Vicky Swain

What is your current role and what does it involve?

I'm an Archive Producer, currently freelancing across ITV Daytime. The role involves clearing, sourcing and ingesting all footage and stills from various archive suppliers, liaising with PRs and some basic editing.

Clearing something is essentially getting permission to show it, whether that's an Instagram picture, trailer for an upcoming film, or stock footage. I am responsible for tracking down the copyright owners and getting permission to use everything we show on screen.

How did studying BA (Hons) Film and Television help you get ready for your career? My undergraduate degree at Solent was a great foundation for my future career. The critical thinking process, public speaking skills and practical production knowledge that I developed throughout my studies were invaluable. As someone passionate about both film and television, this degree helped me understand which career path best matched my strengths and interests.

What first sparked your interest in archive production?

Watching Harry Hill's TV Burp and Mock the Week! Both these shows integrate archive and studio comedy so well. I was curious to find out how they were made and what decisions went on behind the scenes. It wasn't until I started working in the TV industry that I fully discovered archive-specific roles. That's the great thing about a career in TV – there are so many options you can choose from.

What has been your career journey since graduating?

After graduating, I pursued further training at the National Film and Television School (NFTS) while gaining hands-on experience through various work placements and runner roles on studio shows. My first full-time role in television was as a Junior Researcher on Have I Got News For You, where I discovered my passion for archive research. Since then, I’ve worked across a wide variety of programmes—from comedy panel shows like Smart TV to clip shows, cookery series, live events, and daytime television.

What are some of the rewards of working as an Archive Producer?

One of the most rewarding aspects of working in archive is uncovering rare or previously unseen footage and sharing it with new audiences.

How has technology changed the way you work with archive material?

Technology has transformed the archive world. Most material is now digitised, making access and research faster and more efficient. However, there are still legacy formats being converted, and we often work with a mix of old and new media.

A growing challenge is the rise of AI-generated content, which raises important questions around authenticity and copyright. Staying informed and vigilant is more important than ever.

What advice would you give to students who want to pursue a career in archive production?

• It may sound obvious but watch a lot of TV—especially shows that use archive creatively.
• Pay attention to the credits to see which archive suppliers were involved.
• Research the production companies behind your favourite shows and send your CV to their talent teams or apply for roles.
• Attend audience recordings of studio shows—it’s a great way to see how things work behind the scenes.
• Get work experience or runner roles and try to shadow the archive team—we love talking about what we do!

Can you share a particularly memorable archive project or discovery you've worked on?

Working on the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest was an incredible experience. I was part of the VT team responsible for sourcing archive footage for all the packages used during the semi-finals and grand finale. The highlight was seeing the footage I’d cleared play out to a packed arena in Liverpool—and knowing it was being watched by 162 million people around the world.