Audience researcher Emmey Little, who landed a job at the BBC One show after applying for a runner position posted on the Facebook group “People looking for TV work”, fielded questions from RTS Futures members before they joined the audience for the live show.

“There’s no shortcut,” she explained, and advised those with no TV experience to show their transferable skills from jobs in customer service or student ventures such as TV societies at university.

“Good runners won’t be runners for too long,” she said. “If you’re really on it, you’re very aware, and go above and beyond – it doesn’t take people long to cotton on to that.”

Little urged the attendees to pitch ideas, whether they are on a work experience placement, working as a runner or in a temporary job in the industry: “Think, ‘What have I got that could stand out.’ If you’re looking to be an assistant camera [operator], go out and shoot your own footage. If you want to get into news, find a story.”

“You learn a lot as a runner; it’s a way of proving you can do the job before you get the job,” she said.

Advising people working in local TV to gain experience where they can, she said: “Despite the low pay, there are opportunities to host shows, and then you can make a showreel. Also radio is a great way in, there’s some great regional content opportunities with them, and you can improve your specialism.”

After the Q&A, attendees joined the audience of the show, which featured presenters Ore Oduba and Angela Griffin, and musical guest Paloma Faith, who performed her new single Loyal outside BBC Studios.

One of the only television shows filmed at New Broadcasting House, The One Show has been a fixture on BBC One since its launch in 2006, with topical stories from around the UK and special celebrity guests.

The RTS Futures event, “The One Show”, was held at New Broadcasting House in London on 24 October.