Channel 4 revive student trainee programme for Joe Lycett late-night show

Channel 4 have today announced the return of the hugely successful Trainee Programme on the second series of Late Night Lycett, which returns this spring.

Award-winning comedian Joe Lycett and Rumpus Media have joined forces with the broadcaster to offer West Midlands talent the chance to work in television.

The scheme opens for applications today (26 January) and offers paid production trainee roles to individuals over the age of 19 from all backgrounds, who live in the areas of Birmingham, Coventry and the wider West Midlands, providing opportunities to work in the creative industries.

Lycett returns to broadcasting live from his hometown of Birmingham for six weeks with his Friday night show this spring. The series, which has inclusivity and fun at its heart, sees the comedian joined by a mix of local legends and LGBTQ+ heroes and allies, alongside celebrities and big-name guests from the worlds of comedy, television, music and film.

Following the phenomenal response to the first scheme which attracted more than 1,000 applications, Rumpus Media and Channel 4’s training and development arm 4Skills are looking for bright and ambitious new talent to join the Late Night Lycett production scheme ahead of the series launch.

Applicants need no previous experience or special qualifications. The scheme is funded by 4Skills and is also supported by Create Central, Solihull College, Film Birmingham and Rumpus Media.

“Part of an ongoing commitment to nurture the next generation of talent and providing employment in the TV industry in Birmingham, the first trainee scheme, running through production of the debut series of Late Night Lycett last year, resulted in 26 trainees,” a channel spokesperson confirmed.

“It saw a combination of roles created across the production on full-time and part-time bases, including four full-time roles placed in the production and editorial teams across a six-week period, with other part time roles provided across the camera, sound and art departments. There were also a number of runners who assisted in their chosen departments for a day.

Channel 4

“Following completion of the scheme a number of trainees went on to take up roles in other Midlands based TV programmes. In addition, all trainees have been invited to return to work on series two of Late Night Lycett.”

The successful applicants will each be offered an exciting paid trainee role, giving them a fantastic launchpad for a potential career in the world of television production.

Throughout the production the trainees will work directly with a mentor from Rumpus Media. Each role will be focused on different areas of production in the editorial, production, technical and art departments as they help support the launch and weekly broadcast of Late Night Lycett.

They will also have access to the wider Create Central Bootcamp Alumni network, an industry body that aims to turbo-charge the West Midlands creative content sector.

Entertainer Joe Lycett said: “I loved many things about the first series of Late Night Lycett, but this trainee scheme was my absolute favourite part of it.

“I love Birmingham and I love Brummies, so to see so many of them go on to further work in the industry makes me extraordinarily happy, and I can’t wait to do it all again this spring.”

Kevin Blacoe, Channel 4’s Head of Partnerships & Skills, said: “The Late Night Lycett’s development scheme offers brilliant opportunities for people in Birmingham to break into the broadcast industry regardless of their background and 4Skills is proud to provide the bulk of the funding to support this programme.”

Sophie Jolly, Creative Bootcamp Manager at Solihull College & University Centre, said: “Our partnership with the acclaimed series Late Night Lycett is an exciting venture to empower individuals in their pursuit of a career in television production. Our training programme is designed to equip aspiring talent with essential skills and the confidence to succeed in the expanding local television industry. We’re fully committed to supporting and nurturing their journey to supercharge their career.”

Late Night Lycett is a co-production between Rumpus Media and My Options Were Limited, commissioned by Phil Harris, Channel 4 Head of Entertainment, alongside Steven Handley and Tom Beck, Channel 4 Commissioning Editors.

Applications for the scheme are open until Friday 2 February 2024, anyone interested should email: [email protected].

Interviews will take place in Birmingham on Thursday 15 and Friday 16 February, and the successful applicants will begin the scheme in late March 2024.