Sidemen Entertainment and the National Film and Television School team up to train next generation of UK unscripted producers

The Sidemen are expanding into behind-the-scenes training, announcing a partnership between Sidemen Entertainment and the National Film and Television School (NFTS) to identify and develop what Deadline calls “the next generation of unscripted producers” in the UK. Deadline reports that the initiative will focus on the production skills needed for unscripted formats, reflecting the Sidemen Entertainment team’s view of where unscripted television, streaming, and creator-led production are heading.

Deadline describes the partnership as an exclusive collaboration designed to bring new producers into the industry through training at the UK’s national film and television school. The agreement is positioned as a longer-term investment in production talent rather than a single project, with Sidemen Entertainment framing it around building future capacity for unscripted programming.

Sidemen Entertainment is the business operation associated with The Sidemen, a group of British YouTubers known for large audience followings and creator-led entertainment. Deadline characterizes the partnership as part of the group’s effort to look ahead at production needs as viewing continues to shift across traditional TV and streaming platforms.

The NFTS, as an institution devoted to film, television, and media education, serves as the training venue for the collaboration. While Deadline does not outline specific curriculum details in the description, the reported aim is to cultivate producer talent for unscripted formats, a category that typically includes reality, documentary-style programming, and other non-scripted structures that require planning, editorial instincts, budgeting discipline, and production operations.

Deadline’s report also notes that the Sidemen team is approaching the effort despite the practical realities of creator schedules and the scale of production associated with high-audience entertainment. The training focus is intended to channel that production experience into an educational pipeline rather than relying solely on established recruiting routes.

For the UK media industry, an initiative that strengthens training for unscripted producers can affect who gets early opportunities and how quickly production teams can scale for streaming and broadcast demand. It can also influence day-to-day standards on set, including preparation, compliance with production rules, and the ability to manage large-format filming where participants, crews, and audiences depend on predictable logistics.

Deadline reports the collaboration as an ongoing step by Sidemen Entertainment and NFTS, with the practical next phase centered on selecting participants and delivering training for unscripted production roles in the UK.