What’s your role at MultiStory?
I’m based in MultiStory’s Manchester office and work in both Development and Production. I’ve been a Series Producer on programmes like Dubai Hustle and Christmas Carols On ITV while I also lead the Development team here in Manchester focusing on reality and talent led ideas. I’ve been able to work with and learn from some real MultiStory LEGENDS like Ceri, Helen, Ana, Matt, Tim, Simone, Zinia, Jo, Kate, Viki, Candice, Holly and a plethora of others which has been absolutely sensational!!!
What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality?
When MediaCityUK opened, the BBC were offering unpaid work experience placements to Northerners to get them into Telly. I did 4 weeks at Blue Peter (I did get a Blue Peter badge although I’ve since lost it) and fell in love with making TV.
About a year after my work experience placement ended, CBBC offered me a full time job as a Runner on Marrying Mum & Dad; a show where kids planned their parents’ weddings. Over the course of a series, we filmed a Strictly themed wedding, a Caribbean Carnival themed wedding and threw two gay Dads out of a plane for their Secret Agent themed wedding – FABULOUS!!! The rest as they say is history…
What’s the biggest hurdle you’ve had to overcome to get to where you are?
Being based in the North. While the TV industry in the North has grown in the past 10 years, the industry here is still much smaller than in London so there’s less opportunity and less face time with key decision makers.
Working in Development at MultiStory has been invaluable for my personal career growth as the teams in London and Manchester work so closely together, so it’s allowed me to build relationships and sit at tables with people I would never have met if I was working elsewhere.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Being selected by Edinburgh Festival as one of 30 ‘Ones To Watch’ in 2020. I was the only person from that year’s cohort that was based in Manchester, so I felt l’d won the X-Factor in the immediate aftermath of the announcement as so many people in the City were congratulating me.
It also led me to MultiStory as I chose our esteemed Creative Director of MultiStory Media North, Ceri Aston, as my senior industry mentor for 12 months. It turns out that my CV had already landed on Ceri’s Desk for the Story Producer role on Dubai Hustle Series 1, so after a lengthy interview process I got a job and a mentor!
What was your biggest “pinch me’ moment?
Dubai really is the new land of opportunity, so living and working there while filming Seasons 1, 2 and 3 of Dubai Hustle has been pretty special. I’ve spent over a year of my life there now, so it’s like a second home and I’ve made amazing friends who still live out there that I couldn’t imagine living without.
Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back and laugh about now?
Have you got a spare 10 years for this answer?!!!
My biggest learning curve has been to fully embrace who I am as people see right through you if you’re putting on a front. For the avoidance of doubt – I’m a gobby Manc with a quiff and a penchant for fake tan!
Also…I once thought Daniella Westbrook was going to make a complaint to the press about a show I was working on, so proceeded to tell the Exec that we should prepare for an expose in The Sun. It turns out I’d got the wrong end of the stick, nobody was making a complaint and the person I’d spoken to wasn’t actually Daniella Westbrook (she did sound like her though). Love you Daniella <3
What are your favourite TV shows?
Coronation Street, X-Factor, Big Brother, Real Housewives Of…, Love and Hip Hop…, Strictly, Newsnight, Question Time and Vanderpump Rules
(I’m totally lying about Newsnight and Question Time btw)