The turning point for Stef Loughrey, a veteran TV editor and casting producer, arrived the day she cried in HMV’s Blu-ray aisle. A younger colleague’s well-meaning comment about her age equating to theirs inadvertently highlighted the sudden downward spiral her career had taken.

Despite 17 years in the industry, with consistently high demand for her expertise, the 38-year-old Loughrey found her opportunities “totally disappeared” by summer 2023. Her quest for employment extended to taking TV jobs at reduced rates. Faced with rising mortgage costs and mounting financial stress, she sought refuge at the high street music store.

“I hit a rock bottom,” she said. “It’s not that I thought I was too good for temporary work—I enjoy meeting people. But at my age, and given my experience, it felt out of place. Being on a minimum wage was also unsustainable.”

Concluding that TV opportunities would remain scarce, Loughrey is transitioning to become a witness care officer, a role that fits her skill set well. Beyond the financial toll, she faces a psychological strain and an identity crisis. “I love TV,” she admitted, “reconciling who I am without it is a work in progress.”

Loughrey is not the only one. Dozens have shared with The Guardian their shifts from stable, long-term TV careers to entry-level positions like shelf-stacking, car park attendance, and other menial jobs.

Their combined accounts paint a dire picture of the industry, long reliant on freelancers hired by programme-makers as needed. Several factors are blamed for the collapse, including overcommissioning post-Covid, audience fragmentation to digital platforms, and broadcasters’ focus on costly dramas. Mid-tier unscripted TV—encompassing reality, travel, and quiz shows—has been particularly hard hit.

Kim Lask, a 42-year-old with two decades in factual entertainment, recently went from in-demand to unemployed. Despite maternity leave offers, by last November, her work had vanished. She now works at a pub and Lidl, handling promotional work. “It’s quite isolating,” she said, “and the uncertainty is unnerving. I have half my career left—I must decide if I continue pursuing it or change gears.”

Ben Seale, a 35-year-old director, and producer, experienced a sudden lull in work by summer 2023. “It was a really low point,” he conceded, “the lowest in my life.” The stress compounded with memories of a troubling filming experience led to depression.

“To top it off, I worked at Marks & Spencer’s till over Christmas,” he said. “It’s not to belittle those jobs; many amazing people do them. But ten years of my career seemed to vanish. One customer even remarked on my incompetence.”

Since then, Seale has successfully transitioned to managing a company’s YouTube channel, including editing its video content. He is eager to convey to other freelancers the value of their skills and acknowledges his sacrifices, while also expressing hope for his future.

“I took a significant cut from my TV earnings,” he noted, “but I cherish the work. My experience isn’t as tough as others—I didn’t lose a house, relationships, or family to care for. Colleagues are going through similar hardships.”