On Monday morning (18th September) AKS Lytham Headmaster, David Harrow and the school’s Director of Development, Sarah Walton had the extraordinary privilege of visiting the BBC Breakfast Show studios hosted by its Editor and one of the school’s notable alumnus Richard Frediani. Their visit ended with the surreal experience of sitting on the red sofa and meeting the Breakfast Show presenters, Sally Nugent and John Kay, after the show had aired.
Richard attended King Edward VII School between 1974 and 1984. Richard started his career at Red Rose Radio and with a career now spanning more than three decades, Richard has worked at local, regional and national levels, including Programme Editor for ITV News at Ten and News at 6.30 and Head of News at ITV Granada. Richard has won BAFTA and National Royal Television Society awards and has played a key role in developing new talents from all backgrounds. In 2019, Richard was appointed as the Editor of BBC Breakfast.
Headmaster David Harrow said, ‘An incredibly impressive visit, generously and comprehensively stewarded by Richard Frediani: it was inspiring to see the creativity, professionalism and teamwork of a whole host of people behind the scenes and on camera, making a complex and ever-shifting operation look effortless. A profound lesson in what can be achieved when passionate people come together.’
Director of Development, Sarah Walton, added, ‘It was a privilege to see what goes on behind the scenes 24/7 to deliver the BBC television breakfast news programme. Richard’s leadership values are centred around collaboration and teamwork and it was fascinating to learn how the BBC teams work together to navigate news production as it unfolds in real time.’
AKS is delighted that Richard, as a leader in the media industry, is going to work with the Development Office and lend his support to further enrich the school’s careers programme for the school’s students who might be interested in a career in Broadcast Journalism and the media industry.
