SuperSizer 2024/25: Meet the Delegates

Get to know the thirteen successful applicants from across the Nations and Regions who are taking part in this year’s SuperSizer programme.

SuperSizer is a professional development programme for ambitious Development Executives based in the Nations and Regions who want to win high value commissions.

This programme is funded by Screen Scotland, BBC Nations and Channel 4.

Ally is a former newspaper journalist who has been working as an unscripted Development Producer since 2021, specialising in premium factual, documentaries and fact-ent formats.

He developed the upcoming feature doc, “Michael Johnson: Super Man”, which charts the career and stroke recovery of the Olympic icon, as well as the entertainment documentary, “Eurovision Calling”, for BBC One.

He is currently Development Producer at Firecrest Films, where his recent commissions include the four-part Channel 4 series “Secrets of the Supermarket Buyers” and a yet-to-be-announced true crime / social history series for the BBC. Further series are in paid development with Channel 4 and a major global streamer.

As well as working in print journalism, Ally was previously a Producer on ITV’s “Good Morning Britain” and a Senior Creative for News UK, producing digital content for The Times and The Sunday Times.

Catriona has been working in TV for 20 years, starting out in London as a researcher on shiny floor, Saturday night entertainment shows such as “Strictly Come Dancing” and later day time shows such as “Weakest Link” and “Ready Steady Cook”. She moved home, via Dublin over 14 years ago to produce a range of local and network shows before focusing on development over the past number of years.

Catriona has won a variety of commissions – factual series and documentaries – some of which she enjoyed producing also. Following a three-year career break to juggle family life, Catriona joined newly formed regional indie, High Rock Media as a Development Executive almost one year ago.

She has just secured their first commissions for two UK Broadcasters and is continuing to develop a range of factual and lifestyle formats for broadcasters in both the UK and Ireland. She is excited to be able to make returnable series out of the Regions, staffed by regional talent and hopes this is the start of a raft of commissions!

Jack Archer is a Scottish documentary film director. For over a decade he has made films about Scottish culture and its impact on the world. His latest film “Bill Douglas: My Best Friend” premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2023 and told the story of the extraordinary friendship between director Bill Douglas and his lifelong companion, Peter Jewel.

His first film “Bothy Life” told the story of the people who maintain communal huts in the wild reaches of the mountains. His second “Village of Dreams” was about a village community that cares for adults with support needs as part of the Camphill Network which can now be found all over the world.

He has made TV documentaries for BBC Scotland, the most recent was a new year special called “Ooh the Banter” which celebrated the Scottish sense of humour as part of the centenary celebrations for the BBC.

As part of Hopscotch Films, he has travelled to South Africa to help tell the story of the Scots who fought against Apartheid and to Russia to explore the Scottish influence on the country.      

Joanna has been development producer at MacTV since 2015. She lives in Edinburgh and works remotely for the award-winning Hebridean indie, which is a main supplier of factual content to Gaelic broadcaster BBC ALBA. Joanna develops and edit produces MacTV’s slate of international co-productions, from historical biogs, such as Icelandic co-pro “The Far Traveller”, to internationally distributed natural history series such as “Tide” and “Rain: The Untold Story”.

In the last year an increased focus on broader and network development has seen her complete a natural history series, produce a BBC Scotland and network documentary and make films for BBC The One Show. Her ambition is to develop a long running, returning format like “A Place in the Sun”. Or plan B is to just move to a Place in the Sun.

Kieran has been director of development at True North in Leeds for the last three years. His work across the company’s broad slate which includes high volume lifestyle, premium access documentary series, talent led formats and true crime.

With a number of series commissioned over the past few years, and conscious of the squeeze in middle TV, he is keen to create distinctive new series brands in both low cost, high volume and premium format space. Kieran has previously worked in development in house at the BBC and at a range of indies including Outline, Double Act and Gobstopper TV.

Series he has created include “Filthy House SOS”, “Lose Weight Like ME”, “Susan Calman’s Antiques Adventure”, “Evicted” and upcoming “Ashley Cain: Into the Dangerzone” (W/T).

Nicole has over 15 years of experience in film and television, with expertise in both production management and development. After five years at Hurricane Films in Liverpool, she transitioned into the world of television in 2015 with Nine Lives Media, where her passion for developing original formats took off.

Nicole has played a key role in projects like BBC Three’s “Squad Dates” and many other productions at Nine Lives, demonstrating her ability to create engaging and diverse content. Based in the Northwest, she is passionate about pushing creative boundaries and exploring fresh ideas in development.

Ruchika began her TV career after eight years in editorial and production management. At 30, she discovered her passion for development, rising to Development Executive and Head of Development across various production companies. Known as the “ultimate ideas machine,” she generates innovative concepts that invigorate the industry, collaborating with top talent.

While excelling in quiz shows and factual programming, her expertise shines in casting-led reality shows, including the iconic “Angels of the North” for BBC3. Recently joining Dare Pictures as Freelance Development Executive, Ruchika is excited to contribute to the growth of this dynamic indie production company.

Scott Dewey is the Head of Development at Cardiff-based Tomos TV. He has extensive experience in production and development and is an alumnus of the Factual Fast Track Wales programme. Scott has a proven track record of winning high-profile commissions for production companies including RDF Television, Twenty Twenty, Hall of Mirrors and BBC Studios.

Recent credits include: Britain’s Criminal Past: A Secret History (Channel 4), Paranormal: The Girl, The Ghost and The Gravestone (BBC Three), Terror at 30,000 Feet (Channel 5), Brits Down Under (Channel 4), Secrets of the Aquarium (BBC Two), Retro Electro Workshop (Yesterday), Alison & Larry: Billericay To Barry (Gold) and Myleene Klass: Miscarriage and Me (W).

Scott is passionate about nurturing new talent, making a difference in the world, factual drama and the Wales football team.

Sol B. River graduated from the Northern Film School with an MA in scriptwriting and later in film direction. He has worked with key broadcasters such as Channel Four, ITV. His experience as a writer, director and producer has seen a career span, theatre, radio, film and television; covering various genres from BBC World Service documentary to BBC Radio 4 drama. Having won and been nominated for various awards Sol is a published author (Oberon Books). He progressed to deliver a number of independent current affairs films for the BBC. As an independent producer/director/exec producer he recently made the award winning documentary “Walk Against Fear” for the Smithsonian Channel on the 1960’s Civil Rights legend James Meredith.

Awards for television, Cablefax Award, best overall content by genre, The Telly Awards Silver Winner and shortlisted for a Royal Television Society award. He has been a judge for the Royal Television Society and sits on the board of the media dept at Bradford University.

Stephen McGinty is an author, journalist and documentary development producer.  He recently worked on “Face Lift” (BBC), a four-part documentary series which he developed and co-produced with Two Rivers Media. He developed and was associate producer on “The Ice Cream Wars” for BBC 2 which ranked in the top ten UK programmes when later shown on both Amazon Prime and Netflix.

As a development producer with STV Studios he conceived “Inside Central Station”, which ran to three series on BBC Scotland and BBC 2 Network and developed and co-produced the BAFTA Scotland award winning documentaries “Fire in the Night: The Piper Alpha Disaster”, “Dunblane: Our Story” and “Yes/No: Inside the Indy Ref”. Other projects he developed include “Ross Kemp: Inside Barlinnie” for ITV and three documentaries for SKY Arts “Muriel Spark by Ian Rankin”; “Ivor Cutler by KT Tunstal”l & “Robert Burns: No Holds Bard”.

He is the author of five non-fiction books including Fire in the Night: The Piper Alpha Disaster which is currently being adapted as a major new television drama for the BBC. His most recent book The Dive: The Untold Story of the World’s Deepest Submarine Rescue is being adapted for cinema release by the producer of Saving Private Ryan and the screenwriter of The Crown. He writes for The Sunday Times.

Stuart founded Glasgow based production company, Spud Gun in 2019 and hit the ground running with the commission, “Growing Up Scottish” a 6 x30 comedy series for BBC Scotland which he developed himself, Series Produced and Exec’d. A second series plus Christmas / Hogmanay specials quickly followed and he is awaiting sign off on Series 3.

Stuart has also had success on BBC Digital with pilots plus the commission of prank show “MuckSpreaders”.  With more pilots in development and an extensive slate branching into fact ent, scripted and specialist factual. 

With nearly 15 years’ experience in the industry, Tom started his career in production where he worked on series including “The X Factor”, “This Morning” and “Antiques Road Trip” – and even became an editor for a brief stint.

More recently, he has focused on his true passion: development. He has held senior roles at companies including The Garden, BBC Studios and Twenty Twenty, with some of his commissions include “Squid Game: The Challenge” (Netflix), “Emergency” (Channel 4), “Alone” (Channel 4) – and Stellify’s recently secured “The Art Game” for BBC Two.

Wesley is currently the Deputy Head of Development for BBC Studios Factual Entertainment in Bristol. with commissions including: “The Great Home Transformation” (C4), “The Unique Boutique” (C4), “Hungry For It” (BBC Three), “The Workout Badges with Hey Duggee & Joe Wicks” (YouTube Originals) and “Crime: Are We Tough Enough?” (BBC One).

He is obsessed with formats, be it UK or International, and is passionate about creating exciting and returnable ideas – from bold reality competitions to talent led funny factual and innovative AFP to spiky social experiments. He loves nothing more than creating premium sizzles and decks for these formats, and has over 14 years shooting and editing experience.

Before moving to Bristol. Wesley spent 10 years at Monkey. developing and working on Entertainment and Factual Entertainment shows such as: “Made in Chelsea” (E4), “TFI Friday” (C4), “Britain’s Best Parent?” (C4), “The Real Housewives of Cheshire” (ITVBe) and “The Question Jury” (C4).

SuperSizer is funded by Screen Scotland, BBC Nations and Channel 4.