BA Hons Media Performance for Film, TV and Theatre

Find out where our successful graduates are now and what they thought of their time at the University of Bedfordshire.

Annie Apakoh - student

Annie Apakoh starred in the official music video for a new song from rapper Shaybo and Brit Award-winning singer Jorja Smith.

Annie hopes her appearance in the ‘My Sister’ music video will help propel her into other exciting acting roles.

Cast through the talent-finding and auditioning platform Starnow, this was Annie’s first appearance in a music video. Read the full media release and watch the video

Annie also starred in a new music video with Rizzle Kicks star Jordan Stephens and singer-songwriter Miraa May. Read the full media release and watch the video

Ann Akin - Actor

After directing a successful theatre company, Harts, for ten years and publishing award-winning play, Conversations with Love, in 2012, Ann decided to focus on her own acting career. Some of her best known roles include the BBC’s Strike series (2018/2020), ITV’s Law & Order UK (2013) and Amazon’s Electric Dreams (2017).

Ann is sharing her expertise with Bedfordshire students via webinars - see Media release

Sam Darlaston - Kiss FM Presenter

Sam worked the University’s community radio station, Radio LaB 97.1fm which gave him valuable experience for his job as Kiss FM presenter.

My three years at Bedfordshire provided me with the best education; I loved it.

I arrived wanting to be an actor, and I still hope to pursue this one day, but everything I did on the course, set me up for my role at KISS.

I’m so happy I can’t believe it, but trying to take it in my stride.

Gemma Hunt - TV Presenter

Gemma is a presenter for CBeebies show Swashbuckle. She regularly returns to the University to run Media Masterclasses

I learnt the craft of presenting here at the University, because they gave me all the groundwork; not just how to perform on camera, but also studio etiquette, how to behave in the industry, how different types of corporations work.

The course helped me no end with my personal performance and confidence to work in such a hectic business.

Melvin Odoom - Radio and TV Presenter

Melvin, who graduated in 2001 from the then University of Luton, presents Kiss FM’s Breakfast Show alongside fellow Bedfordshire graduate Rickie Haywood-Williams. He also presented the Xtra Factor and ITV2's coverage of the Brit Awards in 2015. and took part as a contestant on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.

Luton was a really great place to find myself as an individual. I learnt life skills there and how to be a young adult. Although I had a passion for radio I didn’t really have the skills to do it until I came to Luton. It really prepared me in terms of my skill set.

My lecturers were very big on getting me involved in things outside of the degree, like student radio. Coming to Luton really gave me that radio experience so when I worked for the BBC Radio 1Xtra as a broadcast assistant, I wasn’t scared in that environment; I was completely comfortable.

Sarah Jane Cass - Talent Agent and Manager

Sarah works in Los Angeles as a talent agent and manager representing actors, TV presenters and on-screen experts in the US and UK entertainment industries.

I really enjoyed my time at Bedfordshire and the course I studied. If I had my time again, I would take advantage of learning to edit, shoot and produce so I had prepared myself more for the practical side of things within the industry.

The University’s equipment is of a high industry standard so students should make the most of hiring it out and collaborating with fellow students to create their own films and video content.

Mandy Thandi - Actress

Just one year after graduating Mandy secured an on-going role in the hit BBC daytime drama series Doctors

I never thought in a million years that just one year after graduating I would be appearing in a TV soap.

The course here prepared me really well. Initially I wanted to go to drama school but I never got in.

But when I came to University, I learnt everything from being behind the camera to being in front of it so it prepared me really well.

The course was designed to put theory into practice.

Mariana Cunha - Art Director Assistant

Thanks to my time at the University of Bedfordshire and my studies at the BA Media Performance for Film, TV and Theatre course and the MA Screen Performance and Communication Techniques course, I was lucky to improve my creativity and gain different written and visual storytelling skills which led me to the current job I have in the film industry as an Art Director Assistant for an upcoming feature film.