Lights, Camera, Learning: UCA Students work with comedy legends at Maidstone Studios

Working at Maidstone Studios alongside industry mentors gave me a huge confidence boost. It’s shown me that I can do this as a career, not just as a course project,” said Adam Birtwistle, first-year student.

Hosted and produced by UCA students who are studying Television Production, the event featured comedy legends that included Ed Bye, director and producer on Bottom, Red Dwarf, and Vicar of Dibley; Rob Grant, writer, director, and producer on Red Dwarf and Spitting Image; and Paul Jackson, director and producer on The Young Ones and The Two Ronnies.

“It was a totally professional production on all fronts,” commented Paul Jackson.

Filmed in Maidstone’s flagship Studio 1, students were guided by comedy greats on the panel, industry mentors Graham Hutchings and Keith Stewart, and supported during rehearsals and the live show by Funny Hands Media.

Katarina Sengstaken, Senior Lecturer, said: “Working on Comedy Relics showed our students that they don’t just belong in the TV industry – they can lead it. By combining hands-on production experience with sustainability, they’ve gained the confidence, resilience, and awareness that today’s media landscape demands.”

The production also embedded sustainability into the making of the show by following BAFTA albert principles, which encouraged students to think critically about greener approaches to media-making.

The full recording of Comedy Relics is now available to watch on YouTube.

To learn more about studying TV Production at UCA, visit the course pages.