MEET THE TEAM

and was in a band. My first job in TV was at Granada, in the canteen doing dishes. When Tony Wilson was there I’d hand him a demo cassette. I went on to supervise bands in the TV studios and at one point ended up presenting a TV report.

Nowadays I love making observational documentaries. Working inside networks I have been a commissioner Sky1 and ITV and I was an Exec for the commissioning team at C5.

I have been involved in channel launches: Granada TV’s digital channels and BBC Arena. And I had an indie called Barge Pole, co-owned with actor Timothy Spall.

In 2014 I teamed up with Spark Media and created the award winning hit series Escape to the Chateau and its spin-off Chateau DIY.

Four documentaries have picked up multiple film festival awards; I made the BAFTA-nominated BBC series, Timothy Spall: Somewhere at Sea and I currently make a Channel 4 history/travelogue series with Alice Roberts.

GUILTY TV PLEASURE: I am addicted to the post office inquiry on Youtube and I watch The Wire, all 5 seasons, over and over again.

and Stars in Their Eyes before pivoting into development with shows like Reborn in the USA, Pop Stars the Rivals and Brainiac: Science Abuse. As co-creator and SP of five series of Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway I’m proud to say I penned the immortal catchphrase “don’t just watch the ads, win them!” Taking the reins as Head of Entertainment at Hat Trick Productions I created and EP’d shows for amongst others Davina McCall, Anne Robinson and Joe Rogan with CBS’s Game Show in My Head! After a stint at Shine TV I moved to Executive Editor of BBC in-house Entertainment, bringing bowling inspired quiz The Edge to daytime, gymnastics to Saturday nights with Let’s Get Ready to Tumble, and taking Dermot O’Leary whacky racing with Top Gear’s The Getaway Car.

Whilst running development for Warner Bros’ Renegade Pictures I created and EP’d 3 series of Outsiders with David Mitchell for UKTV Dave..

GUILTY TV PLEASURE – AntsCanada YouTube Channel & Ready Steady Cook (the Fern Britton years 1994-2000).

Hours to Victory with Dermot O’Leary (C4), The Real Derry with Jamie-Lee O’Donnell (C4), That Winning Feeling (SKY Kids) Missing Millions: Grace Kelly (C5), Farm to Feast ( BBCNI) Barbershop for Bald Men (BBC3), Pretty Single (BBCNI), Gino D’Acampo’s Italian Escapes (ITV), Little British Isles with Alison Steadman (C4), Frontline Police (5), Britain’s Darkest Taboos (C&I), The Genealogy Roadshow (RTE/PBS) to All New Super Scary Plane Landings (C5). I also developed the UK version of Dance Mums (Lifetime) and worked on series 1 as the Story Producer. Prior to working in the glamorous world of telly, I spent 8 years as a magazine editor on sport, fitness and interior design magazines.

GUILTY TV PLEASURE – AIRPORT SECURITY

development. It all started for me on a popular Channel 4 daytime series, Posh Pawnbrokers which I continued working on for three series.

As a typical TV freelancer, I have worked for different production companies in an assortment of roles. Early on in my career, I enjoyed shooting roles on shows like Channel 5’s Stripdate and development projects for TwoFour. Following this I moved into casting and forward planning roles on shows such as My Secret Sex Fantasy and The Yorkshire Vet. With a keen thirst to try my hand across all editorial opportunities, I soon found myself in the edit working on programmes such as BBC’s The Wedding Dress Shop before returning to casting and welfare roles on series including, Channel 4’s Naked Attraction, Netflix’s The Circle (USA & UK), Channel 4’s The Bridge, BBC’s Reunion Hotel and large studio-based music shows such as ITV’s Starstruck and BBC Three’s Project Icon.

After years on the road story producing and casting, I wanted to return to development with a decade of experience to shape the next big formats in TV.

GUILTY TV PLEASURE – THE REAL HOUSEWIVES (ALL!)

rights.

I was responsible for all ITV’s major sports contracts in the early 80’s, sometimes flying Concorde to New York to wrestle boxing rights from Don King. I joined Channel 4 in 1986, ultimately becoming its Head of Business Affairs and Programme Finance.

After leaving Channel 4 I worked in the Independent Production sector: as Commercial Director of Sunset and Vine and Mentorn; as MD of Gecko Productions; as MD of Love Productions and Acting MD of the Garden Productions.

Now I work as a consultant commercial adviser to production companies. I have been having fun working with Spark Media since its early days.

responsibility for the company’s financial strategy and all finance-related matters.

With over 15 years of experience in the TV industry, I have held various Finance Director positions with independent TV production companies, overseeing their journeys from inception to successful exits through acquisitions. My expertise spans factual, scripted, and animated content, as well as launching an internet channel in the early 2000s.

Prior to my work in television, I held senior roles in the software and oil & gas sectors, having started my career in banking and stockbroking.

In addition to my work with Spark Media Partners, I also serve as a financial controller for several films and TV drama series.

I am a qualified accountant and a member of the ACCA.

taking prudent financial decisions with a balanced approach to risk. This has been informed through a career running businesses in institutional investment in banks and hedge funds. Since 2012 I have focused on building early stage companies into successful enterprises. I have worked with Spark Media since its inception, helping with key strategic decisions such as the establishment of Kindling Media, and ongoing business direction.

Alongside Spark, I held similar media roles as Chair of Like a Shot Entertainment (Forbidden History, Abandoned Engineering, Fight Club) and I am current Chair of Radiant Post Production Group. I am an active investor in the companies I have a role in.

I also invest in public market equity and fixed income, and own a property development company. Earlier in my career I acted as a Board Director of Nomura Bank International. I hold an Economics degree (BA 1st cl. hons) from Exeter University.

roles at Passion Distribution and Fremantle, Sean specialises in international content strategy, distribution and finding new ways of funding TV shows.