Exciting initiative aiming to unearth talented TV presenters

Teesside University and the BBC have joined forces to help find the next generation of presenting talent in Middlesbrough.

Each year, third year BA (Hons) Broadcast Media Production students are set a live brief by an industry expert.

This year, as part of the BBC’s commitment to find and nurture talent from across the UK, staff at CBBC have agreed to set the brief challenging students to find experts with the right talent and appeal to present programmes for the 6-12 year old CBBC audience.

The exciting initiative aims to unearth potential presenters and give them the opportunity to be seen by programme makers, while at the same time offering students the chance to showcase their production skills.

Media production students will work alongside students from the University’s Performance for Live and Recorded Media degree to produce high quality show reels of aspiring presenters some who may be experts from within the university, others specialists from the local community.

Helen Spencer, Talent Producer for CBBC & Comedy North, said: 'We are really excited to be working with Teesside University. The BBC is working with organisations across the North of England to discover new talent while at the same time offering students an opportunity to engage directly with the BBC.'

Matthew Bishop, 22, is a third year Broadcast Media Production student and is really excited about the partnership with the BBC. He said: 'I'm really looking forward to the project. It will enable me to showcase my skills and have my work seen by industry professionals.'

Steff Ellis, 20, a third year Performance for Live and Recorded Media, student, added: 'My dream is to be a television presenter and this is fantastic exposure. It’s a chance to show people at the BBC what I can do.'

Mick Stockton, Principal Lecturer in Business Engagement, added: 'The production and performance students will be working together and it is great for them to be able to put themselves in the shop window.

'But they will also be looking to showcase presenters from across the region in the hope that this long standing relationship between Teesside University and the BBC will discover the next generation of talent.'

---