FormatLab: meet the trainees

Abbie hails from Aberdeen where she completed a HND in Media. Realising her enthusiasm lay in the
challenge of creating radio and television content, she moved to the central belt to complete a
degree in TV and Radio Broadcast Production at the University of the West of Scotland. Whilst
studying, she assisted with the production of live broadcasts for St Mirren TV and Sky News during
the 2019 General Election. These experiences heightened her passion for media production and
confirmed this was the field she wanted to pursue a career in once graduated. Abbie has a particular
interest in light entertainment and live events.

Hannah moved to Glasgow in 2018 to study Television at City of Glasgow College after completing a
Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice. Hannah has an interest in comedy and entertainment and wants
to angle her career towards developing and casting entertaining returning formats. She is passionate
about uplifting the LGBTQ+ community, creating a more diverse TV industry and using her voice to
stand up for others. Hannah has created exciting and interesting student projects choosing stories
that empower POC, people who are transgender and women.

Malcolm graduated last year from the University of the West of Scotland with a degree in Broadcast
Production. After a year spent working in the third sector, he is ready to begin his TV career and
hopes to develop formats and entertainment programming that match his interests in quizzing and
reality competitions whilst also allowing him to explore his love of rural Scotland and how it could
be utilised for future Scottish productions.

Born in Canada, Kate moved to Glasgow in 2020 to complete a Masters in Television Fiction Writing.
She is currently part of Short Circuit’s Sharp Shorts Programme and is a playwright and script
editor. Also a performer and comedian, Kate brings her improvisation and passion for storytelling
with her to every role. She’s performed at Just for Laughs, the Edinburgh Fringe and is publishing a
book later this year about how Bruce Willis is (possibly) her dad. Kate constantly strives to create
community representation in order to tell the stories that need to be heard, From working on set to
producing television, Kate will never forget her goat farming roots and is always minutes away from
putting together a very nice cheese plate.

Isla moved to Ayr in 2017 to study Broadcast Production: TV and Radio at the University of West of
Scotland, graduating in 2021 with a First Class degree. She is a real telly addict with a particular
passion for entertainment and comedy and she completed her dissertation on Who Wants to be
a Millionaire? Isla has previously worked as a runner and camera assistant at COP26
and a results stinger for Sky News on the 2019 General Election night. She was proudly made a RTS
Bursary Scholar in 2017.

Prior to moving to Glasgow, Jordan lived in several locations including Leeds, Budapest, Valencia and
Toledo. After graduating with a Master’s Degree in Writing for Performance and Publication, Jordan
has been working on his skill as a writer ever since. With roles working as a writer for television
and film based website Ready Steady Cut. He had a self-written script receive a nomination for ‘Best
Role Written for a Male Lead’. He has past experience in academic writing and teaching.

Anna’s introduction to the world of TV was through acting. As a teenager she was cast in a BBC drama
and later performed at the National Theatre as part of their Connections Festival. At university she
studied English literature and French and travelled extensively across North America after
graduating. An avid quizzer, she loves obscure trivia and has been writing pub quizzes for the pas
five years. Since moving to Scotland she has worked as a sustainability researcher for a a
London-based advertising agency during COP26 and has most recently finished work on a feature film
in Glasgow.

As a graduate of Queen Margaret’s University and The Edinburgh Lighting and Sound School, Rhian
pursued a successful career in technical theatre before transitioning into the world of television,
where she connected leading global experts to broadcasters such as BBC, Sky News and Deutsche Walle.
This was a critical role during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic given the rise of misinformation
and unreliable sources. Her responsibilities extended to include the streaming of government
briefings to leading broadcasters and the remote delivery of primetime television shows. Having
tackled the hard-hitting and factual, Rhian is now changing gear and exploring her passion for using
television as a means to spread joy.