F̶O̶L̶L̶O̶W̶ ̶Y̶O̶U̶R̶ ̶D̶R̶E̶A̶M̶S̶ (aka chimney sweep) by Banksy. Image Flickr/ Chris Devers:
What would Freddie Lyons, the fictional character from the BBC's Television series 'The Hour' do if alive and aspiring in 21 century Britain? I don't know. Unlike Freddie, I never went to Grammar school. But like Freddie, I was also an outsider of little means, who excelled. I was the first person in my family to go to university, and I graduated as a prize-winning student with a first class BA Hons degree. Also, like Freddie, I once worked for BBC News.
Where would Freddie be today faced with so many precarious contracts? My original BBC contract was for four months. My wages were £12k per annum. Not many chances to network in the BBC club on that. I tried though. I had to rely on tax credits to afford to work there. Anyone who is on a precarious contract will tell you the stress and uncertainty this can cause, let alone the hassle of dealing with the geniuses at HMRC telling you do not qualify for tax credits, then that you do, then that you don’t, then that you do, until two years later you receive a cheque with a letter stating you were underpaid all along.
