John Comerford, Head of Naked West, lifts the lid on how iconic legacy shows like Grand Designs, Escape to the Country and Great British Railway Journeys stay relevant after decades on air - and what it really takes to future-proof long-running television in a digital-first world.

From leadership lessons learned across an impressive career, to keeping Kevin McCloud, Michael Portillo and the team behind the cameras creatively energised, John explains how teams protect the core of a heritage brand while still needing to evolve it for new audiences.

We dive into why legacy shows don’t die because digital grows, the real reasons some formats fade away, how social and spin-offs like Grand Designs Deconstructed are assisting the TV landscape, and the one warning every producer should take seriously: don’t enter “the dying rooms” by failing to innovate.

If you’re making long-running series, pitching new IP, or trying to understand how broadcast and digital work together now, this episode is essential listening.

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Recorded by Ashley Golder - https://ashleygolder.tv/
Instagram @tvmakerspod
Email: Podcast@tvmakers.co.uk

Artwork by Benjamin Leon -
Instagram: @benleondraws
Website: www.benleondraws.com