Hot Shots 2025: Sarah Jayne Learmonth

Proud Brummie Sarah Learmonth is a strong advocate for regional programming, and it’s having a wide-ranging positive impact. Having sustained her career on projects based outside of London, she champions regional talent, dedicating her time to working with apprenticeship schemes, university placements and new entrants, with a specific focus on the Midlands.

And as production manager for The Bad Skin Clinic, she instigated a switch to move tests and scans from London locations to regional hospitals, making cost and environmental savings along the way.

Her inclusive thinking was helped by her start in the industry at regional micro-indies. The muck-in nature of her first employers stuck – now working with Full Fat TV, she’s central to company culture and keeps an eye on aspects from social media to team birthdays.

“I have a can-do attitude and believe that being welcoming, friendly, approachable and understanding is the best way to get the most out of your team and contributors,” she says.

But it’s her production management that really shines, says Colette Foster, founder and chief executive of Full Fat TV.

“In TV, we are used to controlling everything. However, patients and their complex medical needs don’t necessarily stick to a schedule. Sarah deftly juggles the treatment of patients – mindful of our duty of care to each of them – with the demands of programme delivery, ensuring they get delivered on budget and on time.”

Budgetary considerations are a key strength – for example, she changed the distributor for The Bad Skin Clinic’s prescriptions, immediately slashing more than £2,000 off production costs.