Andy Mundy-Castle - Founder of Doc Hearts, and director of BAFTA-winning White Nanny, Black Child, joins TV Makers to unpack the real craft of documentary storytelling and what it genuinely takes to run a purpose-led indie in one of the toughest TV markets we've ever seen.

Andy shares how his background and lived experience shaped his filmmaking: stories rooted in truth, crafted with cinematic ambition, and always led by empathy over exploitation. We break down his creative “toolkit” and how he uses structure, emotional pacing, and careful contributor relationships to protect authenticity without losing audience engagement.

Andy also opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship in TV: early-business near-bankruptcies, delayed commissions, surviving the festival circuit, navigating distribution, building culture inside a small team, and why networking is still key. Plus his unfiltered take on the industry’s existential moment - fewer, bigger, better; digital disruption; burnout; and why now is the time for creatives to diversify, industrialise their skills and rediscover the value of good storytelling.

If you’re directing, developing your own docs, juggling career crossroads or considering starting a production company, this episode is packed with lived experience, practical frameworks and the kind of honesty rarely said out loud in TV.

Enjoying the new series?
Please share, rate and subscribe. Whether you're watching on YouTube or listening on your favourite podcast app, drop us a comment or connect with us on Instagram at @tvmakerspod.

Thank you to our Sponsors:

RIMMS - https://www.rimms.tv

The Kit House - https://www.kithouserental.co.uk

Directed By Good - https://www.directedbygood.com

Edited By Ben Seal

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

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

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.

Enjoying the new series?
Please share, rate, and subscribe. Whether you’re watching on YouTube or listening on your favourite podcast app, drop us a comment or connect with us on Instagram at @tvmakerspod.

Got a question or guest suggestion?
Email podcast@tvmakers.co.uk

Thank you to our Sponsors:
RIMMS- https://www.rimms.tv
The Kit House - https://www.kithouserental.co.uk
Directed By Good - https://www.directedbygood.com

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

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

Channel 4’s Senior Commissioning Editor and Business Operations Lead for Digital, Laura Marks, reveals the insider rules behind digital commissioning, what most producers get wrong, what Channel 4 really looks for and how to create digital gold in a post-linear world.

From understanding the “minus 10 seconds” rule for thumbnails to balancing data with gut instinct, Laura breaks down how her team commissions content for YouTube and social platforms, why not everyone can do it, and why risk, access, and creativity still matter more than algorithms.

If you’ve ever wondered how to pitch to Channel 4 Digital, what defines a true “YouTube-first” idea, or how traditional TV teams can adapt to the changing landscape, this episode is essential listening!

Enjoying the new series? Don't underestimate the power of the share, rate, and subscribe bit! It really helps! Whether you’re watching on YouTube or listening on your favourite podcast app, drop us a comment, or connect with us on Instagram at @tvmakerspod

Got a question or guest suggestion? Email us at podcast@tvmakers.co.uk

Thank you to our Sponsors:
RIMMS- https://www.rimms.tv
The Kit House - https://www.kithouserental.co.uk
Directed By Good - https://www.directedbygood.com


Edited By Ben Seal

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

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

What happens when a podcast refuses to play by podcast rules?

To kick off Series 4 of TV Makers, I sit down with Anthony Smith - Director of Trailers for The Diary Of A CEO - to uncover how a show once told it had “no right” to build a full-scale production has become one of the biggest podcasts in the world.

Anthony takes us inside the trailer strategy that’s helped drive that success - from the must-have ingredients of a killer trailer to the tiny, deliberate beats that make people stop scrolling and lean in. He then shares how data and analytics supercharge that creativity: testing thumbnails, analysing performance, and crafting every moment with purpose.

We talk:

• Why podcasting has outpaced TV on audience insights and targeting
• How data and creativity work together to create “must watch” trailers
• Why trailers are now one of the most powerful storytelling tools in the business
• And what TV can learn from digital if it wants to catch up.

If you work in TV and want to understand the shift that’s already happened, this one’s for you.

Hit play, and let’s get into it.

Enjoying the new series? Please share, rate, and subscribe. Whether you’re watching on YouTube or listening on your favourite podcast app, drop us a comment, or connect with us on Instagram at @tvmakerspod

Got a question or guest suggestion? Email us at podcast@tvmakers.co.uk

Thank you to our Sponsors:

RIMMS - https://www.rimms.tv

The Kit House - https://www.kithouserental.co.uk

Directed By Good - https://www.directedbygood.com

Edited By Ben Seal

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

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

True Crime, Tough Calls, and the Role of the Series Producer

For the Series 3 finale of TV Makers , we're joined by Award-winning Series Producer Zoe Hines, behind some of Netflix's biggest shows including the acclaimed, I Am a Killer.

Zoe lifts the lid on what it really means to lead a high-profile, ethically complex documentary series—discussing everything from legal and editorial responsibilities to the professional care of victims, contributors, and production teams.

We also dig into the role of an SP, her perspective on the rising expectation for SPs to shoot, and how she sets up systems to protect teams on the ground and in the edit.

If you heard the intro where I gush over Peak Design: check them out here.

If you want to get in touch with Zoe, she can be found on LinkedIn, here.

Thanks again for listening, and we'll see you in Series 4!

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

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

Post-production is an ecosystem of constant decisions for an ever-changing goalpost… so what does it take to run post at a major broadcaster like Sky?

This week on TV Makers, I sit down with Adam Downey, Director of Post Production at Sky, to find out how he keeps one of the UK’s biggest post departments running—smoothly, sustainably, and at serious scale.

We talk tight schedules, futureproofing systems, the human side of leadership, and why understanding post earlier in the process can save everyone time, money, and a whole lot of stress. Adam’s mission? To demystify post and help all of us—across production and editorial—work smarter, not harder.

If you’ve ever handed over to post and crossed your fingers… this one’s for you.

🎧 Hit play, and let’s go.

Enjoying the series? Please share, rate, and subscribe. You can follow us on Instagram @tvmakerspod, or email podcast@tvmakers.co.uk with guest suggestions or questions. Let’s keep the conversation going!

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

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

Publicists! Often portrayed as the mysterious force behind the scenes—crafting hype, dodging scandal, and spinning gold from a well-placed quote. But how much of that is myth, and what does brilliant PR really look like in today’s TV landscape?

This week we’re joined by Gem Pinkney, Director of TV at Multitude Media and a master of the campaign game. From knowing which assets will actually cut through (hint: AI might be choosing them for you…) to explaining why bringing PR in early—not just when there’s a crisis—can be the key to turning a good show into a hit, Gem reveals how PR can make or break a series.

Without a strategic PR campaign, your show might not just struggle—it might not even be seen. Or… with the right help, you might just be on your way to accepting that BAFTA?!

So what are you waiting for, stop reading this, and get to listening!

If you’ve been enjoying the series, please share, rate, and subscribe. We’d love to hear from you—drop us a comment in your podcast app or connect with us on Instagram at @tvmakerspod, where we post all our behind-the-scenes content.

Got any questions or ideas for future guests? You can email us at podcast@tvmakers.co.uk.

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

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

Talent Agents! — cloaked in TV myth as orchestrators of extravagant demands, from bowls of blue M&Ms to first-class travel for their star clients. Let’s separate fact from fiction and uncover what really goes on in the world of talent representation!

This week we’re joined by Alex Segal, Managing Director of InterTalent, one of the UK’s largest talent agencies. With over a decade at the helm, Alex shares what it takes to sign, manage, and book talent. Oh, and about that word “talent”… should we even be using it? We’ll talk about that too!

We’ve seen an avalanche of “talent” self-destruct in recent years, leaving chaos in their wake. So, how do Talent Agents stop their clients from getting too big for their proverbial boots—and how can they help steer them back on track?

You can learn more about Talent agents with Alex's extremely honest blog "Dealmakers" here and check out InterTalent here!

If you’ve been enjoying the series, please share, rate, and subscribe. We’d love to hear from you—drop us a comment in your podcast app or connect with us on Instagram at @tvmakerspod, where we post all our behind-the-scenes content.

Got any questions or ideas for future guests? You can email us at podcast@tvmakers.co.uk.

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

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