Graduating student praised by BBC presenter for juggling job at Morning Live with studies

BA Television and Radio Production graduate Adam Russell worked on the daytime television programme throughout all of his third year at Salford and during the summers between his studies in his first and second year.

Originally starting off as a runner, Adam was then promoted to a researcher and also had a four-week stint as a guest booker for the magazine programme which is filmed in Manchester city centre.

Adam did his last shift at the programme earlier this month ahead of a move into BBC Education where he will be continuing his career as a researcher full-time.

BBC Morning Live presenter Gethin Jones praised Adam for his work on the programme in a post on his Instagram page last week.

He wrote: "Will miss this man on the BBC Morning Live team. Supremely talented, attention to detail is insane, with the calmness required to make live telly. Oh, and studying for a degree at the same time!"

In response, Adam said: "I was really flattered that Gethin posted that. I got along with him and the presenters really well and you know, they're brilliant. They appreciate how hard everyone works behind the camera and it's a great team to be a part of."

Adam, 34, arrived at Salford during the coronavirus pandemic as a mature student, keen to fulfill a dream of working in the media. After years of working in retail and logistics, he chose Salford as the best place to find his way forward. 

He said: "I knew that I wanted to do something in the media and when I came to see the University and learned about the course, I was like 'this is definitely a bit of me.'

"The course helped open a lot of doors for me, and over the last three years, it's provided me with the breathing space to understand the industry and find the right path for me.

"The opportunity for Morning Live came at a networking event that I went along to in my first year. I met the team and was able to get some experience during the summer break. I did two weeks, got to know everyone and made a good impression.

"The following summer, I got in touch again and in true telly style, it was the right place at the right time as someone had just dropped out and I was given a four-month contract over the summer.

"By the end of that contract, I was working as a researcher and then when my third year at Salford started, I was offered another contract and ended up juggling my studies with a full-time job at the programme.

"From September to December, that was one of the toughest things I had done as I worked five days a week and then focused on my studies in the evening and weekends. But it was all worth it in the end."

Alongside the presenters, Adam also had a lot of praise for the production team who he says 'know how to get the best out of people' and make sure that people are enjoying their work.

He said of the experience: "It's been incredible. I couldn't rate it any better. I've had some tough jobs in previous careers but the atmosphere at Morning Live is just a different level. The executive team are fantastic!"

"I'm moving on to other opportunities now but I would love to go back at some point in a different role in the future."

Lyndon Saunders, Subject Group Head for Broadcast Media, said: "All the things Gethin highlighted, we see in Adam too. He came to us as a mature student having had a high flying career in retail.

"He was instantly brilliant but still needed to learn all things media production as it's rare to just 'switch jobs' and move to TV. So I love that, as a course and team of lecturers, we were able to work with Adam to enable his ambition to do this.

"Adam used his second year - where students have to make industry contacts and get work experience as part of their employability module - to begin his bright new career in TV. And once the BBC Morning Live opportunity came up, we knew it could fast become his job."

Banner image courtesy of Neil Sherwood/BBC

Image below is of Instagram post from Gethin Jones