Bouncing back from lockdown Four RTS bursary scholars recount how their careers have taken off after being derailed by the pandemic Charly Humphreys
F ‘THE JOB WAS AN ABSOLUTE DREAM’ 20
ifteen months ago, if someone had told me I’d be working in Mallorca on one of the world’s biggest reality shows, I’d have rolled my eyes and said, “You’ve got to be kidding!” In my final year studying live events and television production at the University of the Arts London, and with Covid-19 still rearing its ugly head, I told myself to stop worrying too much about the future and focus instead on my degree. The virus had imbued me with a strong sense of how unpredictable life could be. Then, a couple of months ago, I received an offer to work on Love Island. My mentor, the brilliant Lauren Evans at ITV, had passed on my CV to the team that makes Love Island. Lauren is the talent manager at ITV Entertainment. I was thrilled and ecstatic, to say the
least! The day after I submitted my final assignment, I jumped on a plane to the location for one of my favourite shows. I was so excited to see the secrets of its success from the inside. Initially, I was one of a team of chape rones at a beautiful resort in Mallorca, looking after two wonderful contributors. Inevitably, things were different this year due to the Covid restrictions. I was responsible not only for supporting the contributors’ general well-being but also for making sure that coronavirus guidelines were adhered to at all times. The job was an absolute dream after my old student life in London, where I’d spent so much time isolating since the start of the pandemic. Travelling and meeting new people are two of my favourite things. It’s been such a positive feeling to experience that part of life again. Soon after beginning my chaperone gig, I switched roles and moved to the production base to assist with admin,
ITV
Love Island
