Sunderland student has the X Factor
Released: Friday 19th October 2012 at 11:44
A SINGLE mum from Sunderland has proved she’s got the X Factor after impressing top media professionals behind the scenes on one of Britain’s biggest television shows.
Carley Armstrong has been working on the X Factor all summer after completing her second year studying media production at the University of Sunderland.
While working on the show the 22-year-old, from Hendon, travelled the UK helping show bosses discover the next Leona Lewis or One Direction. Carley’s role was essential as a “logger” for the day to day filming of the X Factor, deciding the best camera angles and eventually broadcast to the nation.
During her daily tasks she also got to rub shoulders with the panel of celebrity judges including Gary Barlow, Nicole Scherzinger, Geri Halliwell as well as boyband and previous X Factor runners up JLS.
However, despite the offer to stay on for the X Factor live finals, she was unable to continue working on the show because of her parenting duties, travel costs and finishing her University course this year.
But her dedication, hard work and enthusiasm to the programme paid off as television producers have now put her forward to work on the next series of Britain’s Got talent in the New Year.
She said: “I was star struck meeting Gary Barlow and had to remind myself of where I was a lot of the time. It felt so surreal that a single mum from Hendon could rub shoulders with these people, but I didn't really feel so out of place as I have a long list of celebrities I have met from many shows.
“The people I looked up to more than the celebrities were the crew, especially the producers. I watched their every move and made notes on everything so one day, hopefully the skills I picked up during the series by the people I was in contact with, will come in handy.”
Carley’s role was essential for the day to day filming of the X Factor as she decided what was going to filmed and broadcast to the nation. The staff were so impressed by her work that when the camera crews and researchers were needed to work elsewhere, she was handed their roles.
Despite not having the best start in life after falling in with the “wrong crowd” as a teenager, Carley is determined to succeed and become a successful woman in the media industry. She has previously worked on Channel 4 shows and the BBC and continues to impress those she works with because of her skills, enthusiasm and determination.
And it was not just work contacts she made while working on the X Factor, Carley is now good friends with current finalist Christopher Maloney from Liverpool, who won the hearts of the nation following his first audition. However, it is odds-on favourite Ella Henderson who Carley has tipped to win the competition.
Carley says she is grateful that the University has given her the chance to turn around her life and equip her with the skills necessary to make an impact on one of UK’s biggest television shows and working with the best in the industry.
She said: “The skills I’m learning at the university have definitely helped me while working on the X Factor. I knew how to approach the role and how to stand out above the rest and make a lasting impression. The contacts I made and the way I used them has ultimately resulted in the life-changing experiences I have had on the X Factor.”
A further three current University of Sunderland students have also helped bring the X Factor to the public’s living rooms. Rebecca Clark, Kevin Clift and Melissa Wills all worked as runners on the show making sure that everything was in place for the production team and filming crew to capture every key moment.
Graeme Thompson, Dean of the University of Sunderland's Faculty of Arts, Design and Media, said: “We are delighted our students and graduates are in demand to work on the UK's biggest television shows. We have developed excellent relationships with broadcasters and production companies to enable students to have relevant work placements as part of their University studies. In many cases, the relationships established during these placements can lead to real jobs and opportunities following graduation.”