Edinburgh-born Gail Porter is world-famous for several reasons, including her work as a TV presenter, her high-profile personal life and, of course, for once being broadcast onto the side of the Houses of Parliament wearing nothing but a smile. In recent years though she’s been known as much for her hair loss, as she has her work projects which have recently included managing bands and even stand-up! For a career as varied as Porter’s it’s clear you need a qualification that prepares you for anything and Porter says her BTEC HND in Media Production has been a solid background.
“I was always really good at school! They used to call me Snobby Porter because I used to put my hand up all the time and I’d always get the questions right! You know those kids who say, “Oh, me Miss!” and I’d get all the school prizes and things. I think if I’d not have been me I’d have wanted to punch me!”
“My mum was worried that I was going to rebel when I was 13, but I stayed pretty good really but then when I hit 17 I went off the rails! By then I was at West Hertfordshire College doing a BTEC HND in Media Production.”
Porter says that despite not being the greatest of students during her time studying the BTEC at college, the freedom that the course gave her to pursue her own interests meant that she could stay engaged.
“When I was at college I’d go to Manchester for a weekend and not go back for about three weeks! I’d get a phone call from the college saying, “If you’re not doing the course you’re going to drop out.” and I’d say “Oh I’d better go back, no more Hacienda for me on a Friday night!”
“The tutors on the course were really good and I was very lucky really because if I’d have been dealing with me at that age I’d have been pulling my hair out, which is ironic really! Maybe losing my hair is just karma! I think because we were media students, when we were saying we’ve got to go off and study rave culture for three weeks as part of the course they sort of let you get on with it!”
Fortunately, as well as having understanding tutors, the course also contained a broad curriculum that prepared Porter for a subsequent career that would take in music, film, radio and TV.
“We did everything on the course, from radio work, film and TV editing, I did lots of photography, TV studio work, script work and we spent a long time analysing films. It’s a really good course to give you that introduction to so many different areas and it was definitely useful when I was working later.”
“When I first got my job running, it was mostly making tea and people sending it back because it’s only got one sugar, that sort of thing. So I used to hang around in the edit suites where they were very technical, but because of the HND, if someone said “Go and use the rostrum camera” I knew what they were talking about.”
When it comes to the current school-leaver generation, Porter says that the key to getting ahead is to start by getting the right sort of qualifications, but also by applying some good old-fashioned hard work to the situation.
“I’d say that it’s important to do the courses, but as well as that never, ever stop applying for jobs. I applied for jobs constantly while I was at college. I’ve still got files and files of rejection letters! I got a rejection letter from Chris Evans from when he was at Virgin and he rejected me. Later when he asked me to be on TFI and I took the rejection letter and said, “Who’s laughing now, eh Evans?””
“I knew though that I just wanted to work in TV and films, so I never stopped. I bought a book called The Knowledge which had every address of all the production companies and it cost me about £100, which is a lot of beer when you’re a student! And I wrote personal letters to everyone I applied to. I think they noticed the difference that it wasn’t just a generic, “I think your work is great, please give me a job,” sort of letter.
“I remember I wrote to the Comic Strip and sent them photos of my hands in loads of different positions to show them how versatile my hands could be! I think they thought I was insane! Later I met Peter Richardson completely by chance and because I’m immune to embarrassment I spoke to him and said, “Hi! It’s me, Gail, the one with the bendy hands, can I get a job?” He looked completely shocked but he said yes!”
So, if you were wondering how to get a foothold in the strongly-competitive media world, it seems the answer could be that it’s up to you to show how you can turn your hands to anything! As for the current generation of students who are sometimes left feeling that uni is the only answer, Porter says it’s important to make your own decisions.
“I feel sorry for kids in that situation because I know you get people saying, “You have to go there,” and “You have to do this” and it’s not true. Some of the most successful people I’ve met have just travelled and never been near a uni. What you do is a personal choice and as long as you don’t feel pressurised, you can do what you want to do.”
“Take advice from the people who care about you, but the worst thing you could do is start something just because someone else wants you to and end up wasting your time. It’s your decision, don’t feel pressured. There’s enough time to be feel pressured when you get a mortgage! As for me I’m not sure what the future holds, I think I’m currently having a mid-life crisis! I’m dating a 25-year-old, managing a band and doing some stand-up but I’m enjoying myself!”
