The Graft: Recent Episodes
Emma Williams and Francine Jordan
Presented by former showbiz journalists Emma Williams and Francine Jordan, hear from some of the biggest names in media, from celebrity publicists and radio producers to red carpet reporters and TV runners, as they break down their big breaks and reveal all about the graft behind their ‘glamourous’ careers so far.
As an experienced Video Journalist, Jemma Cox has seen her career take her all over the world - literally! But it hasn't been an easy ride. From working as a press photographer at her local paper, to spending weeks in unknown parts of Antarctica. What does it take to make it as a top camerawomen in an industry dominated by men?
How did Bela Shah manage to go from running an imaginary radio station in her bedroom to fronting one of the UK's most popular TV channels? With a lot of graft, of course! Hear from Bela as she describes her epic career change from ITV lawyer to Sky Sports News superstar!
Bursting with charisma with an impressive resume to match, Curtis Sharkey has done it all! From touring with bands to leading campaigns with Sony Music and Island Records. But just how did 15-year-old Curtis turn a passion for rock music into a lifelong career? And is hanging backstage with rock legends really as amazing as it sounds?
Whether it’s walking talent down the red carpet, hosting press photoshoots, creating cool content or organising trips abroad… being an entertainment publicist is what dreams are made of, right? Former MTV Publicist Catherine Hunter knows what it takes to make it to the top in the industry. She reveals what life is really like behind the scenes and between the scandals!
From flying high in Lord Sugar’s boardroom to camping in the Canadian wilderness or travelling around the world with Travels with My Father, there’s no doubt Senior TV Producer Katie Clarke has one of the most enviable jobs in the industry. But how did she get there? And why is it so important to ‘fake it till you make it’ in the scary world of telly?
Whether he’s bringing you the latest action pitch-side, interviewing West End stars or driving the desk on his own radio show, Lewis Mason has made a career out of his multiple interests and talents. But when the pandemic struck, Lewis learnt quickly to pivot and persevere. He explains what it was like working as a freelancer in unprecedented times.
Lucy Jayne Ford is a force to be reckoned with and knows what hard work looks like! While her first taste of the media industry involved researching nail salons (for free, of course), it wasn’t long before she was working the red carpet and going viral (twice!) with THAT interview with Reese Witherspoon.
There isn’t a celebrity out there who Sinead Garvan hasn’t met and her infectious laugh is a staple of Grimmy’s BBC Radio 1 show -- but her journalism journey didn’t start at Newsbeat. She tells us all about landing her dream job in music journalism, the reality of junket interviews and how to prioritise your happiness and health in the burn-out world of media.
Hello and welcome to The Graft with your hosts Emma Williams and Francine Jordan. Each week, we 'll be grilling some of our media mates that we’ve made over the years and talk all things careers, interviews, work and just how they’ve got to the job they’re in today. We'll also hear first hand how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the industry and what the future holds for budding media wannabes.