On 30th September 2013, I started my first day as a BBC Production Coordinator Apprentice. I had absolutely no idea what the next 15 months had in store, but looking back on it now I can hardly believe how much I have been able to cram into this space of time! Now that I have graduated and completed my qualification, a Level 4 Diploma in Broadcast Production Management, I have had the chance to reflect on the abundance of amazing experiences I have had and wanted a place to log all of the incredible shows and events I’ve been a part of. So here it is – a snappy picture diary of my time as a BBC Apprentice.
6th & 7th December
Top of the Pops, Riverside Studios
The Top of the Pops Christmas Special has always been a key feature of the Nicholson Household Christmas Day routine, so it was incredible that this was my first ever studio television experience. Here I worked as a Runner to presenters Fearne & Reggie and was delighted by just how lovely, friendly and charming they both were.
11th December 2013
Jools Holland’s Hootenanny, Maidstone Studios
In the Nicholson household, New Year is not complete without Jools Holland’s Hootenanny on the TV counting us into midnight, but in 2013 is seemed strange to be doing just that on December 11th! For the same nostalgic reasons as Top of the Pops, working as a Runner on Hootenanny was an amazing opportunity for me. Responsible for looking after any of the celebrity guests in the audience, this was my first chance to speak to some of my idols who had inspired me to work in TV and Radio, and it is these ‘pinch-yourself’ moments that you never forget.
31st December 2013
My First Credit!
As New Year’s Eve came around in 2013, not only was I looking forward to watching Jools Holland’s Hootenanny, but this was also the day that I received my first ever television credit for Sir John Tavener Remembered, a documentary looking back on the career of the late composer.
28th February – 1st March 2014
6 Music Festival, Victoria Warehouse, Manchester
19th – 20th March 2014
Jo Whiley’s Sport Relief Challenge, NBH Piazza
Having watched Comic Relief and Sport Relief year upon year, watching the lengths that celebrities go to for the charity, it was great to get involved with one of the projects. Working as Artist Liaison, it was my job to meet and greet all of the show’s guests who would be joining Jo Whiley in her Perspex box as she ran for 26 hours straight to raise money for the charity! Everybody knows what Sport Relief is about and there was a great sense of team spirit surrounding the whole event, all working to achieve one goal.
23rd May 2014
Radio 1’s Big Weekend Dance Party, George Square, Glasgow
I had the pleasure of standing in the crowd, enjoying the show and soaking up the atmosphere as Radio 1 opened its doors to 2014’s Big Weekend. Having worked on preparing the video mapping sequence that was projected onto the square, I felt a huge sense of pride as I watched the overwhelming display.
24th – 25th May 2014
Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Glasgow Green, Glasgow
As a huge Radio 1 fan, I have applied year after year for tickets to Radio 1’s Big Weekend, so to finally be there but in a working capacity was even better than I could have imagined. As the Event Coordinator for the BBC Introducing Stage, I had worked very closely with the BBC Introducing team to plan the line-up. It was a pleasure to be able to email all of the chosen artists to confirm their spot on the line-up and to meet them across the weekend; they were all so genuinely grateful for the opportunity and put on an incredible show. Watching artists like Royal Blood, Catfish & The Bottlemen and Saint Raymond pack our little blue tent full to the brim until it was fit to burst was incredibly exciting, and they certainly did not disappoint, with many of the Radio 1 DJs quoting Royal Blood as their highlight of the weekend.
Amidst the madness on our stage, I managed to make it out at the end of each day to see the event headliners – Coldplay and Katy Perry. As a massive Coldplay fan, it was my first time seeing the band, and they were perhaps one of the greatest live acts I’ve ever seen. Standing in the pouring rain with my amazing Live Events team singing our hearts out to Yellow is a memory I won’t forget anytime soon.
28th August & 25th September 2014
Rugby Training with KSI, James Haskell and Wasps Rugby Club
My third placement on my apprenticeship was a chance for me to take a step outside of the BBC and experience the independent television industry. I joined the Endemol Beyond team working to coordinate shoots for 3 YouTube channels, including Rulem Sports, fronted by YouTube star, KSI. Rulem Sports’ mission was to teach KSI different sporting disciplines throughout the year and I loved being a part of his rugby challenges with England Rugby star James Haskell and some of his Wasps Rugby Club teammates. I never knew what was around the corner with these shoots; one minute we’d be practicing kicking and passing, the next they’d be weightlifting one another, having a dance off or smashing eggs on each other. As unpredictable as it was fun, KSI is perhaps one of the craziest and funniest people I’ve met on my apprenticeship.
19th October 2014
Radio 1 Teen Awards, The SSE Arena, Wembley
October saw my return to the Live Music & Events team for my final apprenticeship placement. My first event back in the team, once again, is one I have applied for tickets for in years gone by but to no success. However, an event that was a dream come true soon became a nightmare… as I dropped my iPhone down the toilet!! So unfortunately no photos from the Teen Awards, but if you look closely here, you can see that Now Magazine managed to capture a snap of me on the red carpet behind The Vamps and Shawn Mendes, who I was fortunate enough to look after and manage throughout the event!
10th November 2014
Best Day Ever for Children In Need, Tendring Technology College, Frinton
This year for Children In Need, Radio 1 took over a school for the day to give them the Best Day Ever, with Tendring Technology College being the lucky winners. With a Live Lounge from Rixton from their school hall, plus Scott Mills and Greg James’ shows coming live from their classrooms and school hall too, they certainly did have an amazing day and it was wonderful to see the children, but even more so the teachers, having a brilliant time, particularly at Danny Howard’s after school disco! Having spent the days leading up to the event, coordinating travel arrangements for all of our staff, DJs and guests on the shows, it was my job to transport these guests around the school for their appearances, meaning that I would be constantly stopped my excited school children and staff for selfies; but our guests were so accommodating and equally as excited about being involved with Children In Need, making for a really special day.
15th November 2014
1Xtra Live, The NIA Arena, Birmingham
This was my first 1Xtra event since working in the Live Events team, so was a great opportunity to be introduced to new colleagues I hadn’t previously had the chance to meet. Some of the memories that stand out from our time in Birmingham were from our team nights out, both on our first night in the city, as well on our final night after the show when we were invited to Annie Mac’s night at The Rainbow Factory.
21st November 2014
6 Music Celebrates Libraries, The British Library
During my time in the Live Events team, I was trusted to
manage an event by myself for 6 Music, working as the Lead Event Coordinator.
Broadcasting live from The British Library, Steve Lamacq and his team brought
the show from the mezzanine level of the beautiful building, bringing with them
DJ Yoda, who explored the library’s sound archives to make a brand new track
with the samples he collected. As the Event Coordinator, it was my job to bring together the venue's events team, outside broadcast supplier, marketing team and production team to ensure everyone was sure and happy with the arrangements planned. It was a very smooth
operation and sounded great on air, receiving a lot of support and great
feedback on social media.
11th December 2014
BBC Music Awards, Earls Court
As my apprenticeship drew to a close, the inaugural BBC Music Awards was my final event in the Live Music & Events team, but was certainly the ideal way to end the 15 months on a total high. This was by far the best event I have worked on throughout my whole apprenticeship and it’ll take something truly staggering to top it. With a sensational line-up including Ed Sheeran, Take That, Coldplay, One Direction, Calvin Harris, Ellie Goulding and Tom Jones, you could not turn your head without catching one of the UK’s biggest music artists in your eye line. It was definitely at this event that I had the most pinch-yourself moments, especially when standing in the dressing room area to find myself surrounded by One Direction on one side and Chris Martin on the other! AND – What an amazing way to bring the event to a close and my apprenticeship to an end with a credit on prime-time BBC One television.
18th December 2014
My Last Day
So as you can see from all of these photos, I have had quite an adventure over the past 15 months working at some of the BBC’s biggest events, meeting some of my idols and favourite musicians, as well as making many amazing new friends. Very fortunately, I was able to share my last day with the Live Music & Events Christmas party. This team is made up of some incredibly talented and hard-working people who I completely admire and I hope I get the chance to work with them again very soon.
15th January 2015
Graduation!
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Out of everyone I have met on my apprenticeship, it my fellow Production Coordinator apprentices I can guarantee I will be friends with for life. Balancing a new job with a huge amount of coursework was quite challenging at times, but just a text or phone call away we always knew we had each other to lend a hand of support. Add to that 3 amazing people we could not have done this without - our scheme manager, Maddy, and college assessors, Gilly & Suzz. Helping to find our next placements and supporting and guiding us with our college work from Day 1, they have helped us every step of the way and continue to do so even now that we have graduated. I think we would all agree that they were fundamental in helping us to achieve 100% on our qualification and continued to push us every step of the way. So a big thank you to them, as well as to everyone I have had the pleasure of working with over the past 15 months.
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