30 now- which is quite young age to be a producer, so I have time on my side. In the future, I would like to branch out to producing TV programmes and maybe films. Most importantly, my fiancée Amy and I have been together 10 years now, and we are expecting our first child in two months, so we are really looking forward to becoming a family. That’s the next part of my journey!”