Masterclasses

With so many podcasts on the market, how do you make yours stand out? And what are the essential tips and tricks that will help you make your mark?

In this session, we hear from the brains behind some of the best podcasts of the past year:

Marianna Spring, BBC Disinformation Reporter & host of The War on Truth and Death by Conspiracy

Nina Hodgson, Senior Podcast Producer at Channel 4 News for The Fourcast and Ways to Change the World

Hosted by Ed Gove, Channel 4 News

An insightful look into the world of television archive, an area that is often overlooked but plays an integral role in both scripted and non-scripted storytelling.

This masterclass guides you through the role of an archive researcher - from pre-production to finalising the programme - at a time of real shortage in experience in this field in light of the archive boom following the pandemic.

Speaker: Jemma Wood, Archive Researcher

Chair: Paul Davies

Writer and story consultant Furquan Akhtar discusses his experiences writing for dramas such as Wolfe and The Bay, why the soaps are excellent training grounds for writers starting out and how his identity as a Pakastani Muslim living in Northern England is a valuable asset when it comes to original storytelling. 

With more than 25 years’ experience of programme-making, award-winning executive producer Sanjay Singhal discusses his career and how he goes about creating documentary series for Voltage TV including Ant and Dec's DNA Journey and The British Tribe Next Door. 

BBC News's first ever specialist disinformation and social media reporter Marianna Spring discusses her route into journalism, working to uncover misinformation campaigns and the value of establishing a specialism early on in her career. 

Kenton Allen, CEO of Big Talk productions (Outlaws), discusses his illustrious career and reveals top tips for creating hit scripted entertainment shows such as Royle Family and Friday Night Dinner.

New and experienced documentary filmmakers discuss the making of the BBC's latest documentary, Leigh-Anne: Race, Pop & Power. 

The panel includes first-time Director Tash Gaunt, Producer Kandise Abiola, Researcher Taylor Anderson, Executive Producers Tom Currie and Sam Bickley from Dragonfly TV. Chaired by presenter Basma Khalifa.

An It's a Sin masterclass with writer Russell T Davies OBE, executive producer Nicola Shindler and Channel 4 commissioner Lee Mason.

The masterminds behind the iconic series discuss the making of It's a Sin and share tips on how you can take your life experiences and put them on screen.

Chaired by comedian and presenter, Kemah Bob.

How do you craft a winning narrative for your wildlife film? Award-winning screenwriter Jeff Pope - the man behind Philomena, A Confession, Stan and Ollie and Isolation Stories - shares lessons and top tips on what he's learned from scripting drama.

Speakers: Lynn Barlow & Jeff Pope