CAREER STORIES

22/09/2023

Archie Onobu

Fresh Cuts PD

My film is called Our NHS with Dr. Zoe Williams....

06/09/2023

Helen Houston

Deputy Head of Production

An important part of my job is making sure that MSM is a happy, fun and safe place for our teams to work..

What’s your role at MultiStory? I’m Deputy Head of Production based in Manchester. I help oversee all of the unscripted output from Manchester and Cardiff (and sometimes London). In my role I work hand in hand with my editorial colleagues to ensure we deliver the very best productions which are underpinned by robust procedures and processes. I schedule, budget and negotiate the tariffs with the broadcasters.

Aside from the operational side of things, I manage a team of brilliant Production Managers, Co-ordinators and Secretaries. An important part of my job is making sure that MSM is a happy, fun and safe place for our teams to work. A lot of my work revolves around people and communication. What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality? After a family day out to Granada Studios Tour back in the late 80’s I knew I wanted to work in television. I’ve always enjoyed the sense of being a part of a team and I think you really feel that in TV - for me it’s creative and it’s fun.

I completed a Media & Cultural Studies degree at Manchester University and then stayed on for an additional year to complete a Masters Degree, primarily because 3 months of that placement was spent at either BBC or ITV (or channel 3 as my parents called it at the time!). I landed in the Factual Department at Granada TV working on a whole slate of documentaries for UK and US broadcasters. I worked my arse off, embraced opportunities and was offered a 3 month contract as a Production Secretary (Thanks Tracy Walker!). What's the biggest hurdle you've had to overcome to get to where you are? I think when I joined the industry it made me question what I had to offer. I was working with so many talented, creative, extraordinary people it made me feel a little unsettled. However, I’ve since found confidence in simply being myself and through that, have tried to offer ideas or thoughts from my own perspective. I now take confidence from knowing what my job looks like inside out. Having been a production coordinator and a production manager I understand the pressures on the ground, what curveballs can land and how to deal with constant change. What has been the highlight of your career so far? Next year will be my 21st year at ITV (half of my life!) So you can imagine there have been so many incredible highlights - I’ve traveled around the world with celebrities, had a private tour of Elvis’ penthouse in Vegas and have worked on three series of the famous ‘7 Up’. Some people may wonder how I could have stayed at the same company for so long but the departments I have worked in have taken on so many rebrands and transformations, it does feel like I've worked for different indies under the umbrella of ITV.

Even though I’m very much on the production management side of things, developing programme ideas and spotting access opportunities has always been a passion of mine. I’ve had a few series commissioned on ITV which I’m hugely proud of. I love that I can dip in and out of development and that I’m taken seriously in that way - I’ve found a way not to be boxed in by my job title. What was your biggest “pinch me’ moment? I think the seven way live Leaders Debates was probably the most surreal experience of my life. We had David Cameron who was Prime Minister at the time and all the party leaders all in one corridor together. I had been liaising with GMP for weeks about the security of the event and to finally see it all come together was another level. There was a two minute advert break mid show for anyone who needed to pee. I remember Cameron, Milliband and Clegg all running towards me to get to the toilet in time. Milliband waited outside but because time was ticking he ended up going in too. The thought of the three of them in the toilet together has often made me smile. Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back and laugh about now? I could relay many many stories about teams losing tapes, deleting rushes and forgetting to press record with a certain Mr Elton John. Firefighting and problem solving is a really big part of the job and I try to do that with empathy.

I did find juggling family life simultaneously with work really tricky during covid. My husband was a key worker so I had my two sons (2 & 8) at home with me most days. Mid-board meeting one Monday, the police knocked on the door because my youngest had called them whilst playing with the landline. I got a bit of a telling off for leaving them downstairs whilst I was trying to do calls. I think I can just about laugh at this 3 years on. What are your favourite TV shows? It’s probably no surprise that I’ve been enjoying SJP being back on screen in And Just Like That (the pigeon handbag was a particular highlight!) but possibly more unexpected is that I love the series Gone Fishing. I think the charm of the series lies in the heartwarming friendship between it’s hosts Whitehouse & Mortimer with their witty exchanges and humorous anecdotes. READ MORE

28/07/2023

Laura Caveney-Morgan

Executive Editor

As an industry we need to work harder to encourage people from a wide variety of backgrounds to come and work with us ..

What’s your role at MultiStory? Executive Editor. What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality? I spent my childhood acting, with Oldham Theatre Workshop. By my teenage years - after missing out to Anna Friel for a role on Brookside - I realised that my future lay behind the camera. During University, I spent my placement year working in a press office; reacting to big news events and spending time with TV crews, opening up a whole new world…It seemed like fun, and I wanted to join in. What's the biggest hurdle you've had to overcome to get to where you are? Like most of us in telly, I started as a runner. I was given a 3 day contract working in the entertainment team at Granada TV in Manchester. It was September 1999, and I didn't realise how rare my background was (working class girl, from a comprehensive school in Rochdale). It’s as true today as it was then, 24 years ago. As an industry we need to work harder to encourage people from a wide variety of backgrounds to come and work with us. What has been the highlight of your career so far? Being promoted to Executive Editor on Tonight. Growing up, I remember avidly watching TV credits wondering what all the jobs were and hoping that one day I would have my name at the end of a programme. What was your biggest “pinch me’ moment? From starting out as a runner on shiny floor entertainment shows to jumping ship making documentaries and current affairs, I’ve had so many pinch me moments… But one that stands out, was when I spent the summer of 2005 in LA and Santa Barbara making a documentary on the Michael Jackson trial. Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back and laugh about now? There are plenty of disasters; like when I made a series about horror holidays and was chased around Turkey by the mafia. Or, when casting for children with behaviour issues, one family welcomed me into their home while they openly dealt heroin. And never to be forgotten, when I was making a film about the hunt for a serial killer, the world’s media descended on a small town and I was booked into a temporary hotel. It transpired that it was next door to where he lived… In TV there is always so much to learn and amazing people to learn from. What are your favourite TV shows? I love watching TV dramas. Without fangirling too hard, most of my favourite shows were made by Nicola Shindler during her time at the helm of Red Productions from ‘Queer As Folk’ to ‘Happy Valley’ and ‘It’s A Sin’… From the US, I fell hard for ‘Succession’ and love ‘Dopesick’ and ‘The Bear’ on Disney Plus. READ MORE

06/07/2023

Zinia Scroggs

Series Editor

for me it’s been a juggle at times to manage home life with work life. I’m now a mum of two, so I’ve sometimes had to turn down certain roles because I can’t be away from home and on location for long periods of time...

What’s your role at MultiStory? Series Editor. What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality? My Grandad was a television producer in Arts and Education programming. Some of my earliest memories are me and my sister using the back of old scripts to draw on, then when I was older I would love to read them. I actually started out working in advertising and I spotted an advert in Heat magazine for the first Channel 4 Researcher trainee scheme, where you got a year's paid placement at a TV production company. I applied and made it to the final round of interviews, but I just missed out. A month later I was contacted by Channel 4 Commissioning who were approaching ten candidates who had impressed on the interview day, as they had 5 runner contracts at C4 and I became the drama and docs commissioning team's runner, I then went on to become an assistant in More 4. I stayed at the Channel for 2 years and left to join the Channel 4 Researcher trainee scheme… The rest as they say is history! What's the biggest hurdle you've had to overcome to get to where you are? I think for me it’s been a juggle at times to manage home life with work life. I’m now a mum of two, so I’ve sometimes had to turn down certain roles because I can’t be away from home and on location for long periods of time. What has been the highlight of your career so far? Joining Multistory’s Entertainment team as a Series Editor.

Then if I look back on some of the productions I’ve worked across highlights include; putting on a live Gig with Jason Derulo for Project Icon, SPing Glow Up and filming the series during the second lockdown and somehow avoiding a Covid outbreak on the team?! Re-creating a 1940’s Spy training school, devising the Child Genius Competition, and leading an Apprentice Advertising task which filmed simultaneously between London and New York and finally, sitting in the edit, cutting the first series of Race Across the World and knowing this was television gold (it later won a BAFTA). What was your biggest “pinch me’ moment? I recently got to interview Annie Lennox for Ruby Wax’s Life Stories. She was absolutely lovely! My mum is also a massive fan so I called her ahead of the interview, and we had a little scream together. I of course remained totally professional throughout my chat with Annie! Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back and laugh about now? Oh god… probably moments like forgetting to press record when I started an interview and having to pretend I had sound issues and having to start again. Setting up a Glow Up Professional Assignment in two days after another company pulled out, having technical issues with a Live Feed for a virtual panel (I still can’t talk about this!). What are your favourite TV shows? I love reality and competition shows - I binge watch them Selling Sunset, MAFS, Love is Blind, Lizzo’s Big Gurl’s, The Rap Game , Bake Off and Glow Up. American Drama series like White Lotus and Succession, I also like authored / celebrity fronted documentaries! READ MORE

06/06/2023

Seyi Adu

Assistant Casting Producer/ PD

Having zero experience in the industry or any formal training meant I had to work fast and learn as much as I could on the job to bring myself up to speed..

What’s your role at MultiStory? Casting Assistant Producer and recent PD on Come Dine With Me. What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality? I’ve always had an interest in TV since I was younger. I used to watch Home Improvement religiously and wrote myself into the show. I really loved comedies when I was younger and watched shows like Bottom, The Young Ones, League of Gentlemen and Smack the Pony, and I think this really sparked my interest in funny TV segments and funny characters.

However I ended up doing a degree in Animal Science at Reading University because I THOUGHT I wanted to be a vet, however at UNI I was mainly in the drama society and wrote a couple of sketches with my housemate (who is actually successful writer now) at the time for the Reading University Original Plays. After University, I did a couple of stints as a MUA, decided to work at Edinburgh Fringe and during this period applied for MaMa Youth Programme and it went from there! What's the biggest hurdle you've had to overcome to get to where you are? I think the biggest challenge was during my earlier years. Having zero experience in the industry or any formal training meant I had to work fast and learn as much as I could on the job to bring myself up to speed. What has been the highlight of your career so far? Going to the RTS, Come Dine With Me Pros was nominated. It was great to see the show my researcher and I cast get some laughs at the event. What was your biggest “pinch me’ moment? Probably meeting Danny John-Jules, who played Cat on Red Dwarf. I used to watch it with my Mum when I was little so it was pretty crazy meeting him in real life. Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back and laugh about now? After completing the MaMa Youth Programme, I got a researcher internship at Shine TV on Ashley Banjo’s Secret Street Crew. I was super excited and one of my first tasks was outreach, so emailing as many organisations as possible. I wrote up the email and started sending them out, I must have sent 100s of emails! I decided to check the email AFTER they had been sent and realised the subject of the email sent “Ashley Banjo’s Secret Street SCREW is casting again”. I literally ran outside, tears in my eyes and called my mentor who couldn’t stop laughing. Always check things before you send them! What are your favourite TV shows? You, American Horror Story, People Just Do Nothing and anything True Crime READ MORE

02/05/2023

Jason Osborne

Producer/Director

Receiving a BAFTA Craft Emerging Talent nomination in March for Our Jubilee was amazing..

What’s your role at MultiStory? I had the pleasure of being a PD at MultiStory for Our Jubilee, which was part of the Fresh Cuts strand in its inaugural year. Trailblazing for all the new PD’s in 2023! What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality? My career started in music as a producer before I transitioned to a completely different career in the corporate world. After too many years of denying to myself that I’m a creative, I started making plans to somehow return back “home”. Deciding that music was a young person’s game, my plan was to marry my years of working for strategic consultancies with my aptitude for creativity and storytelling. So I thought I’d become a Creative Strategist (see what I did there? I know….genius, right!) for a creative or communications agency. After realising that no one was going to just give me a job, I decided to bet on myself and concepted a project to demonstrate my thinking and approach. So I self-funded a music video which had a narrative of physical disability and intimacy, something I had never seen before. Not knowing any directors, I figured I’d direct it myself. The plan was never to become a director but as soon as we wrapped, I realised that this was what I had been searching for. To work collaboratively in bringing a vision to life. I knew I had to do this again, mostly because I needed a chance to correct everything I did wrong the first time! I think it’s safe to say that the desire to constantly do better clearly has me in a chokehold as I keep coming back to it! What's the biggest hurdle you've had to overcome to get to where you are? Not knowing anyone in the industry and coming to it from a less than traditional route, which is why opportunities like Fresh Cuts are so very important. I essentially had to start a new career from the beginning which included running on sets which can be quite humbling, but also energising. My decision to switch careers came just before the pandemic, not something I’d recommend! I do think you need to be quite bold and reach out to as many people as you can. I literally cold emailed hundreds of people. You will get many no’s but it only takes one yes to change your trajectory. But ultimately, when you get that opportunity, it’s all about the work. You can have the best strategy in the world, but the only strategy should be to do great work. What has been the highlight of your career so far? I thought my year had peaked early in January when I was fortunate enough to have a short film I directed BAFTA longlisted for British Short Film in January. However receiving a BAFTA Craft Emerging Talent nomination in March for Our Jubilee was amazing. I’m now preparing myself for a very fallow few years but the first quarter of 2023 I’m sure will remain a very special time. But equally, highlights for me is about the impact the work has. Whether that’s making someone laugh or cry, challenging their own viewpoints or making them challenge themselves. For example, I had cast a young woman with a prosthetic leg in the music video I’ve mentioned. After we wrapped, she had revealed to me that since her amputation she had been very shy about having anyone see her without her prosthetic so therefore hadn’t swam which was something she loved doing. But she expressed that the shoot gave her back the confidence that she had lost. A week later, I received an emotional call from her to say she had just come back from the pool. For me, that will always remain a highlight. What was your biggest “pinch me’ moment? Well….there was that time I was hanging out with David Beckham in a Jacuzzi but I’m guessing you’re asking about a career moment! I think it was when I watched my first documentary alone in a cinema. I was testing the DCP before a screening later that week and it was surreal to watch something I had concepted and directed in a 300 seater cinema, all alone. Granted, it wasn’t a Marvel movie but I had never thought I’d ever watch something I’d directed on a cinema screen. I’ve since had the opportunity to watch my films in a cinema at screenings and at festivals on a few occasions but it’s a feeling that never gets old. The Beckham story I’ll save for another time! Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back and laugh about now? There hasn’t been one big disaster as yet. But I’m sure now that you’ve asked, it’s coming real soon! But every day I’m learning something new. I went from not knowing anything at all to still not knowing much but working with amazing people and not being afraid to ask questions. There is something to be said about ignorance. It means you’re not governed by convention which can be quite liberating. For example, in preparation for my first shoot, I had emailed hundreds of directors asking them if I could shadow them and a great many got back to me. At the time, they were just a name I found online, but I now look back at that list and get quite embarrassed by my boldness. Ironically, some of them have become good friends and continue to offer words of advice. But I never would have done that if I wasn’t so naïve. What are your favourite TV shows? Too many! I love a well constructed documentary series like The Last Dance or The Defiant Ones. I love documentaries that have great access and pull back the curtain on stories and people we think we all know, so those two remain high on the list for me. For scripted it’s got to be Succession and This Is Us. The writing on Succession has to be best we’ve ever seen and the performances are fantastic. Telly at its best. And This Is Us is again so well crafted with exceptional writing. But I’m also known to watch Emily in Paris and Selling Sunset in a single sitting. I see you judging me! You don’t know me! READ MORE

06/04/2023

Lewis Hare

Head of Archive

I didn’t get that job, but they did offer me something working in their library helping to sell the archive..

What’s your role at MultiStory? As Head of Archive I am responsible for sourcing and clearing both ITV and third-party owned footage and stills required for our productions. Depending on the size of the show or how many productions we have running at one time, I’ll have a team of people to manage the archive as I can’t do it all. As well as exploiting archives, I also feed into how we manage and archive our own production material after a closedown. What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality? Growing up, like most of us, I loved film and TV. After my degree I enrolled in a part-time MA in Documentary Research. It wasn’t much of a genre in the 90s but I was inspired by classic sports docs like When We Were Kings and set out to make sport my field. After that I got an interview at TWI (now IMG) for one of their sports magazine shows, Futbol Mundial, which was the dream. I didn’t get that job, but they did offer me something working in their library helping to sell the archive. And the rest is history! It’s been screeners and masters and licensing agreements ever since, as a seller and now buyer. What's the biggest hurdle you've had to overcome to get to where you are? There are honestly not that many hurdles to a career in archive other than curiosity, relatively good organisation, aptitude for technology and formats, buckets of patience, and good people to learn from. Aspiring Archive Researchers and Producers please come and talk to me, there won’t be a stampede. What has been the highlight of your career so far? Working on the production that exposed Jimmy Savile is definitely the highlight in terms of impact. My children’s enjoyment of Unbelievable Moments Caught on Camera has been satisfying more recently. Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back and laugh about now? I don’t think you can publish the Colonel Gadaffi incident (it wasn’t me). What are your favourite TV shows? Too many! So the all-time-greats, Match of the Day and The Sopranos. READ MORE

27/02/2023

Viki Townend

Production Manager

I was sat in the voiceover studio having a cup of tea and biscuits, talking about Christmas shopping with Helena Bonham-Carter like we were two old friends having a catch up..

What’s your role at MultiStory? I am a Production Manager currently working in the documentary department. I’ve been at ITV for 9 years and love being part of the team. What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality? I’ve always had an interest in the arts from attending performing arts school since the age of 3 years old. At school I got the opportunity to pick Media Studies as a class and instantly loved it. I would of course plan and star in our projects making use of my stage school experience. Following this I took Media and Performance at Salford Uni and soon realised I much preferred being behind the scenes instead of in front of the camera. After Uni I went and worked in camera hire and managed to learn a bit about kit - yep I never knew a camera could have different lenses until I was 22 years old…mind blown! So filled some gaps in my knowledge and met some great contacts who helped get me where I am today. What's the biggest hurdle you've had to overcome to get to where you are? I think for me it was figuring out where I fit in making TV. I’d tried being in front of the camera and certain roles behind the scenes just didn’t seem to quite suit. When I was at University people didn’t talk much about the Production Management team so when I started running I got to understand this whole department I hadn’t known much about. After trying 3 weeks as a researcher and then shadowing a Production Coordinator I knew instantly that this was the job for me. I loved working with the team to pull everything together and make it happen! People used to ask ‘what do you actually do?’ and my favourite reply I heard someone say was ‘If we didn’t show up you would soon find out!’ What has been the highlight of your career so far? In 2019, just pre pandemic I had the opportunity to go to India for 3 weeks to film Absolutely India: Mancs in Mumbai with the Thomas Brothers and their Dad. It was by no means easy but we got to experience so many amazing things whilst filming around India including getting covered in turmeric at the Golden festival, listening to Dougie James sing his favourite song ‘Stand by Me’ with his sons and even managed to take the time after a long shoot day to have a Kingfisher beer, with our feet dipped in the ocean in Goa which was a particular highlight! What was your biggest “pinch me’ moment I definitely felt like someone needed to pinch me when I was sat in the voiceover studio having a cup of tea and biscuits, talking about Christmas shopping with Helena Bonham-Carter like we were two old friends having a catch up. Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back and laugh about now? I think one of the most important things I have learnt about working in TV is to be flexible and fluid. Things change and we adapt and move to accommodate. Once you learn this and accept it, everything becomes easier to tackle and fix. Working on the obituary programmes for the Queen gave me a great understanding of this. We had worked and planned for the event for years but still nothing could quite prepare us for how it would all unravel when it came around. I’m really proud of all the work we did to prepare with numerous teams at ITV and the quick turnaround show we made covering the days after her death (which we weren’t expecting but the whole team pulled together spectacularly) - it really felt like we were making something that will forever be a part of history. What are your favourite TV shows? I’m a sucker for a good comedy to help me unwind and switch off after work. My recent favourites are Brassic, Schitt’s Creek and Always Sunny in Philadelphia. READ MORE

27/01/2023

Kishan Koria

Editor

In the first week of my time on Peston on Sunday I was asked to stand in and pretend to be the then Chancellor, George Osborne..

What’s your role at MultiStory? I am the Editor of the PESTON programme which goes out on Wednesday after the News at Ten on ITV and have been at Multistory since it launched as as Sunday show in 2016. What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality? Coverage of politics on TV has been something of an obsession for me for years! Even at school I’d regularly tune in to programmes like ‘This Week’ and ‘Question Time’ when I should probably have been out doing something much more conventionally exciting! I spent a bit of time teaching Economics after University and then decided to take the plunge, train to be a journalist and hopefully one day bag a job making entertaining and informative programmes that ask key questions of the people who decide how the country is run. What's the biggest hurdle you've had to overcome to get to where you are? They always say getting the first job is the hardest when it comes to the media and I definitely found that to be the case. Even though I’d had some experience in local journalism and at Sky News I had absolutely no idea how I’d get my first proper job in the industry. Thankfully the brilliant organisation Creative Access popped up with an internship position that looked like my dream job - to help launch Peston on Sunday in the run up to the EU Referendum. What more could a young politics nerd want?! I was lucky enough to get that first job and I’ve been here working my way up for nearly 7 years since so it was definitely the right one! What has been the highlight of your career so far? Every time we do a big interview on a big important story it feels like a real privilege to do what we do. But to pick one moment, I helped produce the 2019 General Election Debates and counting down to the start of Johnson vs Corbyn (which would help almost 7 million viewers decide how to vote) felt pretty unreal. What was your biggest “pinch me’ moment In the first week of my time on Peston on Sunday I was asked to stand in and pretend to be then Chancellor George Osborne so Peston could practice interviewing someone on the set of his brand new programme. I did it in character and he grilled me on the economic policy of the day. I’d been teaching students economics using clips from him on the news a year earlier and frankly couldn’t quite believe where I was or what I was doing! Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back and laugh about now? It’s probably best I don’t mention some of the (very few) more insane moments working with frontline politicians! However I had a lengthy stint working with the brilliant Anushka Asthana on ‘Screeny’ - our show’s brilliant if somewhat temperamental touchscreen. The tech disasters were numerous and hilarious for everyone not involved I’m sure! What are your favourite TV shows? Now that I do politics every day I’m watching plenty of less serious stuff in my spare time. Ted Lasso on Apple TV is my favourite as a wholesome and hilarious escape from the news! READ MORE

16/12/2022

Lauren Wearmouth-Curtis

Production Coordinator

I was doing night shifts and a PM offered me a runner role on my first ever studio show..

What’s your role at MultiStory? Production Coordinator What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality? I went to university in Leeds and studied Journalism and Broadcast TV production. I did my work experience at ITV News Calendar which is the local news for Yorkshire this led me to learn more about the TV side of things. From there I loved the idea of live news and live TV in general because of the buzz and the rush. I moved to London and started my TV journey in Post Production which led me to make contacts with the production teams working on the various shows that were in the edit. I was doing night shifts and a PM offered me a runner role on my first ever studio show so I jumped at the chance. What's the biggest hurdle you've had to overcome to get to where you are? I was always set on the Editorial path ever since starting in TV but found myself doing Production roles during Covid and from then I realised I was more suited to Production roles. There were so many times when people asked me why I didn’t want to be in Production because they could see something in me that I couldn’t.

It is hard when you first start out deciding which area you enjoy more and which route you want to go down, especially as everyone always says you have to pick one. I am so lucky that everyone at MultiStory and ITV were so supportive and allowed me to have a go at both before settling on one. After Covid I went back to Editorial to try it once more and shortly realised it just wasn’t for me. I am now fully focused on my Production career and happy with where it's taking me. Equally I am glad I still tried out editorial as I owed it to myself to at least give it a go and see if it was what I really wanted. What has been the highlight of your career so far? As cheesy as it sounds I always told myself that I would make it to ITV and that's where I wanted to be and the fact that it's happened and I now work for a label within ITV is a really proud moment for me. Multistory is like a family and I am proud to be part of that family. What was your biggest “pinch me’ moment? There have been a few over the years. When I was a runner for Emma on The Voice I was eating my lunch in the dressing room corridor and Sir Tom Jones sang as he walked past to go to his dressing room. It was incredibly surreal and I was the only one sitting there to witness it!

Getting your first on screen credit is always a big one because you finally have your name at the end of a show. It's almost like a badge of honour and it never really goes away. Each time you get a TV credit for a new role there is always a sense of pride. Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back and laugh about now? There have been many moments over the years but my biggest learning curve is to always stay calm. There will always be times where in the moment something can feel like a disaster but then you realise you’ll look back on it and possibly won’t even remember it and if you do it will be completely insignificant. Making TV is teamwork and I have realised that. What are your favourite TV shows? Everyone always laughs at me because I watch Come Dine with me everyday. After working on 9 series it has a special place in my heart and is like my comfort show. Greys Anatomy is my go to, and once I finish all the series (currently 19) I go right back to the beginning and start it again. I also do that with Scandal, I highly recommend looking into Shonda Rhimes TV shows. She's an incredible creator. . READ MORE

16/11/2022

Yasmina McNabb

Assistant Producer

Being a working mother in television is definitely not easy..

What’s your role at MultiStory? I’ve spent most of my time at MultiStory working in development; pitching ideas, negotiating access and brainstorming big, bold formats. As someone who loves both development and production, I was fortunate enough to move onto a project that we got commissioned and I’m currently working on a premium documentary for ITVX. What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality? To be honest, TV was never a career I considered. When I left University, I had my heart set on becoming a journalist and did a bit of unpaid and freelance work for a short time. Then someone mentioned that they thought I could do well working in television and I was so intrigued. I came across The Pact Indie Diversity Scheme, which is aimed specifically at entry-level diverse talent within TV and Film. I applied and successfully won a six month placement as a runner with Endemol Shine (now Banijay).

During my six-month period I was able to work on shows such as The Island, Bodyshockers, and Big Brother and whilst working on Big Brother I truly learnt the power of networking and charmed my way to my next job. I met my next boss Camilla Lewis when she, along with other TV execs and creatives, were invited to spend a night in the Big Brother house. I was responsible for meeting and greeting them, taking them to where they needed to go and then saying goodbye to them the next day. After chatting with Camilla she offered me a job after my placement ended. The downside was I had to apply for another scheme, this time with Creative Access as the role was a Trainee development researcher. Spoiler alert...I applied and got the job and was with the company for two years. I learnt how to shoot and my love affair with development and production truly began. What's the biggest hurdle you've had to overcome to get to where you are? Being a working mother in television is definitely not easy. Getting the balance right between being a present parent and pushing for the roles you really want and not the roles people think you should do, is a constant battle. On top of that, good old fashioned imposter syndrome will pop up now and then just to keep me on my toes! Like most of us in this industry, I can’t quite believe that we get paid to make television programmes and there is that slight fear that one day someone will realise that I have no clue what I’m doing. But that’s the beauty of television, the more you work and the more confident you become in your skill, the more you’re able to use the imposter syndrome as motivation - something I’m still working on. What has been the highlight of your career so far? Being named as one of this years ‘Ones To Watch’ at the Edinburgh TV Festival is definitely one of my proudest moments. There were so many reasons that nearly stopped me from applying and knowing the year I’ve had and not really believing I would get chosen, meant that when it was announced I was one of the 30 delegates, this achievement meant so much more. Like in any job, it is really affirming to get validation that your hard work is being noticed and you are worthy. Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back and laugh about now? It’s funny because looking back at some “disaster moments” they aren’t ever as bad as you thought they were. I think we have to remember that this is just TV and there is always a solution, no matter how bad things may seem at the time. Sometimes when things aren’t going to plan, the best thing to do is to take a step back and reassess. Then you will be able to make better choices and not react out of pure emotion.

What I did learn from some of these moments, and thankfully there haven’t been many, is that what you do after a mistake happens can have bigger consequences than the mistake itself. We’re only human and mistakes will happen, but the choices you make post a disaster can either make things better or worse, so don’t panic and think quickly on your feet and people will take note on how you cope in a crisis situation. What are your favourite TV shows? I am obsessed with documentaries and my faves past and present include 9/11: The Falling Man, The Last Dance, Life and Death Row, Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer, Making A Murderer and The Keepers (what can I say, your girl loves a murder). But I am also a sucker for premium reality shows like Love Is Blind or Selling Sunsets - anything that lets me live out my rich housewife fantasy or my romcom dating dreams count me in! . READ MORE

07/10/2022

Mike Blair

Head of Documentaries & Current Affairs

TV is a privilege. It allows you into places and other people’s lives in a way no other job can or does..

What’s your role at MultiStory? I’m really lucky that my role gives me a very wide brief. Documentaries and current affairs cover just about everything on telly, though I’ve still not cracked turning our crime docs into musicals - yet! We’ve relaunched and invested more money in our documentary unit to capitalise on current successes and to focus on more premium films and series. It means we’ll be working with an increasing number of brilliant filmmakers alongside a very strong in-house team. Exciting times! What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality? At the very beginning I needed to earn a few quid to continue my travels after leaving school - and accidentally got a job as a trainee journalist. Seriously! I basically made the tea and was sometimes allowed to write about sheep-dog trials and fell running (It was in the Lake District)! I found I loved it. I moved to a very large freelance agency mainly covering courts, then into radio - and then my big break into Regional TV News. Back in the day it was a brilliant training ground (it probably still is) because you had to do everything. I even presented programmes. Rumours I was taken off air because of a viewer's petition are somewhat exaggerated. But I did want to tell longer form stories, to explore more detail, get under the skin of things - and make a ‘difference’. That meant a move into factual programmes and documentaries where my journalism skills (nosiness and an irritating persistence) really helped. As did a willingness to work very hard over many hours - and still love it whatever the task - investigations, war zones, wildlife films, art programmers - and even the odd car show. What's the biggest hurdle you've had to overcome to get to where you are? I think it’s the same hurdle many people have - impostor syndrome. Do I really deserve this ‘success’? When will they finally rumble me?! When I was a kid, career advice at the comprehensive I went to was either join the army, if you wanted to get away; or a factory apprenticeship if you were staying put. A job in TV was in another galaxy. It’s a syndrome you need to make work for you, to help push you to achieve the very best in yourself and in others! What has been the highlight of your career so far? Cliche warning! Highlights - The people I work with and the people I’ve met doing the best job on the planet. TV is a privilege. It allows you into places and other people’s lives in a way no other job can or does. I’ve met Prime Ministers, Presidents, ‘ordinary people’ and Princes. I’ve been involved in filming on almost every continent on earth; seen the very best of humanity and the very worst. I’ve been part of programmes that have held the powerful to account, given a voice to those who didn’t think they’d ever be listened to, and ones that have ‘changed things’. I’ve also been part of films that have simply been about beautiful stories, with lovely humans in beautiful places. I admit I do go on a bit … but you get the drift!

And there have been so many ‘pinch me’ moments when I’ve been ‘working’. Here’s just a few. From the sublime … riding a Harley through the Rockies and sharing a beer with David ‘Del Boy’ Jason in San Francisco; To the surreal … getting changed out of my cycling kit in a Buckingham Palace toilet and sharing jokes in the Middle East with a camera Op as missiles streaked overhead; to the seriously humbling… meeting the wonderful women of the Aberfan Wives Club to spending time with a holocaust survivor in Belsen. Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back and laugh about now? I’ve made loads of mistakes, including a film once described by an exec in a viewing as the worst 30 minutes of his life (it got a bit better). But I'm not going to list them because I can't remember which ones I owned up to - and which ones I made right before anyone found out! Truth is, as long as no-one is maimed and you’re not fired, mistakes can be a good thing. They force us to learn, to review and reevaluate what we did and how we can do it much better next time. Importantly, they can and should also make us more understanding and compassionate when others do the same thing! What are your favourite TV shows? No surprises I’m a fan of news programmes - I still get a slight twinge of envy when a journo is covering a huge national or international story. I think the past few years have been the most extraordinary of many lifetimes and I feel my teams and I have collectively been across most of the biggest ones.

Probably also no surprise, I’m an avid watcher of documentaries. Netflix has done some amazing true crime series. Some I get by word of mouth, others because I love the title (Worst Roommate Ever). When I’m not watching crime docs - I’m still in love with Scandi-Noir dramas! Light relief comes in the shape currently of Stanley Tucci Searching for Italy on the BBC. It’s so simple and beautiful - he’s a gem of a presenter. And a big shoutout to Simon Reeves South America also. For complete escapism - The Mandalorian (It’s really a western set in space) Stranger Things (brilliant soundtrack) And I’m currently going through the entire Marvel catalogue with my daughter (great comedy). . READ MORE

01/07/2022

Ian Homans-Clark

Line Producer

I have been incredibly lucky to travel across the world, and worked with so many unbelievably talented people..

What’s your role at MultiStory? I am a Line Producer, which essentially is a Senior Production Manager. I tend to get allocated to the larger productions within the department. I look after the logistical and budget side of programmes, both being developed and in production. What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality? Going to the London Studios as a 16 year old on a Saturday morning to watch CD:UK got me into TV. I desperately wanted to be one of the crew with a headset and clipboard. I had no idea that I would eventually spend almost 8 years working in that building on the South Bank, something I am incredibly proud of!! I studied at Drama school in London, most of my friends went into the backstage West-End world but I persisted and made it into telly! What has been the highlight of your career so far? I have had many highlights - I have been incredibly lucky to travel across the world, and worked with so many unbelievably talented people - both on screen and off! Filming in the Etosha National Park in Namibia is pretty high on the list, plus the reaction we got from the first series of Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs, which was epic! What was your biggest “pinch me’ moment Again, so many to choose from. But I would say winning a National Television Award (at the first awards show you’d ever been to), walking up on stage and being name checked by Paul O’Grady in front of the nation really shines out. It was a great night!! Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back and laugh about now? Back in the olden days, when we still shot things on tape, I was put in charge of collecting all the studio rushes from the OB truck on a really huge show that had cost millions of pounds to put on. It wasn’t live so everything we shot was on a stack of tapes. As I started to descend the steps from the truck, I tripped, fell, and dropped the entire show’s footage on a concrete floor. You could have heard the gasps of shock from the other side of London. In that moment my entire career flashed before my eyes, I was convinced that was it for me. Thankfully, somehow, all the tapes survived the fall and the show was fine. Even so, I had nightmares about it for weeks…. What are your favourite TV shows? I have a very eclectic taste in TV shows - Ru Paul’s Drag Race is a definite favourite, Benidorm (currently watching for the second time round on Netflix), anything with Rick Stein in it, news and current affairs, and The Crown. READ MORE

01/07/2022

Jane Smith

Head of Production

I fell into TV 40 odd years ago when I was 18 (no degree here)..

What’s your role at MultiStory? I lead a team of 14 Production Managers, 1 Production Executive in London and a Deputy Head of Production in Manchester. What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality? I fell into TV 40 odd years ago when I was 18 (no degree here), I started working for a company that duplicated video cassettes of feature films, I then went on to work for two post production companies before going freelance as a PM at 25. I started at ITV in 1998 on a 3 month contract, and never left. What's the biggest hurdle you've had to overcome to get to where you are? When I started my freelance career, production management in TV was still in its infancy. Previously the role had been split between other areas and gaining respect for the role has been a theme throughout my career. I’m pleased to say that today we are seen as equal and important members of the team. What has been the highlight of your career so far? I am very proud of the team I’ve built at Multistory, but I suppose the moment that changed my career trajectory was being the PM on the very first “I’m a Celebrity- Get me out of here”. As soon as I heard about the idea I was determined to be the Production Manager. It was incredibly challenging but I am still so proud of what we achieved. What was your biggest “pinch me’ moment Early on in my freelance PM career I made a show called “Linda McCartney - behind the lens” for the BBC. We went to New York as part of the filming and ended up filming on a boat in the Hudson River. We were expecting Linda to be there of course, but the entire McCartney family turned up. During a filming break Paul got his guitar out and started playing and singing. The entire crew stood there in absolute awe, and I remember thinking “don’t blink, don’t miss a second of this. Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back and laugh about now? Many, many learning curves but one moment of comedy stands out. I was working with a Russian Feature film crew who came to London in the 1990’s. I’d planned a lovely schedule for everything they needed to shoot across the week, but on the day they arrived it became clear that they hadn’t read a single word of my notes, and wanted to squash the week into 3 days so they could have the rest of the week off in London. The Director got into a black cab and proceeded to do a mini tour of London to show us where he wanted to film. Buckingham Palace, and Westminster Abbey were on the list, the Tower of London “looked Italian” and so was deemed unsuitable - he said this in front of two Beefeaters. I don’t speak Russian but ‘niet, probleme’ became my phrase of the day. Finally he settled on an area behind Selfridges to shoot a sequence that involved a period horse and carriage, which I duly rebooked and managed to get permission even though it was a Bank Holiday. On the day the horse, a beautiful white stallion called Cadbury, and carriage, arrived with the handler. Then the actors arrived who were going to sit in the carriage. They were all, ahem, on the larger side shall we say. They got into the carriage and I quietly went over to the handler and asked if the horse would be okay pulling that weight. The handler said “I wouldn’t worry about that love, his front feet aren’t even on the ground”, as he said that Cadbury rolled his eye back to look at me as if to say “you have to be f***ing kidding me” and the phrase ‘niet, probleme’ came into play again. What are your favourite TV shows? I love the Handmaids Tale, I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Bake Off, Peston, True Crime both Drama and Documentary- Code Blue and The Staircase are examples and I’m currently enjoying The Lazarus Project on Sky and Sherwood on the BBC. READ MORE

03/06/2022

David Leach

Development Producer

My guilty pleasure is sitting under a blanket with a pot of tea and a McDonalds' and watching an entire week's worth of Four in a Bed..

What’s your role at MultiStory? My job title is Development Producer. I lead the development team in Manchester. Day-to-day that means I help MultiStory win commissions by writing treatments, making taster tapes, finding and negotiating access, having brainstorms, originating ideas, and developing formats. What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality? I left university in 2006 with a politics degree and no idea what I wanted to do with my life, I was the first person in my family to get a degree so I felt completely lost. I applied for work experience anywhere I thought would look good on my CV - The local paper, My MP’s office and the BBC. I was lucky that BBC Current Affairs in Manchester said yes first, otherwise I might have ended up in politics!

It took some dedication and the commute was horrendous. I was 20 and had returned home from uni to live with my dad in Preston. I left the house at 6 am and got home after 8 pm. Despite the long hours I always kept a smile on my face and tried to make myself indispensable. I brought ideas to the department's weekly meetings, I learnt how to use the digibeta machines, and I would speak to anyone who made eye contact with me.

It worked; next thing I know I’m living in Salford and working as a runner on a Panorama about Jill Dando. I spent 18 months in the department as a runner then as a researcher - It’s also where I first met MultiStory North’s Creative Director Ceri Aston. I took every opportunity open to me - I learnt how to shoot, how to write briefs, how to manage tapes and one of my ideas even made it in front of a commissioner. For a brief time, I was in charge of feeding the fish in the department fish tank...this did not end well. What's the biggest hurdle you've had to overcome to get to where you are? Freelance life is tough, especially when you’re new to the industry. When the work dries up you have to move heaven and earth to get back in the game. I would often move to where the work was. In my career I’ve been based in Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff.

I remember moving to London in 2009 as a researcher thinking that I would be able to find work easily and maybe grow my career quickly. I went to a lot of meetings with SPs and PMs but instantly felt like i didn't fit in every time - long hair, bonkers CV, funny accent. I had to take a temp job at Camden Council ringing up council tenants about their kitchens.

I kept in touch with all my contacts in the regions, and after a couple of months I was working back in Manchester as a casting researcher on Snog Marry Avoid - one of the most fun projects I’ve done. What has been the highlight of your career so far? Whilst I have worked in Development for 7 years some of my best memories are from being on production. I’m really fortunate to have worked an a huge variety of programmes - I was part of the OG Geordie shore casting team, I’ve worked on gritty murder documentaries, Dick and Dom Countryfile and Crimewatch Roadshow too!

But my highlight has was being a PD for BBC Arts during Hay Festival, I have never met so many famous and clever people all at once - best bit was spending the afternoon hanging out with Gary Fisher the french Bulldog and his owner Star Wars Actress Carrie Fisher - Childhood dream. What was your biggest “pinch me’ moment I have had 2 stints working at the Royal Collection creating content for their art exhibitions and online. Each time I got a lovely office at St James Palace, with soldiers wandering past every half an hour, I would have lunch at Buckingham Palace canteen and would be allowed to film in the palace and at Windsor when all the visitors had left. Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back and laugh about now? I started working in development because an exec took a chance on me. I moved from being a Shooting AP to an office-based ideas generator. It was a really fast learning curve. I made friends on my development team and I would ask questions about the process as much as I can - no one ever thought I was stupid because they all remembered what it was like to start out in development. What are your favourite TV shows? I really enjoyed Call My Agent, I’m a big fan of Derry Girls, and Gogglebox is always a treat, I’m the kind of person who watches Peston before going to bed and the latest season of Great Pottery Throwdown was an absolute joy to watch. But my guilty pleasure is sitting under a blanket with a pot of tea and a McDonalds' and watching an entire week's worth of Four in a Bed. READ MORE

05/05/2022

Ros Malthouse

TALENT EXECUTIVE

This year we came second in Broadcast’s Best Places to Work survey..

What’s your role at MultiStory? I am a Talent Exec at MultiStory which means that I find all the freelancers to work on our productions, from runners up to Execs, and once they are here I look after them and work hard to make the culture of the company a friendly, welcoming and supportive one. This year we came second in Broadcast’s Best Places to Work survey so hopefully that means we’re doing a good job on that front! What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality? I’ve always loved watching TV, but to work in it as a career was suggested to me when I had a job cold calling tractor companies as a student. My boss on that also worked at ITV and suggested I apply for a graduate trainee scheme that he was involved in. That was learning the business side of TV, but I used it as a springboard into making programmes, and then 7 years ago I moved from producing into Talent Managing. What's the biggest hurdle you've had to overcome to get to where you are? I think this answer will come as a surprise to people who know me now, but I would say my shyness. Straight out of University I was incredibly shy and found having to constantly start over again with new people, new offices, new projects very difficult. In the long run though it has been really good for me as now I can chat to anyone, and these days talking to people is the majority of my job. What has been the highlight of your career so far? So many to choose from… hanging out with the oldest gorilla in the UK, taking Jamie Oliver on a US roadtrip and working with Russell Brand and his many love interests were amazing but I think it has to be founding the ITV trainee researcher scheme, which is now in its second year and has already produced some incredible new talent. Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back and laugh about now? Back in the day I worked on a reality show called ‘The Club’. As the name would suggest it was filmed in a nightclub and I got a call one night at 4am to say we’d been thrown out of the club and could I set up some filming for that day as there was still a programme going out that night. I learnt two lessons from that: 1) turn your phone off at night, and 2) you can turn anything around in 24 hours. What are your favourite TV shows? I have really varied tastes and watch everything from Selling Sunset and Love is Blind to documentaries like Once upon a Time in Iraq, Thatcher, and Confessions of a Drugs Mule. As a family we absolutely love In for a Penny. That got us through the dark days of lockdown, I have been known to laugh until I cried at the Sausage roll game… READ MORE

08/04/2022

Ana de Moraes

Chief Creative Officer

The most surreal moment was having a chat with Kanye West’s manager on the phone while my 2 year old was running around me in the Transport Museum...

What’s your role at MultiStory? I’m responsible for the creative strategy of the company, overlooking the development of all new ideas, pitching to broadcasters, and working with our Executive Producers on key editorial decisions of all our programmes. What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality? Back in 2004, I spotted a job ad that said “Do you like TV? Do you think you can come up with ideas for a TV show?” It was for Endemol’s Development Internship scheme. I applied not really knowing what it was all about. I was selected and I couldn’t believe I would be paid to come up with ideas for TV shows. I stayed at Endemol for a couple of years learning the art of developing and pitching ideas, and working as a researcher in a couple of productions. Then I went to Twenty Twenty, where I got my first commissions away, including The World’s Strictest Parent, The Choir and First Dates. What's the biggest hurdle you've had to overcome to get to where you are? I’m originally from Brazil, so when I first moved to the UK in 2000, my CV didn’t mean anything to anyone. English is my second language, so sometimes I will get words wrong, or won’t understand an expression. I’ve been living in the UK for over 20 years now and I’m a lot more confident, but at the start of my career I was very self conscious about having an accent, and not understanding every cultural reference in a conversation. There have been many times when I’ve been patronised at work when people have made wrong assumptions about me because of where I’m from, but I’ve also been very lucky to work with many people who have seen my background as a positive point of difference. What has been the highlight of your career so far? I still don’t believe I get paid to come up with ideas for TV shows. I really adore what I do, and think it’s a real privilege. Some of the shows I’ve helped create have had a huge impact in people’s lives - there are people who got married and had babies after meeting on First Dates! I know it’s not saving lives, but it feels good. Winning a few Bafta and RTS awards has been pretty nice too! What was your biggest “pinch me’ moment? I worked with Rihanna in a series called Styled to Rock. Having meetings with her was pretty cool. But the most surreal moment was having a chat with Kanye West’s manager on the phone while my 2 year old was running around me in the Transport Museum. Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back and laugh about now? My first production job was to cold call companies trying to blag prizes for a game show. Having the phone hung up on me hundreds of times a day was soul destroying, but it made me appreciate all the jobs that followed it that much more! What are your favourite TV shows? I love a good reality show, like Love is Blind and Married at First Sight. READ MORE

04/03/2022

Sarah Bishop Fenn

Production Manager

I think TV is one big learning curve, there is never a time when I think I know it all..

What’s your role at MultiStory? I am a Production Manager for MultiStory and have been at ITV for 10 years. I work on a wide range of programmes including daytime, makeover shows, current affairs, documentaries and more recently, factual entertainment. What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality? I grew up knowing two cameramen who worked for Central TV and Pebble Mill and their job looked like a lot of fun. They told me that if I wanted to get into TV I had to go to Ravensbourne College, which for me was the best opportunity I could have been given. I spent two years learning how to create and run a studio, how to edit and use cameras. The course was very practical, I only had one essay in the whole two years, which I loved. It’s thanks to my training that I would happily give any technical role a try if I was asked. At the end of the course I was lucky enough to go straight into a job at ITV Anglia and from there made contacts who helped me get a job in ITV London, which is pretty much where I have stayed. What's the biggest hurdle you've had to overcome to get to where you are? I think my only real hurdle was getting to know the route into TV and I feel very lucky to have known family friends who pointed me in the right direction. Early on in my career there were times where I didn’t have any TV work, but I was very fortunate to find my way back by calling the right person at the right time. What has been the highlight of your career so far? One of my highlights was meeting Captain Sir Tom, but I have also done so many fun things like have dinner with the Captain of a Warship, filming Father Christmas in Lapland with Peter Andre and his kids, filming on the Mall with TM for the Royal Wedding and being part of the Pride of Britain Awards. What was your biggest “pinch me’ moment? Weirdly it was when I was on 60 Minute Makeover and I suddenly realised that I was driving Terry Dwyer (from Hollyoaks) to the hotel. I was sat there thinking I used to watch this person on TV and now I am responsible for getting her safely to the hotel (I am happy to report I drove well and she didn’t complain about my driving). I also got very excited when I ended up in a lift with Jeffry from Rainbow! Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back and laugh about now? I think TV is one big learning curve, there is never a time when I think I know it all. There is always a new programme idea that comes along and we all sit there and think how the hell do we make that, but it always works. What are your favourite TV shows? At the moment I love crime programmes, but I generally just love to watch anything that doesn’t involve too much brain power at the end of the day. I pretty much always fall asleep in front of the tv. READ MORE

04/02/2022

Monica-Leigh Fourie

Production Coordinator

You don't need a film or tv degree to get into this industry..

What’s your role at MultiStory?

I’m a Production Coordinator.

What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality?

Growing up I have always been fascinated by the behind the scenes parts on DVD’s on both films and Television shows. Seeing how they were really made and all the nuggets of information on all the cast and crew. At the time I didn’t know anything about or anyone in the industry so to start it off I did Film Production at University, which in hindsight, even though I learnt a lot, you don’t need a film or tv degree to get into this industry.

After finishing my degree, I left wanting to be a DOP/Camera woman and so found a job as a camera department runner for an indie feature film. While on the film I ended up helping on the production side sorting hotels, catering and travel. From this I fell in love with the production side of both film and TV so started off as a runner and worked my way up

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

The highlight for me is the sheer variety of shows that I have had the privilege to work on. Shows like Pride of Britain where I’ve had a whole host of celebrities to fangirl over and iconic shows such as Come Dine With Me which people get so excited to hear about. But seeing my name on the credits of a show like Hospital and Ambulance which tell such heart-warming and heart-breaking stories and knowing that I have contributed to that is really special.

What was your biggest “pinch me’ moment?

One of these moments that comes to mind is whilst working on Pride of Britain. I’ve had the joy of working on this show twice, once as my own show and again as a volunteer runner for the evening. It’s such a magical night because you are in a room surrounded with various television and sporting celebrities, where the likes of Steven Fry and Mo Farah causally walk past you in the corridors. The show celebrates such incredible people for various forms of bravery and achievements in their lives. You go home being in awe of a 4 year old and reflect on your contributions in life!

Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back on and laugh about now?

A lot of my disaster moments involve hire cars and all on the same show! From taking off the whole back bumper of our talent hire car (thankfully the talent wasn’t inside!), to being on a very tight schedule leading a crew convoy to the next location, only to realise half way into the 30 min round trip that I had all the other crew car/van keys in my back pocket.

I was once stuck with two hire cars in Liverpool on my birthday. All the branches had shut for the day, the trains were being cancelled and there was a very real chance of us having to drive them all the way back to London! Thankfully I found a hotel nearby where we could leave the cars and keys for them to be collected in time and a very, very sweet taxi man raced us back to the station for the last train out.

That or spending £400 on JUST washing tablecloths for Come Dine With Me when I thought I was only being charged £70!

What are your favourite TV shows?

I am a serial binger of TV shows so this list could be very long, so I’ll stick with one that made me want to get into tv, one I’m watching now and one I’ll recommend.

One of the shows that got me into the television industry would have to be Band of Brothers – slightly old school show but learning that all the actors had to go through army boot camp before stepping foot on set just made me love the show even more. More recently I am in love with Love so shows like Married at First Site and Love is Blind, watching shows where you can see love on the screen always makes me happy.

Lastly, I’ll leave you with crime shows, I am a sucker for most crime documentaries, especially ones with a plot twist like The Jinx. If you have not seen this you need to go see it now, it can be a bit heavy but the ending will leave you up until 3am. READ MORE

04/01/2022

Dinkesh Miesuria

Series Producer / Series Director

I got my first break whilst at the University of Manchester, where I pitched two half hour documentaries to ITV Granada and they were both commissioned and then the rest is history..

What’s your role at MultiStory?

I’m the series producer and series director of a brand new series for BBC Three called Dubai Hustle. As the title states, we shot the entire programme out in Dubai over a four month period. I oversaw the crew, storylines, schedules, the style of the series and most importantly the relationship with the "cast" and management of the real estate company at the centre of the show.

What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality?

I got my first break whilst at the University of Manchester, where I pitched two half hour documentaries to ITV Granada and they were both commissioned and then the rest is history, as they say. I then went onto direct a series of shorts for Channel 4 before working back in the department which won me the commissions and learned the craft of making programmes through the newsroom where I truly started my career.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Helping a particular contestant find her perfect wedding dress on ‘Say Yes to the Dress Lancashire’. The woman in question was visually impaired and would be choosing her dress through the sense of touch with the help of Gok Wan. It was really important to me as Series Director that she had the best experience and that we would capture it in a way that the viewer would really experience it too. That particular episode was what got the series nominated for a RTS award.

What was your biggest “pinch me’ moment?

‘Extreme Cake Makers’ in Cardiff winning the Broadcast Award for Best Daytime Programme. When the show was commissioned, there wasn’t much of a worked up format, just a taster tape of someone making an amazing cake. As the Series Producer, this meant I got to be very hands on developing the format to what it is today. I hadn’t realised my potential of creating a programme from scratch and I was so proud I helped shape an award winning show. I’m now always looking for ways to evolve the shows I’m working on so I can make them the best they can be...within the budget of course!

What are your favourite TV shows?

‘Piers Morgan’s Life Stories’ has that chat show charm but he gets to the heart and soul of the personality featured. The mix of raw interviews and VT's makes you feel like you’re watching a drama. It’s a light, non-offensive, digestible biopic. Piers is off to pastures new now, but I’m looking forward to seeing Kate Garraway take the reins. READ MORE

Photos by Lucy Elliston www.lucyelliston.com