BBC CDM Apprentice Review

Currently working in Radio comedy. Asistanting manily on the BBC new comedy awards but I help out on various diffrent programmes. I like working here as no two days are the same. And I'm always doing something diffrent. I've even had an oppertunity to pitch my own ideas.

I've learnt a lot more about script editing due to being able to read scripts and sketches that was sent in from the public to the various shows that ask for them. As well people skills and casting and reseraching. Place learning how to write treatments.

It has been truely up and down. If I was writing this review few months ago during my first placement the review would of been much lower. It was not a particualrly enjoyable experience but an experience none the less. But from March since I've started at Radio comedy I've enjoyed a lot more. The team is very helpful and the top producers are very approachable and very inclusive of me and my ideas, and are always happy to give feedback. Comedy is somewhere I want to advance my carreer. So it's great to know the deptmarment in the BBC is a good place to work.

During my first placemnt. I felt very undervalued. to the point I felt they did not want me there. I was working on a big BBC 2 gameshow, and I gave a lot of my time to the show. Even to the point I gave up 2 of my weekends going all around the country helping to cast contestants. I was even working up to casting researcher as one of the reaearchers were not able to attend the casting. I was handling a large group of people as well as animals. I would work late every day doing all the tasks that was given to me, but after we came back from christmas holidays. They stopped replying to my emails and the talent manager (no one on the production bothered to tell me) came to tell me that I was kicked off the production and was never given a credit on the final show. This made me feel that all the work that I gave to the production over the 4 months was not valued at all and I was completely interchangeable. Thankfully I was moved to anohter production that I felt valued me and my ideas a lot more. Also since starting at Radio comedy I feel like my work is valued and is needed a lot more by the deptpartment due to my unique talents involving filmming and contacts within the comedy scene.

Not greatly but it has improved. The first month of training was good, but becuase all of us are on different skill levels the training can come off hard or patronising depepnding on your skillset. But ioverall it is good

It has had it's ups and downs. I do beleive since there is a lot of trainiees you can tell they are spreading themsleves thin sometimes, but other than that it has been pretty good. during my first placemnt I did feel forgotten about but I highlighted these concerns and they were fixed fairly quickly.

I meet with my producers every week and they do show active interst in doing all they can for me to get all I want from this scheme. even to the point of seeing if there is money in the budget to pay for training. My mentor is very good and she is a plesure to talk and has given me some great knowledge on the industry that is both pricelsss and enlightening.

The salary is a struggle. I luckliy stay at home but I contribute to the household. so it is still hard.

There is a lot of training and oppertunities to get to know people outside your deptpartment. We have speoken at many events about the schemes and they are always good places to network at.

Yes

I started Uni but did not finish as I felt it was not for me and I didn't really click with the lifelstyle of 2 lectures a week, partying and debt, I'm someone who needs to be working all the time. If you have a simalr perspective then I would say the BBC is for you. There will be good, bad and ugly times, but I do not regret it!

I would say go with your gut. If you feel like a placement is not for you. do not hesitate to speak out like did.