HNC HEARS FROM ITV: CREATIVE MEDIA STUDENTS EXPLORE CAREERS IN TV
19.03.2026Applied Creative Digital Media (Digital Film and Video) students at HNC recently discovered more about the world of Scripted Programming in a fascinating guest lecture delivered by ITV’s Director of Scripted Programming, Matt Cleary, who shared more about his role at the UK’s oldest and largest commercial television network.
Creative Digital Media (Digital Film and Video) is a hands-on course that equips students with the knowledge, skills and techniques required to progress to a career in the creative media industry. In a recent guest lecture, students from the course welcomed ITV’s Director of Scripted Programming, Matt Cleary, for an enlightening lecture that explored the role of scripted programmes on TV, and the different routes into the industry.
The session focused on Matt’s role at ITV, and the different areas of the channel he oversees as the Director of Scripted Programming – from long running soap operas Emmerdale and Coronation Street to Mr Bates vs The Post Office, the dramatisation of the Post Office’s Horizon scandal. The group also learned more about how programming decisions are made and the challenges the industry faces, from getting a show from script to screen to the impact that AI is having on the traditional TV industry.
Matt also shared more about the wider industry and the routes that students can take, including ITV’s own trainee programme, ITV Academy, which offers a variety of entry level apprenticeships and training schemes across the channel. At the end of the session, students had the opportunity to ask Matt questions, gaining a valuable insight into working in television, and how they too could progress to a similar career.
Visiting industry experts are just one of the ways in which we inspire our students’ progression plans. Sam Carrick, Teacher of Creative Digital Media, shares more “Students studying at HNC have the opportunity to engage with a brilliant range of experiences that see them develop their understanding of the options available to them beyond HNC. In this fascinating guest lecture, our Creative Digital Media students heard from ITV’s Director of Scripted Programming, Matt Cleary, who shared more about his role at ITV. This was an opportunity to gain a genuine insight into working in the world of TV, and the different routes available to them after they complete their Level 3 studies – including the apprenticeship and training opportunities on offer at ITV. Thank you to Matt for sharing his expertise with us and for inspiring the next generation of TV and Film makers!”
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