Frances Beckerleg
e-mail: fbeckerleg@yahoo.co.uk
mobile: 0771 257 9891
An efficient and conscientious researcher, I love looking into fascinating subjects, interviewing
interesting people and making something visually exciting at the end of it. It’s important to have fun
as well as get the job done! I enjoy the challenge of delivering on a tight schedule in a dynamic
situation; contingency planning, last-minute changes and expecting the unexpected! My language
skills and knowledge of other cultures come in handy when organising overseas shoots – something
I’m keen to gain more experience of in future roles.
EMPLOYMENT
April 2014 – May 2014 Blink Films RESEARCHER Brain (PBS and BBC)
Set up locations in the US. Cleared music rights. Gained access to key contributors. Wrote science
research notes and interview questions. Cast actors for drama reconstruction in Houston. Researched
archive stills and footage.
December 2013 – March 2014 October Films RESEARCHER You Have Been Warned
(Discovery)
Found UGC material and cleared it, wrote science script notes, set up US based shoots.
November 2013 – December 2013 BBC Science RESEARCHER Horizon
Development of new series.
October 2013 – November 2013 BBC Science RESEARCHER Infested
Organised shoots including permits and logistics. Researched script material. Found props, locations,
experts, images and contributors. Shooting on Canon 305.
January 2011 – June 2013 PRESENTER, NATIONS AND REGIONS BBC Weather
Provided TV and radio weather forecasts on ad hoc basis covering leave and sickness.
July 2011 – June 2013 PRODUCER OPERATIONS AND MULTIMEDIA BBC Weather
Responsible for day-to-day running of BBC Weather. Included ensuring broadcasts went to tx,
scheduling, health and safety, structuring of shifts, contingency planning, line-managing two assistant
producers and a researcher, managing team of duty producers, editorial for online AV. Also in charge
of social media including @bbcweather twitter account and the editorial and science aspects of the
BBC Weather website. Responsible for strategy in both these areas. Organised biggest ever Weather
OB live from Lund Point for 3 weeks during the Olympic Games. Project-managed the move of 24/7
broadcasting from Television Centre to New Broadcasting House.
January 2010 – May 2010 OPERATIONS PRODUCER BBC Weather
Was responsible for day-to-day running of the BBC Weather Centre. Included scheduling, health and
safety, structuring of shifts, contingency planning, line-managing two assistant producers, managing
team of duty producers.
December 2009 – May 2011 ASSISTANT PRODUCER The Weather Show
Produced presenter-led content (approx 3’00” sequences) for The Weather Show on the BBC News
Channel. Generated story ideas, researched scientific content, storyboarded, wrote scripts,
commissioned graphics, produced the presenter.
October 2006 – June 2011 DUTY PRODUCER BBC Weather
Responsible for output of BBC Weather whilst on shift. Included identifying the weather story of the
day, commissioning graphics, tailoring weather broadcasts to different audiences, managing the team
of presenters on shift, ensuring the story was consistent across all platforms, identifying weather
stories for online AV content.
October 2006 – November 2006 EDITOR Nature Podcasts
Edited the Nature podcast from raw interviews.
June – September 2006, March – November 2007 PRODUCER/PRESENTER – Cilgwyn Theatre
Company
Produced two series of podcasts for the Cilgwyn Theatre Company. Identified the stories and
strongest contributors, researched background information, interviewed, edited.
April 2006 – June 2006 REPORTER The Naked Scientists BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
Produced reports for weekly science magazine programme. Generated story ideas and identified
suitable contributors, interviewed and edited.
January 2006 REPORTER Audiomedica
Identified medical stories and produced reports for podcast on www.audiomedica.com
September 2004 – RUNNER Rolf on Art ‘The Big Event’
Set-up at the beginning of the OB, looked after contributing artists, managed public section,
transported paintings during live broadcast.
October 2002 – March 2003 FREELANCE RESEARCHER
As a result of work on What the Tudors/Stuarts Did For Us, was invited to do freelance research
assisting Nick Barratt (family historian on ‘Who do you think you are’) with various projects including
BBC Science ‘Seven Wonders of the Industrial World’.
September 2002 RESEARCHER BBC Holiday – You Call the Shots
Identified potential viewer stories from calls.
July 2002- August 2002 WORK PLACEMENT BBC Specialist Factual What the Tudors and
Stuarts Did For Us
Researched historical material and locations, sourced and transported props, assisted on shoots,
logged VT and shot on DV. Worked with presenter Adam Hart-Davis to ensure smooth running of
shoots.
April 2002 WORK PLACEMENT BBC Natural History Unit Toyota World of Wildlife
Researched script notes, identified archive and transported tapes.
February - October 2002 RESEARCHER BBC Radio 4 Check-up
Screened contributors to the show and prepared them for the on-air discussions.
2001-2002 IC Radio RESEARCHER/REPORTER/PRESENTER
During Masters degree at Imperial worked on and presented a weekly magazine programme on the
college radio station, IC Radio, for which won ‘Best Speech-Based Factual Programme’ at the
Student Radio Awards.
NON-BROADCAST EXPERIENCE
March 2003 – November 2005 RESEARCH COORDINATOR Action on Addiction
Managed the charity’s research projects into the causes of and potential treatments for addiction.
Publicised the work of the charity through writing and selling in press releases, and providing
contributors and statistics for media. Was instrumental in the design of a new website. Wrote a
research strategy for the charity, involving consultation of over 1500 stakeholders. Acted as liaison
between the charity and the heads of research in government departments.
September 1999 – August 2000 CONSERVATION ASSISTANT English Nature
Looked after Protected Species casework, as well as liaising with landowners and managers of Sites
of Special Scientific Interest. Ran a project researching the potential effects of the ‘Right to Roam’
legislation on the rare wildlife of the South Pennine Moors.
EDUCATION
2001-2002 Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
MSc Science Communication
1997-2001 University of Manchester
BSc (Hons) Biology with Industrial Experience (2:1)
PERSONAL DETAILS
Nationality: British
Driving licence: Full, held since 1996
REFERENCES
Ruth McCarthy
October Films
Lymehouse Studios
30/31 Lyme Street
London
NW1 0EE
020 7284 6868
Helen Conlan
Blink Films
Bankstock Building (2nd Floor)
42-44 De Beauvoir Crescent
London
N1 5SB
020 3150 0777