11th October 2024

Meet Destiny Williams – Fresh Cuts PD

As part of the acclaimed Fresh Cuts Strand for Black History Month 2024, Destiny Williams makes their directorial debut for ITV, with their profile series Dogs of Grime.    Please tell us a little bit about yourself? Growing up performing really opened my eyes to the lack of opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds. That inspired me to pivot and really focus on bringing the stories to screen that often get left behind. I have been on all sides of the camera, as a YouTuber, public speaker, presenter, CastingProducer, writer and I just love all of it. I now run a platform called OLAM Productions (Of Lipstick and Melanin) which spotlights Black and Brown creatives over 25 years old and produces content which centres Black British experience. I’m also a freelance welfare officer in queer venues and that brings me immense joy. My side quest next year is to learn to ride a motorbike, so watch this space! Did you always want to work in TV? How did you land your first role? This is all I have ever wanted to do. I wish I had a fancy story, but I graduated during the first lockdown with a Mandarin and Politics degree (after living in China for a year) and saw an ad on Instagram for a 6-week online Content Production course. The programme sent us a job vacancy at a Production Company for a development researcher role, which I applied for and three years later here we are! Why did you apply for Fresh Cuts this year? I’ve been working primarily in casting recently (which I love), but I’ve missed getting those creative juices flowing, so this year I set myself a goal to Produce and Direct a project. I have wanted to be a filmmaker for as long as I can remember and finding funding opportunities for your own ideas can be difficult as it's hard to know where to go. I never expected I would have been fortunate enough to actually achieve it. I am so extremely grateful for the Fresh Cuts opportunity. What is your series about? My series is all about the relationship between rappers and their dogs. Each episode an artist and their pup sit down for a fun interview where they delve into their thoughts on Grime and UK Rap culture before doing a silly challenge with their dog. What has been your biggest challenge producing this series? Being in charge of a team was definitely a big adjustment. Stepping up from an AP to Producer and being the person people direct their questions to was a new experience. On a personal level, my own puppy Lillie-Savage passed away unexpectedly on the job I was on before Dogs of Grime, so naturally making this show made me miss her a lot but I got to work with the cutest dogs ever, so that really helped. What was your favourite part about making it? Directing the shoot is definitely up there because it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, and sitting behind the monitor on set and shooting the show for the first time is a feeling I will never forget. I would also say, I really enjoyed the pre-production process. There were many moving parts like coming up with interview questions, casting, choosing the challenges. Having the ability to just get really creative and make such a fun show has been an amazing experience.  What would your advice be for someone stepping up into a PD role? Self- doubt is a very real and natural thing, so my advice would be to trust your instincts. I would also remind people that it is okay to ask for help. When you step up it's easy to feel like you have to know everything but that’s not true. We have been so lucky this year to have such amazing people leading our series - shout out to Natalie Rose, Fabian Bohan-Taghian and Sarah Bishop-Fenn for being so brilliant! So, I would say ask questions, be bold and just go for it! And lastly, what are your favourite TV shows of all time and what are you watching at the moment? I am a serial re-watcher. Charmed and Prison Break are my ultimate comfort shows of all time, despite one being about a trio of sister witches fighting demons and the other being set in a crazy prison environment. There are so many great shows out now, but I have recently finished watching Ludwig and I am in awe, David Mitchell is a genius!  You can watch Dog of Grime on ITVX and the ITV YouTube channel from the 10th October.

1st October 2024

Meet Moses Ssebandeke – Fresh Cuts PD

As part of the acclaimed Fresh Cuts Strand for Black History Month 2024, Moses Ssebandeke makes his directorial debut for ITV, with his profile series Alter Egos.  Please tell us a little bit about yourself?  I started my filmmaking journey in 2007 at 15, and my self-written, self-directed comedy sketches have garnered over 100 million views online.  After graduating from the National Film and Television School, I've been involved in various comedy projects, short films, and TV dramas. Most of these have screened on the BBC. My work has been recognised with awards and screenings at prestigious festivals for example BFI short film of the month. In recent years, I've focused on feature films, writing and directing "Drapetomania" and "Double Booked." I'm also a co-founder of the Lionstooth film collective, where we produce innovative shorts and content. Did you always want to work in TV? How did you land your first role?   For as long as I can remember! One of my first roles was back in 2015 directing an interactive documentary starring Stormzy for a platform called “BBC taster”. The technology we used on the documentary went on to be used by Netflix for their first interactive film Bandersnatch which is part of the Black Mirror Series.  Why did you apply for Fresh Cuts this year?  I had an idea that centred on my friend called Paloma Aka Ronnie Knocks. Where we made a short doc about her wrestling journey. I had pitched the idea at various different places for 2 years and nearly gave up, but thought fresh cuts would be the perfect place for it, and by some miracle I got on the scheme.  What is your series about?   My series is called Alter Egos, where we follow ordinary individuals who have extraordinary alter egos!  What has been your biggest challenge producing this series?  I would say the casting process. I did come on the production with one contributor already (Paloma) but finding two more in a short space of time proved hard, but I had a great team that was able to help me find the perfect contributors!  What was your favourite part about making it?  I would say going around the country with the team filming the contributors. I was able to meet different people and get immersed into worlds that I wouldn’t have known existed.   What would your advice be for someone stepping up into a PD role?  I would say the word “EARLY” is your best friend. Everything from Getting in “early” and working on your edit “early” You might think you have all the time in the world, but that isn’t usually the case. So if there is anything you can do right away, do not wait and do it!  And lastly, what are your favourite TV shows of all time and what are you watching at the moment? I would say probably, The Simpsons or The Boondocks. I can’t get my head around how they are able to pack so much story and jokes in what is basically 22 minutes.  I’m really liking “Made in Korea” at the moment, I’m not a huge K-pop fan, but I’m invested! You can watch Alter Egos on ITVX from the 1st October. 

1st October 2024

Meet Sammy Ofori-Attah – Fresh Cuts PD

Sammy Ofori-Attah makes his directorial debut for ITV, with his profile series Black Magic With Trixy as part of the newly formed Fresh Cuts strand for Black History Month 2024.  Please tell us a little bit about yourself? I’m a Ghanaian-British director from Yorkshire and am now based in London. Did you always want to work in TV? How did you land your first role?   Yes! Ever since I was little, I’ve been interested in storytelling but in particular, through the screen. My favourite films and TV shows let me discover new things and different aspects of society but in an entertaining way. After completing some work experience with BBC Studios Drama and Comedy departments, I asked BBC Music if they had any roles going at Glastonbury. There was a runner role, which I interviewed for and I’ve been grateful for ever since, as it fulfilled a dream of working at Glastonbury.  Why did you apply for Fresh Cuts this year? I had just graduated from the Directing and Producing TV Entertainment MA at NFTS, so I was looking for related roles in unscripted TV, so Fresh Cuts looked perfect! And having seen previous episodes, I had an idea of how good the shows we make could be.  What is your series about?    "Black Magic with Trixy" explores the contributions of London's Black community to the city's history and heritage through the eyes of magician Trixy, who will perform culturally relevant magic tricks at significant locations during Black History Month. What has been your biggest challenge producing this series?   Time. I think every PD says they want more time at every stage of production but prepping six episodes, securing locations and contributors, whilst working on the format, was a lot for a relatively inexperienced PD as myself. But I was well supported and had a brilliant team to work with.  What was your favourite part about making it?   Following the above, it was the team. I learned so much from my Series Producer (Fabian Bohan-Taghian) and Exec. Producer (Natalie Rose) at all stages of production and a lot from the post-production team. I spent most of my time though with my crew of AP, Jake Whittle and researcher, Charlie Cane, who were a pleasure to work with and learn from, so hope to collaborate with them in future.   What would your advice be for someone stepping up into a PD role?   Stay healthy throughout your production - the usual things: eat well, sleep well, exercise, look after your mental health etc. Because you’ll be at your best when these things are at theirs.  And lastly, what are your favourite TV shows of all time and what are you watching at the moment? So many - I could write an essay! Actually, I once wrote an essay on Love Island. So that and Married At First Sight are two. You could learn everything you need to know about modern relationship and dating dynamics after watching a series of each!  I grew up on shows like Brasseye, Spooks, Top of the Pops, TFI Friday and Extras. Then some niche stuff like the BBC’s docudrama, ‘Smallpox 2002’ and related series, ‘If…’. They were so experimental and frighteningly real.  My absolute favourite though would be The Wire. To map out a five series arc from the beginning and actually execute it through to the end is incredible.  And I’m currently watching Slow Horses, Kin and Olivia Attwood’s Bad Boyfriends, which is filling a hole left by the brilliant Tool Academy all those years ago!

30th August 2024

ITV Expands Successful Fresh Cuts Strand for Disability History Month 2024 & takes new push into short series

ITV and MultiStory Media, part of ITV Studios, has today announced the return of the acclaimed Fresh Cuts strand. This year, marking an ITV first, the selected talent will produce/direct compelling short-form series which will air on ITVX and ITV’s digital channels as part of programming for Black History Month, and this year also for UK Disability History Month. As well as the move from single hours to short-form series, Fresh Cuts 3.0 welcomed aspiring directors to apply with or without an idea of their own, to produce content for this year’s strand. Making their directorial debut for ITV, the selected producer/directors for Black History Month 2024 are Moses Ssebandeke with his profile series Alter Egos, Sammy Ofori-Attah’s Black Magic with Trixy, and Destiny Williams’ light-hearted Dogs of Grime. For Disability History Month 2024, programming includes Stephanie Symington’s makeover series Date My Nan, Richard Walker’s Disabled talent-led chat show Unfiltered Women and Molly Dennis’ cooking show Takeaway or Fakeaway. Natalie Rose has been appointed as the Executive Producer, overseeing the strand for MultiStory Media, and Commissioning Editor Richard Botchway will oversee the series for Sue Murphy’s Fact Ent team. Fresh Cuts is funded through ITV’s £80 million Diversity Commissioning Fund, which launched in 2022. Over the past two years, Fresh Cuts has provided opportunities to eight directors, earning a BAFTA nomination along the way. Among them is Jason Osborne, whose first network documentary commission for ITV was nominated in the Emerging Talent: Factual category. Executive Producer for MultiStory Media, Natalie Rose said: “Fresh Cuts is all about championing underrepresented voices. Our content will be produced and directed by first-time talent from diverse backgrounds. Their perspective is central to producing this content and how it is executed. The move to short-form series and genre shift to more pop-y Fact Ent ideas is an exciting development for this year’s series. I can’t wait to see this very talented group of filmmakers put their take on these ideas, and get their first network directing credits along the way.” In conjunction with Black History Month and Disability History Month, as part of ITV’s commitment to support and commission content from diverse-led businesses, Amplify: the Companies was launched. As part of this initiative, two companies have been selected to produce a short-form series: one from a Disabled-led company and another from a company led by People of Colour. These series will be released during the respective commemorative months. Postcard Productions will produce Ash Holme - What Not To Do with Dad, following the presenter and content creator as she takes in different experiences with her Dad, and Gold Wala will produce Evil Escapes, following three disabled comedians, including "Lost Voice Guy" Lee Ridley, as they take a spooky road trip across the UK and attempt to prank and out-scare each while exploring Britain's scariest and weirdest attractions. Richard Botchway, Commissioning Editor at ITV, added: "Fresh Cuts has been a fantastic route to giving new talent their first network credits and I’m excited to be a part of this year’s series. The new short-form approach is intended to create engaging, more easily shareable content, with the potential to attract younger audiences and bring greater visibility to the series, wherever audiences choose to view their content. We’re also really excited to be working with Faraz at Gold Wala and Rich at Postcard Productions, in their first commissions from ITV.” Gold Wala MD Faraz Osman said: “Championing diverse voices through entertaining, fresh formats is what we are all about. So we are thrilled to be working with the ITV team and some of the UK's most exciting comedy talent to create a scarily funny new show that is sure to make you scream with laughter!” Postcard MD Rich Bentley said: "We are excited to bring the fabulous Ash Holme and her ever-patient dad, Phil, together in this entertaining format that combines outrageous adventures with real heart. We do not see father-daughter combinations on screen and Ash and Phil's unique and brilliant relationship offers a new way of exploring and challenging how we understand the modern world." Ade Rawcliffe, Group Director of Diversity and Inclusion at ITV, commented: “We’re proud to support new and emerging black and disabled talent as ITV champions authentic storytelling from fresh perspectives. With a notable gap in Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent talent at the Producer/Director level, expanding Fresh Cuts to mark Disability History Month allows us to support underrepresented talent in our industry.”

28th August 2024

The Career Story of…Simone Haywood

What’s your role at MultiStory? I’m the Creative Director in London and I oversee multiple productions at any one time whilst also helping to devise and develop and pitch new IP along with Ana and the development team. I am also the unofficial head of the ‘Mumsnet’ table in London where anyone is welcome to come and moan about sleepless nights, anti-aging must-haves and the virtues of Vinted What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality?   I’d like to say it was my starring role in Timmy Mallett’s Wacaday where, as a 7 year old, I got repeatedly hit over the head with a giant rubber mallet (for those under 40 - google it). But in truth - I was fortunate enough to come of age at a really exciting time in TV and I always knew that’s what I wanted to be a part of. I had no connections in TV and at that time it was definitely who you knew. However, I applied for a runner’s position at a Post Production company which was advertised in the Evening Standard (for those under 40 - this was how recruitment happened pre internet) and got the job. One of my first runs was to get breast feeding paraphernalia for the MD and to feed the reception area fish with stinky frozen fish food cubes. But from there I got to know some of the Producers who regularly used the edit facility and soon enough, I’d bagged myself an internship at MTV   What's the biggest hurdle you've had to overcome to get to where you are?  I think self doubt has probably been one of my biggest personal hurdles earlier on in my career. There have been two or three watershed moments  where I have been metaphorically pushed, shunted and shoved  by some amazingly supportive female leaders, to go for a promotion or take a job that I didn’t feel I was 110% qualified for. I also think it’s not easy climbing the career ladder and balancing being a mum too. I remember being about to burst at 7 months pregnant with twins and still commuting in and doing the hours that everyone else was doing - which, in retrospect, was bonkers. But things have definitely changed in the last 10 years and we are very lucky to work at Multistory which has been the most family-friendly company I’ve been at so far. What has been the highlight of your career so far?  I’ve had such a long and varied journey so far so there have been many. But a personal highlight was devising and developing (multi BAFTA award winning) Operation Ouch for CBBC. It was such a fun show to create and make - but it also felt like it was nourishing young minds (as opposed to rotting them!). And it’s still going strong over a decade later so we must have done something right. It was also a privilege to get to be a Commissioner at Channel 4 and see how things work at a Broadcaster. Plus bring to life some iconic shows of the time including Celebs Go Dating and Tattoo Fixers   What was your biggest “pinch me’ moment?  Getting to watch rehearsals of some of the most amazing performers up close at the BRITs - just me, the crew Prince, Amy Winehouse, The Streets and an empty auditorium. Amazing. Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back on and laugh about now?  The entire BBC3 studio got washed away one year at Glastonbury. That was a fun one - but we pivoted and still made it to air by 7pm. Finally - on a live Saturday morning show in the noughties, my SP volunteered me for an item where every single member of McFly had to lick chocolate off my face. I think this footage still exists on youtube - do not google it. What are your favourite TV shows?   I love a bit of escapism when I turn on the telly and definitely don’t want to feel stressed. So sunny reality like Selling Sunset/OC are my go-tos. Motherland is my life so that’s one of my all time favourites. And then to balance it all out, I love a good suspense drama. I recently binged all of the Slow Horses series on Apple and can’t wait for the new series to drop in September.

17th July 2024

The Career Story of… Nikki Ryan

What’s your role at MultiStory?    I am a Talent Executive based in London but I work across our Manchester office too. My role is varied but in essence I find freelancers to make all of our shows; from Runners all the way up to our Executive Producers. An important part of my job is looking after freelancers when they work for us and doing all we can to make MultiStory a creative, fun and fair place to work. We’ve had some lovely successes in the Best Places to Work in TV awards (particularly coming runner up).   What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality?    I always loved trying to work out how TV shows were made so once I graduated I decided to see if I could get in. My first running role was on What Not to Wear with Trinny and Susannah for BBC One. I felt like I’d won the lottery getting that job because I adored watching the show and knew it inside out. It taught me my first lesson in getting a job in tele - know the show you are interviewing for. Being passionate goes a long way; they gave me the job when I had zero experience. Over the following decade I became a researcher, AP and then Producer / Director at BBC Children’s and Entertainment and continued freelancing as a PD and Edit producer until I joined MultiStory as a Talent Manager in 2019.   What's the biggest hurdle you've had to overcome to get to where you are?    Probably the biggest hurdle was getting into TV right at the beginning of my career. I didn’t know anyone in the industry and I had a Business degree so it all seemed so out of reach. This is something I hear now from so many people trying to break in. But there’s no right or wrong way to get into tele, it’s a confidence game. You have to be prepared to give it your all and keep hustling!   What has been the highlight of your career so far?    There have been lots of highlights and really fun moments but on a day to day level, not having the Sunday night blues and genuinely enjoying my job has kept me in tele for 20 years. Working with so many different creative, interesting, clever people is so unique to TV.   What was your biggest “pinch me’ moment?   I filmed at Ozzie and Sharon Osbourne’s house in LA. It’s in an area called Hidden Hills which is a high end housing estate for celebrities surrounded of course by tons of security. Pulling up to their house with neighbours like J Lo and the Kardashians was heaven. I am terrified of dogs, and at one point I ended up bear hugging Ozzie from behind using him as a human shield from their dogs. He found it funny and thanked me for the hug.   Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back on and laugh about now?   Plenty of disasters and I still have PTSD from them all.   What are your favourite TV shows?   I love a bit of everything from reality to docs with some granny TV thrown in…..Love is Blind, The Kardashians, Selling Sunset, Antiques Roadshow, Alan and Amanda’s Tuscan adventures was a big hit with my 5 and 7 year olds, any and all true crime docs. The White Lotus and Succession are my absolute favourite drama’s of the last few years and One Day was so heartbreaking.

28th May 2024

The Career Story of… Aneeka Mahal

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?   I have always been a fan of TV since I was young, so I have always wanted to work in the industry. I took Media Studies at school and then studied Media and Communications at University. I was lucky to get onto a work experience scheme with ITV and learnt about all the different departments in Television. I carried on applying for placements at places such as Sky News and local production companies throughout school and university. Creative Access is an amazing organisation that always advertises opportunities in creative industries, it was through themselves that got me my first TV Credit as a Production Secretary on ‘Peston’ with MultiStory.    What's the biggest hurdle you've had to overcome to get to where you are?   I think getting my first opportunity in TV was the first big hurdle I’ve had to overcome. I learnt from the beginning that it was very important to try to gain as much experience in the industry as possible. I know this can be very hard, especially when you don’t know anyone in the industry but I kept a lookout for any opportunities and sent hundreds of applications. I’ve also learnt people love talking about what they do and it never hurts to contact people who are in roles that you’re interested in for advice.    What has been the highlight of your career so far?   There have been so many highlights of my career so far that it’s hard to choose one! Last year working on the ‘Pride of Britain Awards’ was definitely high up on my list. To work on a show that celebrates the achievements of remarkable people was an amazing experience to be a part of. Also, dancing in the background on Live TV with the crew to Big Zuu rapping in the kitchen on ‘The Big Breakfast’ is something I won’t forget.    What was your biggest “pinch me’ moment?  I have had so many “pinch me” moments whilst working in TV. Filming with David Beckham in a Pie and Mash restaurant and getting a photo with Anthony Joshua have to be on the list! Also getting my first ever TV credit was a huge “pinch me” moment because I have always wanted to work in TV/Film and would read the credits at the end to see all the different roles.    Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back and laugh about now?  I’ve learnt it’s very important to stay calm and flexible in all situations, even though it sometimes can be difficult to! TV is unpredictable and you have to be ready for anything that could be thrown at you. There have been moments where you think the worst thing that could ever happen, happens but then a day later you're laughing at the situation.    What are your favourite TV shows? I’m a TV addict so this is a hard question for me to answer! Succession, The Last of Us and Euphoria have definitely been some of my favourites in the last few years but I always go back to ‘feel goods’ like Gilmore Girls and Friends. Also of course, Come Dine With Me and Peston!

1st April 2024

The Career Story of…Fabian Bohan-Taghian

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)

1st April 2024

The Career Story of…Clare Miller

What’s your role at MultiStory? My main role is looking after The Martin Lewis Money Show Live, which, when we are on air, is out-puting the weekly live programme, helping Martin devise the programme content and overseeing the studio and outside broadcast elements. I am also part of the Multistory Senior Leadership Team.  What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality?   I always wanted to go into Television. I could probably credit the terrible school plays that I took part in but it was the process of building a 'production' from scratch that I was always enthusiastic about. I was lucky to get a chance to do work experience at Thames Television at Teddington Studios, running on This is Your Life, Men Behaving Badly, Chef, CNBC News & FTTV. They asked me back every holiday and from there I went out on all the news shoots with the reporters, helped edit the reports plus booked the guest financial analysts.  What's the biggest hurdle you've had to overcome to get to where you are?  I think that overcoming my naturally shy personality in an industry where extroverts shine. I am still learning to make my voice heard so that's a work in progress. This is something I try to instil within my teams. In terms of making a programme, throwing together The Martin Lewis Money Show in 4 days at the start of the pandemic, only knowing 3 people on the team, which included both presenters, and then working out a plan to rig Martin’s house without breaking ‘the rules’.  What has been the highlight of your career so far?   Seeing The Martin Lewis Money Show thrive and become part of the modern narrative. Being part of it and knowing that the programme can and has made a difference to people isn’t something I take for granted. The partnership that Martin and I have is something I am very proud of and greatly value.  What was your biggest “pinch me’ moment?   There are so many but here are a few that spring to mind; Going to 10 Downing Street in the snow, which felt like a scene from Love Actually. Working as an Intern at MTV in the early noughties and seeing Justin Timberlake, Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears appear on TRL. Getting to sit in Michael Schumacher’s F1 Ferrari, whilst they were in testing sessions at the Maranello track and getting an access all areas tour to Real Madrid’s Bernabeu Stadium. Smuggling Elton John’s dogs into Television Centre on the Paul O'Grady Show, to be honest there were so many moments on that show that were all pinch me moments.  Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back and laugh about now?  Getting thrown in the deep end feels like the worst way to learn but in fact for me it is the best. I lived in Spain for a year and worked for a financial rolling news channel and was asked to simultaneously translate the Queen Mother’s funeral and George Bush’s post 9/11 State of The Union Address. I cannot vouch for the accuracy of that translation…The channel no longer exists but I have very many happy memories of kicking off the breakfast news with a cheery yet terrified “Comencemos con los titulos”. Being the location researcher on Coach Trip was a huge learning curve! Sending the coach through the back streets of Seville where it got stuck springs to mind. In my defence it was the days before Sat Navs. The spa day turned into a walking tour through the cobbled streets! Another one was the satellite getting knocked out by a storm over Germany during the Martin Lewis Money Show Covid Series which connected Martin’s house to the studio. The last 10 minutes of the programme came via the mobile unit furiously inserting numerous sim cards. Not something I’d like to relive anytime soon. The moral of those tales is always have a back up!!!  What are your favourite TV shows?  West Wing, Sporting Documentaries such The Last Dance about Micheal Jordan’s career, At Home with the Fury’s, Supervet, The Traitors. Oh and obviously…The Martin Lewis Money Show Live, ITV Tuesdays at 8pm!

1st March 2024

The Career Story of…Joanna Lewis

JOANNA LEWIS Production Manager   What’s your role at MultiStory? I’m a Production Manager, based in Manchester. Having begun my career at ITV over fourteen years ago, I’m proud to say I’ve worked on some amazing shows, most of them here at MultiStory; such as Tonight, Leader’s Debates, Peston, Project Icon and the ground-breaking 7 Up Series. For the past four years I’ve also been volunteering as a co-chair for the ITV Pride Network (my gay job as I call it!) and work really closely with ITV’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team.   What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality?     I remember visiting the Granada Studios Tour and telling myself that one day I wanted to work there. I’ve got a photo of myself on the cobbles aged 9, outside the Rovers! From then on, I grew up with a passion to work in the creative industries and achieved a BA Hons in Design For Film and Television. My degree helped me gain my first TV role in 2009 (and my first step into the Granada Studios offices!); working as a prop assistant on 60 Minute Makeover for Shiver (who are now, us - MultiStory Media).   I then spent a couple of years running, and realised that my skills and interests fitted very nicely into Production Management. In 2011 I stepped up into my first Production Secretary role and I’ve never left ITV since!   What's the biggest hurdle you've had to overcome to get to where you are?     If I’m going to be honest, I think that the hurdles I faced early on in my career mirrored those that I’d subconsciously been dealing with my whole life - a lack of self understanding. And with this came a lack of confidence. After going on quite a powerful, personal journey, coming out as LGBTQ+, I had the realisation that actually confidence came from being proud to be you. And a large part of feeling proud came from being able to feel visible, represented and supported.   Whilst moving through my career, I started taking more and more of an interest in the work that was being done around inclusion and creating safe spaces. I had a realisation that my longing to help tell diverse stories was why I wanted to work in the industry all along, and that I also wanted to help play a part in creating an inclusive working environment. It is, in part, why I started volunteering for ITV Pride - I wanted to be visible to help others be confident and proud to be themselves. But it’s also why I love my role at MultiStory - I’m very proud to work for a department that takes inclusion as seriously as it does.   What has been the highlight of your career so far?    Working across two series of the original 7 Up films, and two series of the 7 Up Millennium Generation series, has been an absolute career highlight for me. Not only are the films a highlight in themselves, I was given the opportunity to travel and interview the cast in some incredible places, such as Bulgaria, France and New York (and on a side note - filming with the legendary Michael Apted at midnight on Time Square was an experience that will stay with me forever!) As a fan of the films before I started working on them, I will forever be grateful that I’ve been able to work with and learn from such an inspirational and experienced group of filmmakers. It really is true that once you’ve joined the Ups family, you’re with them for life!   What was your biggest “pinch me’ moment?     I was lucky enough to be on the Production Management team for Project Icon and I remember there being a moment whilst watching Jason Derulo and Becky Hill (two of the judges) recording a link. As Becky Hill recorded her jingle, it hit me. Was I really stood watching Becky Hill singing in such an intimate environment to Jason Derulo? The whole experience of working on the series was so surreal.   I was lucky enough to interview the winner of the series (Dylan and the Moon) on our ITV Pridecast and I was so full of pride that I worked for a department who was responsible for finding and giving amazing opportunities to such raw, diverse talent.   Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back and laugh about now?    As a Production Manager the most important thing you learn is the importance of being flexible and empathetic. You find that you are constantly foreseeing potential curveballs, problem solving, fire fighting, learning and implementing new ways of working. And I love it all! Working across the 7 Up series over the decades is one of the most unique examples of this. It's incredible to see how much can change as time moves on and how adaptable you have to be.‘28 Up: Millennium Generation’, for example, was filmed in the heart of lockdown and was definitely an experience I don’t think any of the team will forget. I look back now and laugh at those bizarre moments where we were travelling up and down the country, adapting our shoots to match the ever-changing lockdown rules in each city, as we went along.   What are your favourite TV shows?     My taste in TV shows is very varied. Dramas with gritty or unique storylines; such as Fool Me Once, Bodies, Black Mirror, Alice in Borderland and Squid Games. That being said, I do love a reality show. I’m hooked on Traitors at the moment - no spoilers though please, as I’m behind on all the drama! Overall, I love any show which celebrates as much diverse representation as possible, and keeps me hooked with surprise twists or cliffhangers.