After growing up in Blackburn, a local woman shares how she landed herself a career working on popular TV shows from across the globe.

Charlotte Vickers, 35, is a TV producer from Blackburn and after working her way up the career ladder, is eager to support any locals aspiring to work in the industry.

The former Westholme School student has carved a successful career as a producer and is currently working on the new season of Love Island, 8,000 miles away in South Africa.

By sharing how she was able to break into the industry, Charlotte hopes to inspire other people to do the same – regardless of any barriers people may face.

She said: “It is a competitive industry but I worked really hard and have been fortunate enough to have worked with some great people who have mentored me throughout my career.

“I hope I can do the same for others starting out in the industry, especially anyone from my area.”

Research carried out by We Are Doc Women, a peer support group for women working in television, found that post-production in TV is an area where women are “grossly underrepresented” but Charlotte was still able to achieve a successful career.

Charlotte added: “I’ve worked with some extremely talented and successful women who have mentored me throughout my career.

“Seeing them succeed is inspiring. I think it’s really important that women have a space and voice within the industry.

"I hope I can encourage and mentor other women who want to get into TV or are at the beginning of their careers."

Addressing anyone eager to work in TV, the senior producer on Love Island said: “Be prepared to work hard and to work your way up.

“I started off as a runner and this gave me the opportunity to learn about the industry and how different shows work and really hone my craft.

“At the beginning persistence is key. It’s a competitive industry so don’t be disheartened if you don’t hear back from jobs you’re applying for. Once you get your foot in the door you can make contacts and secure future jobs.

“A lot of TV is about networking so you want to leave a great impression on every job you do.”

After leaving high school, Charlotte went onto study Theatre Studies at Liverpool John Moores University.

Since then, she has worked on various entertainment shows including The Graham Norton Show, The Jonathan Ross Show, Celebs Go Dating, Made In Chelsea, and Celebrity Juice before she started working on series seven of Love Island in 2021.

Speaking on her favourite parts of her job, Charlotte said: “I like that you work on a show for a few weeks or months and then move onto a different show. It keeps things interesting and you’re always learning something new, meeting new people and being challenged.

“I’ve had the opportunity to produce amazing talent. For example, on The Graham Norton Show I produced stars such as Tom Cruise, Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling

“It’s exciting to be working on shows that your family, friends and the nation are watching and enjoying.”

Charlotte is currently working on the newest series of Love Island which airs at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.