Three months inside the BBC: what my secondment was really like

In October 2025, I started a three-month secondment at the BBC. From the moment I walked into Broadcasting House, I knew it was going to be a special experience; there’s something about that iconic curved building that makes it feel like you’re stepping right into the heart of live news.

My first week set the tone for everything that followed: fast-paced, varied, and often intense. I spent my first couple of days in London, contributing to stories on high-impact, sensitive topics. Not exactly light work, but incredibly important.

The variety was broad and never stopped. One day I’d be looking at fly-tipping in Wales, the next, trying to make sense of a spreadsheet in Polish about pollutants in Kraków (definitely one where I needed expert help…) or working on ONS data on the motherhood penalty. A striking statistic that stayed with me was that mothers lose over £60k in earnings over the five years after having their first child, compared with their earnings before becoming a parent.

There were plenty of lessons day-to-day, especially on reshuffling priorities for emergencies and figuring out what matters to audiences. Three experiences particularly stood out to me.

The newsroom

The newsroom was everything you’d imagine. Having a 24-hour news channel playing out right in front of you never got old – there was always something happening around you. At times, it felt slightly surreal. I even had a moment of déjà vu, watching BBC News on a flight home from holiday, then returning to work on Monday and sitting next to the same presenter I’d just seen on screen.

The pace

Nothing quite prepares you for the pace of the BBC.

I got to sit in the gallery during a live broadcast of ‘World at One’ on BBC Radio 4, and it was incredible to see how everything runs down to the second, while still adapting constantly to live guests and breaking developments. At one point, the Wi-Fi went down mid-show. Instead of chaos, the team calmly switched to old-school methods of printing scripts and physically running them into the studio. It was impressive to watch people operate under that kind of pressure without missing a beat.

One of the things that struck me most during this time was seeing how quickly a newsroom reacts to breaking news. What started as a whisper across the office rapidly became the main focus of everyone’s attention. Suddenly, reporters were heading out and teams were reshuffling priorities, delivering at the last minute. Yet there was no panic, just total confidence that everything would land on time. It did.

The people

The people made the experience.

I worked with some incredibly talented individuals, including Robert Cuffe, who somehow manages to juggle a hugely demanding role while still being supportive, approachable, and endlessly knowledgeable.

The wider team brought a level of energy and enthusiasm that was genuinely infectious and made it exciting to walk into the office each day.

And yes, there were a few “celebrity moments” too. Lunch breaks often turned into casual people watching – either in Nero or up on the eighth floor outside BBC Radio 1. You quickly realise just how many familiar faces pass through the building.

During Live Lounge month, the atmosphere stepped up another level. Crowds of fans gathered outside daily, hoping to catch a glimpse of their favourite artists – Louis Tomlinson definitely drew one of the biggest.

Final reflections

One of the most interesting aspects of the secondment was seeing how the BBC reports on itself. Watching that balance between editorial independence and organisational proximity play out was genuinely fascinating.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely.

The secondment gave me a completely new perspective, not just on how news is made, but on how data, storytelling, and decision-making come together under real pressure. It challenged me, surprised me, and gave me experiences I wouldn’t get anywhere else.

If you’re considering applying, do it. You won’t regret it.