A North East college played host to a BBC chat show earlier this month, bringing an hour of debate to County Durham.

East Durham College’s Peterlee Campus became the home of BBC’s Question Time as presenter Fiona Bruce brought debate to the region.

The panel featured Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Harriet Cross, MP Jake Richards, MP Max Wilkinson, Kevin Maguire of the Daily Mirror and Annabel Denham of the Daily Telegraph.

The event was an opportunity to bring professional environments onto campus and give learners first-hand insights into the skills, teamwork and expertise involved in delivering a major broadcast.

East Durham College’s Peterlee Campus became the home of BBC’s Question Time earlier this month as presenter Fiona Bruce brought debate to the region.

placeholder image — East Durham College’s Peterlee Campus became the home of BBC’s Question Time earlier this month as presenter Fiona Bruce brought debate to the region.

Media students enjoyed a behind-the-scenes experience, meeting members of the production crew, touring the set and outside broadcast trucks and discovering what it takes to bring Question Time to the screen.

Meanwhile, cookery students put their skills to the test by preparing and serving a range of food for guests, production teams and visitors throughout the day.

Scott Bullock, principal and CEO of East Durham College, said: “Hosting BBC’s Question Time is a proud moment for East Durham College, but what makes opportunities like this so valuable is the experience they create for our learners.

"We are passionate about creating experiences that bring learning to life and open doors to future careers.

"These experiences are about more than the moment itself, they build confidence, develop valuable skills and help our students understand what they can achieve.

“We want every learner to leave East Durham College with not only a qualification but also the experience, ambition and confidence to succeed in their chosen career.”