Learning The Ropes
Learning The Ropes
Learning The Ropes
Learning The Ropes
Learning The Ropes
Mentees 2024
Mentors 2024
"With only 7% percent of people currently employed in the arts coming from a working class background, it’s never been more important to help those from a non typical socio economic tv background get a foot on the ladder in our industry.
Fran and Dermot have set up a scheme that does just that, so If you get the chance to become a mentor do it. I could say it’s rewarding ( which it is) and a great chance to have a gossip with senior people in the industry ( which it is ) but it’s not about us, it’s about doing the right thing and opening doors for bright young people who deserve a place at the table"
Susan Maxwell
Mentor | Executive Producer
"Just want to say a massive thank you for Learning the Ropes. So grateful to be part of such a welcoming scheme. I’ve never felt ‘less than’ for my lack of experience - only supported and encouraged and that’s all down to the programme. Meeting mentors and mentees and having the opportunity to have exposure to so much about the industry is something I’ll never forget. You’ve shown me (and so many of the mentees) that it isn’t silly to chase your dream!”
Erin Duxbury
Mentee
"Thank you so much for the opportunity of being part of LTR’s. It opened my eyes to the world of TV, expanded may horizons and provided me the foundation to confidently make the transition into the industry. It quite literally has been a life changing journey. Grateful to you!"
Derrick Otchere
Mentee
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In Partnership With
Adeel Amini – Series Editor, South Shore.
Alexia Edwards – COO, Expectation Ent
Ali Naushahi – Writer/Director
Amelia Brown - CEO Fremantle UK
Andy Varley – CEO/Founder Insanity
Anthony Thomas – Series Director, Teacher LSA
Ashley Whitehouse – Dir of Progs, Thames, Fremantle UK
Becky Cadman – Head of Talent-Led Programming, Optomen TV
Charlie Bennett - Creative Dir Unscripted Dev FMUK
Charlie Irwin – Managing Director, Fremantle UK
Coco Jackson – Producer
Danielle Goff – Producer, Lunar Pictures
Dermot O'Leary - Broadcaster, Author, Producer
Evie Buckley – Digital Commissioner, Channel 4.0
Hector Dockrill – Director
Ivor Baddiel – Writer / Author
Jo Taylor – Director of Production, Sandpaper Films LTD
Jonno Richards – TV Exec
Kaio Grizelle – Digital Comm Editor / Interim Ch4 Lead
Kalpna Patel-Knight – Commissioner, BBC
Karen Knowles – Head of Production, Naked FMUK
Kate Edmunds – Director of Programmes, Talkback FMUK
Laura Cairney-Keize – Editor, Trim Editing
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Lee Hardwicke – Senior Casting&Welfare Exec, Naked FMUK
Leilah Mason – Head of Production Naked FMUK
Lou Hutchinson – Creative Director, Boldprint Studios
Mary Hui – Senior Production Manager, The Garden
Martha Housden – Dir Development (Creative) BBC Studios
Melony Smith – Exec Producer
Meriel Beale – Exec Producer
Nicole Logan – Exec Producer (Development), Goalhanger
Nihal Arthanyake – Broadcaster, Writer, Comedian
Phil Harris – CEO, Boldprint Studios
Richard Greenwood – Exec Producer
Riffy Ahmed – Writer / Director / Visual Artist
Rob Davies – CEO, Craft Films
Ryan Hawkins – Line Producer, ITV
Sangeeta Bhaskar – Exec Producer
Sharon Fuller – Head of Production, Boldprint Studios
Shurwin Beckford – Prod/ Dir / Showrunner, Big Deal Films
Susan Maxwell – Exec Producer
Suzi Aplin – Exec Producer, SNL UK
Tamara Lois Ansah – Producer
Tom O'Brien – MD Naked FMUK
Tom Williams – Creative Director, Fremantle UK
Yasmin Ali – Producer, Rope Ladder Fiction
Mentors To Date
How it Works
This programme supports young creatives currently underrepresented in industry to break into the TV and digital storytelling sector. This is a six-month long programme which carefully pairs mentees with industry mentors, forges relationships through opportunities to network, offers TV and film set shadowing plus guarantees first running creds.
The six-month programme includes a 3 day intensive TV bootcamp which gives a 360 overview of all things production from commissioning, development & script-writing workshops, to art & lighting direction, documentary making, a tour of a post to post-production facility & includes a technical camera and lighting skills workshop.
The scheme also supports with job applications and cv support and provides opportunities to go behind the scenes of some of Britain's best loved TV shows. The monthly evening sessions hosted at Fremantle UK headquarters hosted by Dermot, include candid Dermot 'in conversation' style interviews with industry figures such as Broadcasters Andi and Miquita Oliver, Directors Koby Adom & Hector Dockrill, BBC Commissioner Nasfim Haque and writer Tianna, the Writer.
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"Fran and Dermot’s passion for mentoring is infectious and is a lesson to anyone about the positive power of mentoring - which very much works both ways."
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- Phil Harris
"It's a privilege to mentor anyone, be it on an official programme like this one or in a non official capacity. I feel it's imperative that we give back as much as we are able to in terms of steering the next generation.
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And when it's such an impressive, thoughtful, caring and multi-layered programme like the one Learning The Ropes puts together every year, it's simply a joy to do (and to learn from myself!)."
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- Suzi Aplin
"The TV industry needs new voices and faces more than ever, and Fran and the team are doing such amazing work bringing through the next generation of storytellers. It’s a genuine pleasure to be a small part of the mentor scheme and see young creatives, producers and production team fall in love with the industry that has given us mentors so much over so many years."
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- Rob Davies
"This program has given me access to industry knowledge, helped me expand my network, and boosted my confidence as a creative professional - not only through insights and talks but also through hands-on experience, like running and shadowing... it was an entertaining and dynamic six months filled with laughter, new challenges, and growth."
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- Bil Marhamah-Rahman
"Being part of the Learning the Ropes Mentoring Programme 2024 has 100% been the highlight of the year for me."
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- Hope Agugua
"I came into the programme feeling uncertain of myself and chasing avenues that didn't truly suit me... I felt lost [and] overwhelmed by the opportunities around me. But the programme went far beyond just helping me with the tools to find a job - Now I am so much more confident, and sure of my direction than I was at the start. What a wonderful experience."
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- Chloe Wheatcroft