RVC students feature in ground-breaking documentary
A group shot of the students featured in the programme. Left - right: Charlie Tewson, Dru Shearn, Dani Willey, Elly Berry, Judy Puddifoot, Hannah Nevin, Matt Wilkinson, Catherine Needham, Amy Clithero and Jo Hardy.
A BBC2 documentary will follow ten students at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) through their final year as they take what they have learnt in the classroom and put it to the test for the first time in practice, farms and animal hospitals.
The series will feature a range of work placements covering every element of veterinary medicine - from farms, horses, small animals and even exotic animals from the local zoo. The students have to pass every single placement if they wish to graduate.
Throughout the series, the students will learn how to carry out caesareans on sheep, treat a horse with sinusitis, help a dog with a broken back to walk again and even give a share pei a facelift.
Professor David Church, vice principal at the RVC, said: "We are extremely proud of what our final-year students have achieved and were excited by the opportunity to show the world some glimpses of not only what is involved in training to become a practicing veterinarian but just how talented our students are."
Mature student Judy Puddifoot said: “You know when I was at school I told my careers advisor that I wanted to be a vet and unfortunately, he said you know "you're not going to be a vet Judy. You're not clever enough really." That kind of negative feeling stayed with me for a long time thinking I can't do it, there's no point I won't even try. Then eventually you think I'm just going to try, I'm just going to shoot for the stars, see what happens, see if I can get there. And I did, and hence why I'm doing it now.”
Young Vets starts on Tuesday August 19 on BBC2 and will be broadcast at 7pm on week nights over three consecutive weeks.
The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.
