After an eventful journey in to London Gatwick Airport from my home in Jersey, I made it to my family’s house in Essex where I would be staying for the next few days. I was in London to have a days work experience at BBC Television Centre, and by fate choose one of the most remarkable days in BBC, and indeed British journalism history.

I was quite anxious as I said good bye to my family and made my way to the railway station in order for me to get to White City – on the tube I kept thinking about what the people would be like, you often here that it’s the most famous people that can have diva-like tantrums – I hoped not!

I arrived at TVC quite early and approached the main desk in the building that was damaged by the bomb that was detonated outside TVC some years ago. I explained who I had too see and that I was early and the lady asked to see my BBC pass, as I had to have one for my work at BBC Jersey and Lincolnshire.

I asked if I could go to the BBC shop and she showed me the way. The doors were security doors guarded by burly security guards. I must have looked a fool as I was unaware that my BBC id card also acted as key, so that I could get ‘tele side’. I killed some time in the BBC shop and in the restaurant. I noticed on BBC News 24 that Greg Dyke had resigned. I already knew it was a colourful day to go their as Gavyn Davis had resigned the night before, indeed my family and I jested about it at dinner the night before.

Edward Sault

I went back down to main reception and outside was a sea of people, initially I thought they were protesting at the BBC, but it was not until the lovely lady, Elaine, who is PA to Roger Mosey (Head of BBC TV news) told me they were actually BBC staff – the crowds got bigger and we watched in awe at the support that was exalted. Police arrived to keep back to protestor so that the traffic and public could go about their business.

Elaine took me up to the famous newsroom, my stomach was churning with nervousness – I saw reporters that I had looked up to for years. I was taken to the Six O Clock news section and met all the editors etc there. I was shocked to see that the presenter, Sophie Raworth was pregnant and that the presenters were real people, stupid sounding I know! Everyone was so welcoming and interested in hearing about my degree and work at other BBC offices.

I told them that one day I hoped to end up at TVC they said I was mad! Again, We passed a joke about the action that was going on outside. I was invited to an off the record news meeting with the head of news, again a welcoming gentleman and the editors of all the BBC News programmes on television (The Six, The One, The Ten, Breakfast, BBC N24, BBC 4 news, BBC 3 news, Liquid News, World News) a mass of people all discussing the programmes ahead.

I went back into the newsroom and watched and shadowed the presenters and the editorial team. Everyone rushed to the huge glass windows to see a gathering mass of people outside. Suddenly rumour spread that Greg himself would be coming to television centre – everyone was very excited! He did - people swamped the former DG and then we watched the televisions of BBC News 24 to see what else was going on outside.

He came into the newsroom and spoke about the circumstances, and was greeted by a river of applause. I felt so privileged to be caught up in the moment! There was an electrical buzz ripping thought the TVC newsroom, everyone asking what was going on, who could not see everything.

After a while everything calmed own and I was invited in to the gallery to see the programme being put out, again the gallery team were very accommodating and welcoming. The top story was the latest in the Hutton Fallout and the presenters and gallery crew discussed the camera angles and who would say what, Similarly to Channel Television, where I had been at work the week before the six team practised the headlines and the titles.

It was so electric in the gallery, the director exhaling the words, “Sophie Go! George Go! Regions Go!” There was a problem outside TVC, the idea was to have media correspondent Nick Higham to do a live outside broadcast from the front of the news centre but the picture kept breaking up annoying one member of the team!

As the programme ran and the team went about their business I really wanted to ask for a job there and then! We had a de brief about the programme and the ritual watching of ITV’s headlines was done in order to keep a check on the stories that may have slipped through their fingers!

I said thank you to the team and made my way out of the building that I long to work in. Outside ironically, there was an ITN OB truck with reporter Harry Smith preparing to do a live OB about the ‘BBC in Crisis’.

As I got on the tube back to my family’s house I felt extremely satisfied and looked forward to what the future may bring.