Alumni Spotlight: Eve Winstanley
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UWL alumni are everywhere, even if you don’t know it. Maybe you’re a fan of BBC show Strictly Come Dancing and its companion show It Takes Two, or Channel Four’s Naked Attraction. If you are, then you’ve seen the work of UWL alumnus Eve Winstanley, who served as their Executive Producer. Though that wasn’t the career she started out pursuing...
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I’d always had an interest in TV but my head of sixth form talked me out of it. She pushed me towards being a primary school teacher, so I applied for that and got places. I realised before I even got my results that I didn’t want to be a teacher, so I started looking for places in clearing.”
Eve needed to be in London for her degree, because she had a three-year-old daughter to care for at home. While studying Media Arts with Video Production, she was travelling home every night to be with her family.
I didn’t necessarily have a conventional university experience, but that degree did get me my entry into television. There used to be a big noticeboard outside the department, and it was two things off that board that introduced me to this world and showed me that I wanted to be a part of it.”
The first of these opportunities was testing games for a show hosted by Ant and Dec at Ealing Studios. The other was answering telephones for the National Lottery programme, which saw her sat on television behind presenter Simon Mayo.
Celador, the company that produced the lottery show offered her a job straight after university, which is how Eve wound up working at the head office at quiz show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
I hadn’t done any running. All my stuff had been bits of work experience while I was at uni. So, while you’re studying, if you can, you should be getting as much experience as possible. In those early days, it was all about timing and luck, without those connections I never would have ended up where I did.”
While working at Celador, Eve found herself a key witness in a national media scandal when Major Charles Ingram was accused of cheating his way to winning one million pounds. As a researcher on the night, Eve was right at the centre of the drama and even earned herself a mention in Chris Tarrant’s autobiography!
Over three years working for Celador, Eve moved around a lot, working on several shows and picking up a range of experience.
You have to be willing to do whatever needs doing. That’s working in TV, you just have to be resilient, robust and willing to ask questions. Sometimes, production staff are brought in the week before the show starts, and you need to be ready to get going straight away.”
Working on Millionaire set Eve down a path that has been dominated by entertainment shows, usually filmed in front of an audience, and involving members of the public. While she loves all manner of television shows, from factual documentaries to fictional dramas, she thinks she’s comfortable in her niche.
It’s very easy to get pigeonholed into particular areas, but I do love making entertainment shows. I’ve gone down that route, so it is hard to move into something like The Traitors, which I would love to do. I think I’d do a good job, but that’s not what I’m known for. Entertainment, working in the studio and producing live TV, that’s what I like doing. There’s nothing quite like live telly.”
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In particular, Eve has found a home on It Takes Two.
It’s rare to find a position like that. I keep coming back because I love it. Then Covid happened, which made me a bit more grateful for having a secure job with really nice people. That was probably the only plus point with Covid.”
Beginning as an assistant producer on It Takes Two, Eve held five different roles across fifteen series of the show, eventually rising to the position of Executive Producer.
I’m very much a hands-on producer. I’m there day to day, on that one show, getting stuck in and making the show with my series producer. I’ve also done a bit of commissioning, which is a different thing where you’re giving advice and notes.”
Speaking of advice, we asked Eve what guidance she can offer to anyone wanting to make it as a television producer.
You need to start at the bottom. You might be interested in editing for example, but you need to start as a runner, make tea and work your way up. Be humble and make contacts as you move up the ladder.
How do you do that? Watch a lot of television, but make sure you’re watching stuff you wouldn’t necessarily think you’re interested in. Educate yourself in what’s out there. Look at the credits and get in touch with people and tell them how much you love their show.
Then, remember that this is the toughest industry to get into. It’s important to rely on your contacts. You never know what job someone is going to offer you. So, stay in touch with people in case an opportunity comes up.”
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