Teesside lecturer nominated for BBC award

A senior lecturer in media production at Teesside University has been nominated for a BBC Audio and Music award after directing and producing a programme about British singer-songwriter, Jay Sean.

Philip Ranjit Basi worked on ‘Jay Sean – The Story So Far’ last summer and is now in the running to win the Best Music Production category at the awards on Tuesday 13 March, competing alongside productions of Glastonbury and Radio 1’s Big Weekend. Philip said: 'I have worked on a lot of projects for the BBC over the last couple of years, and I have known Jay for years now so it seemed like a good fit. They were looking for someone who was visually creative to take on the programme, and I had a lot of ideas about how to take it forward.'

The programme features a stage interview with Jay Sean in front of a live audience and cuts to footage from his performance at the 2011 London Mela festival, his first in the UK since reaching Number One in the US.

Philip worked at ITV for 21 years and has now worked with the BBC for two years, working on productions such as the famous Maida Vale live recordings. He added: 'I think it’s very important for me to exercise my professional practice, which is why I get involved with these BBC projects over the summer once the academic year has finished. I’ve previously taken down five of my students with my to gain hands-on work experience and they also get to see me in a professional environment, which they can learn a lot from.

'It’s vital that the skills I’m teaching to my media production students are the most up-to-date methods and are still relevant in the industry today. I’m very proud to have been recognised by the BBC with this nomination and on a personal level it shows I’m still practising to a high standard, which will certainly benefit my students.'

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