Gorleston student Beth Thompson, 19, tells of time on TV show Freshers

Beth Thompson, who is a student at the University of Bedfordshire in Luton. She was featured on a TV show called Freshers. Picture: James Bass (Image: Archant Norfolk � 2013)

Beth Thompson, 19, was filmed as part of the TV documentary about teens' first fortnight at the University of Bedfordshire.

Beth Thompson, who is a student at the University of Bedfordshire in Luton. She was featured on a TV show called Freshers. Picture: James Bass (Image: Archant Norfolk � 2013)

While the broadcast journalism student, of Suffolk Road, Gorleston, said the fly-on-the-wall show was less than flattering, she hopes to use the exposure to further her career ambitions.

She said she applied for the show after seeing an appeal for participants on Twitter.

And when her flatmate Max Cassidy, 18, of Nottingham, was offered a leading role, producers asked her to be involved too.

'They started filming us for two weeks straight, the first weeks of uni,' revealed Beth. 'They filmed our whole day - nights out, lessons and meeting people.'

The first episode of the show - shot in the university town of Luton - was broadcast on October 16.

And the former Cliff Park High School pupil said she was shocked when she saw the final edit.

The episode focused on when all the flatmates met.

Beth said an argument with Max was made to appear 'worse than it was', and a dinner with Max and his parents edited to look like she 'tagged along' when his parents had actually invited her.

'The social media comments were really bad,' said Beth. 'I was trending on Twitter - it was quite negative.

'They were calling me a cling-on and a pest, but I'm not actually like that.

'All my friends and family who know what I'm like didn't believe what they saw.

'They know I'm not that sort of person.

'They made me look like I was with him 24/7.'

She explained that she and Max were 'just really good mates' as they had spoken on Facebook before beginning university.

In a later episode Beth was filmed going to a tattoo shop with friends, where she got a nipple piercing - away from the cameras - and a tattoo on her left thigh that said 'what is meant to be will eventually be'.

While she was initially mortified with how she was portrayed, she said she has learnt to shrug off the rude comments.

'When I looked at it I was quite upset and thought people will think I'm a right idiot,' she said. 'But now I just laugh as I know how they must feel on The Only Way Is Essex.

'I want to go on Big Brother next!'

She said people recognise her in the street - and she was spotted on the train home for the Christmas holidays.

'People still ask for pictures and have a chat,' she added. 'It carries on round Great Yarmouth.'

While she said she may not have done the show if she had known how it would be edited, she said: 'I don't regret anything as when I'm older I want to be on TV anyway.'

And she said there are whispers about a second TV show charting the end of their freshers year - which she would gladly participate in.

Asked about her career ambitions, Beth said: 'I want to be like [Xtra Factor host] Caroline Flack or a radio presenter like Pete Tong as I like house music and that.'

Beth, who went to Wroughton Middle School and Great Yarmouth College, made the last 20 in auditions for Kiss FM, plans to enter the O2 student media awards and presents a show called Radio Lab on 97.1FM in Luton.

People can listen to the show on radiolab.beds.ac.uk