The thing that gets me is that it's really hard to find a job on the same level outside of TV. It's like our training and skills count for very little in other industries.

Surely if farming can have a common agricultural policy to coordinate and support the sustainability of their suppliers, TV can? If there was a degree of coordination and communication between the networks, they would surely be able to avoid these wild fluctuations and minimise these work troughs. It's in their interests in the long term to have a sustainable, skilled workforce. Whats more, these extreme fluctuations set back efforts to improve the diversity of the industry by decades.

I'm on my second stint working for Royal Mail through the winter via Manpower. I was very fortunate to have work from March - September this year on a project for Ch4. If you are currently out of work I would recommend a stint with helping to deliver Christmas with Royal Mail. I found the fresh air and banter good for my headspace and it's pretty physical work 25,000 plus steps. Yes the money isn't as good but you aren't being paid for your TV skills. Good luck and see it as an opportunity.