BY DESIREE IBEKWEBroadcast’s 2019 Hot Shots have
backed the industry’s ambition to
breathe new life into the nations
and regions – but are not yet
convinced they will be able to
forge the careers they want
away from London.
Channel 4 is opening its
‘national headquarters’ in Leeds
next month, with creative hubs to
follow in Glasgow and Bristol,
and new pathways to careers
in production and broadcasting
traditionally associated with
London are forming.Regional concerns
However, few London-based Hot
Shots see themselves relocating
any time soon, and more than
60% of respondents are uncertain
about the greater opportunities
that will emerge in the nations
and regions.
“I feel it will take a long time for
C4 to bed into Leeds and become
an attractive alternative,” said one.
“London still feels like it holds the
very best in opportunity and talent.”
Several Hot Shots cited a lack
of networking prospects and
opportunities to form relationships
with commissioners, talent and
production staff as a barrier to
moving. These were labelled by one
as the “unspoken requirements of
developing your career in TV”.Others pointed to the frequency
of trips to London for those
working outside the capital. One
regional Hot Shot noted: “If you
want to work outside of London,
you have to be happy spending a
lot of your time on trains and
extended workdays.”
However, several said a more
dispersed industry would increase
diversity in storytelling, and there
was some optimism about theopportunities further down the
line. “I would consider Bristol
if I had a family,” said one, while
another pointed to the better
opportunities to get on the prop-
erty ladder outside the M25 and
the cheaper costs of living.
Summing up the overall senti-
ment, one Hot Shot said: “It will
be a few years before I would feel
professionally comfortable leaving
the capital. I am really hopeful thatHot Shots voice N&R concerns
we are at the start of a big shift, but
there is still a long way to go.”
Meanwhile, the issue of produc-
tion workload pressures was raised
by several of this year’s Hot Shots.
One said there is not enough
effort to protect crew members,
who are pressured to deliver
“perfect results”.“With long hours and ever-
demanding schedules, it is easy to
lose sight of what’s important —
ensuring the team is looked after and
has the space and support to make
great television,” added another.
One respondent said the indus-
try “requires such dedication and
commitment” that many work
themselves “to the ground”, while
another said the business “wantonly
ignores” the 48-hour working
week and the work-time directive.
The impact of all that pressure
was summed up by another Hot
Shot: “I don’t want our industry to
be on the wrong side of history
when we look back on how flip-
pantly mental health has been
treated in the past.”It will be a few years before
I would feel comfortable
leaving the capital. I am
hopeful we are at the start
of a big shift, but there’s
still a long way to go
BROADCAST HOT SHOT10 | Broadcast | 23 August 2019 broadcastnow.co.ukNEWS & ANALYSIS
Young talent salute regional push but raise doubts over ability to forge careers outside capital
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