A SUCCESSFUL TV producer who has worked on popular shows including Big Brother, Love Island and Made in Chelsea returned to her former school in Harrogate to inspire current pupils.
After studying at Ashville College, Cherry Sandhu went on to study English Language at the University of Manchester, followed by postgraduate qualifications in media and journalism at the University of Leeds, before setting out on a career in the world of television.
Cherry shared stories from both in front of and behind the camera, giving Ashville pupils an insight into her journey from being a runner and researcher to taking on vital roles in the production of extremely successful projects, working with companies including the BBC, ITV and Netflix.
Cherry’s talk is the latest in a string of stimulating speaker events hosted at Ashville with the aim of educating and inspiring pupils with a range of different career and life options, helping them become “future ready”.
Previous talks include those from BBC journalist Tanya Arnold, film director Kit Monkman, polar explorer Fiona Thornewill and ultra-marathon runner Ben Smith.
In addition to her recent return to Ashville, Cherry features in a commemorative book celebrating 40 years of co-education at the independent school.
The anniversary book, which is published next month, charts the achievements of Ashville’s female former pupils, and brings to life the many ways in which the school has flourished in the years since co-education was introduced.
Cherry Sandhu said: “I really enjoyed returning to Ashville as an OA and speaking to the sixth form pupils about my career as a TV producer.
“I hope it was interesting and inspiring for those who want to pursue a creative career in the TV industry.”
Mrs Rhiannon Wilkinson, Head of Ashville College, said: “We were delighted to welcome Cherry back to Ashville, and to hear about her experiences working on some very well-known TV shows.
“We have been really lucky with the speakers we have been able to recruit for our speaker programme this year, and it is particularly special to welcome several alumni back to Ashville, including MP Julian Sturdy, social media expert Nathan Kemeny, and now Cherry Sandhu.
“The speaker programme equips our pupils with a valuable and first-hand insight into what they can achieve with an Ashville education and opens their eyes to new industries and career paths.”