After starting out as a runner across a variety of different types of shows, Jack Dinslay has most recently made the step up to work as a researcher on Loose Women. He shares his journey in television, tips to pass on and what the jump is like from a runner to a researcher. 

Working in television is something that people dream of doing, but for Jack that dream became a reality when he began working for Newsround in his third year studying Journalism, having originally pitched for a placement with them at a university careers event. 

From placement to job: 

“I had one day of placement, then it turned into two placements and then it turned into a job. 

“It was a dream come true! Everyone watches Newsround growing up and being able to pitch to them about a topic that was passionate to me was incredible. 

To get that placement and then to develop it into a job, it was a whirlwind but I loved it!” 

Newsround marked the beginning of a varied career in TV, which included working on Naked Attraction, Countdown, and, more recently, Loose Women. 

“It was never the plan to do a variety because I just wanted to keep working in TV.” 

That variety stemmed from an unexpected early opportunity. 

After originally signing up to do a Masters in TV Production just after the pandemic, Jack was offered a two-week job at the BBC for Children’s in a Unit Runner Job. 

“They would ship me onto different TV shows. One day I’d be working on Justin’s House, the next on Class Dismissed, the next on Blue Peter. They would put me anywhere they needed someone and I liked that variety.” 

The step from runner to junior researcher 

On the typical production ladder, the next step up from runner would be a junior researcher, a role that Jack undertook. 

Jack was working on Countdown as a runner and was speaking to his boss about his dream to work as a researcher. Within two hours, Jack was offered a junior researcher role on Countdown. 

“He said to me ‘I heard what you had to say and I believed in you’ which was brilliant! 

“I got to interview people on the phone for Countdown, I even got to play Countdown on the phone too” 

Becoming a researcher 

“The jump was hefty!” 

The next step up came when Jack grabbed a dream opportunity to work on Loose Women as a researcher. 

“My job was interviewing all of the guests. When I got anyone from the soap world that was my good day!” 

“Having that natural knowledge of soaps, dramas, sport, whatever it is, have something you are specialised in because the office will rely on you for that. 

“Having that legal knowledge too, because when you’re briefing someone when they go out on air you need to know how things work with OFCOM.” 

Working on Loose Women 

“I turned 25 when the show turned 25, that in itself was quite a pinch-me moment. I got to work on the 25th-anniversary episode with the Jane McDonald.” 

“It was super fast-paced. It was Monday, I blinked, then it was the following Monday!” 

There are over 20 different panellists that sit on the Loose Women panel, so Jack surely had his favourites. 

“I loved working with Judi Love, we just bounced off each other so well. Mylene Klass, she’s a class act. 

Another one of the panellists Jack particularly enjoyed working with was Brenda Edwards. 

Brenda had just joined Loose Women in 2019 when Jack undertook a placement opportunity. 

“Brenda was quite a highlight, it was quite surreal to see how far I’d come.” 

Claims to fame: 

With working on so many different shows, Jack has his fair share of claim to fame. 

“I worked on a show called Hot Wheels and I’m a massive wrestling fan and I got to look after Big E from WWE. I even got free tickets to one of the Smackdown events because they said I did such a good job looking after him.” 

“I worked on Naked Attraction. It was a very weird show, but they looked after every single contestant and crew with the utmost respect. I’m very proud to have worked on that. 

Tips for those aspiring: 

“It’s long hours. You have to have that ability to ask questions, have that willingness because there’s no such thing as a silly question.

“Network! Get people’s emails, get people’s phone numbers, and keep in touch with them and keep those contacts going. 

“We’re not saving lives, TV is fun. We get to do something that not many people will ever do in their lifetime.” 

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