In this edition of Behind the Scenes we meet one of Britain’s busiest and most versatile television Script Supervisors – Laura Vine. In this candid, laugh-out-loud chat Laura talks about her 30 years at the BBC startingas Production Secretary, and then the freelance world beyond, working on everything from occasions of state to The Chelsea Flower S…

In this edition of Behind the Scenes we’re meeting multi-Bafta and Royal Television Society Award Winning Director, one of, if not the most popular and versatile working in British live broadcast entertainment - Richard Valentine. He’s covered everything from Royal Variety Performances and arena concerts, working with major music artists including …

This edition stars one of the most prolific and versatile, award-winning writers in television and entertainment on both sides of the Atlantic, Mr Paul Alexander. I first met Paul in the ‘80s when he joined the team of Bob’s Full House. Since then, he’s scripted Hollywood films, live action and animated streaming series, penned ratings-winning sitc…

In this edition of Behind the Scenes we chat with ClaudiaRosencrantz. In her ten years as Controller of entertainment at ITV she entirely redefined LE by commissioning genre-busting, ratings-giants such as “Who Wants to Be A Millionaire”, “Britain’s Got Talent”, “Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway”, “The X Factor” and more. Claudia also talks abou…

In this edition of Behind the Scenes we’re chatting with Jenny Drewett, one of British television’s busiest, most experienced, well-known and best-connected on-screen Talent Executives and Celebrity Producers. In her non-stop 3-decade long career Jenny’s worked extensively in award-winning light entertainment, factual entertainment,documentaries an…

This time on BTSWCE one of the best-known Heads of Production and most experienced Consultants working in the fields of entertainment, drama and events television Lesley Davies shares her career memories of training at Granada TV via LWT, becoming Head of Production at ITV and Director of International Productions at Warner Brothers, and working wi…

In this edition of Behind the Scenes, Production Assistant (Script Supervisor) Victoria Sturgess shares more stories of her life and times at the sharp end of British television from the late 1960s through to the early ‘90s taking in her move from music and entertainment to LWT’s Sports Department; which led to her working alongside such production…

The latest edition of Behind the Scenes features the first of a two-part conversation with London Weekend Television and pop music video Production Assistant (ScriptSupervisor), the magnificent Victoria Sturgess. In a career which started in the late 1960s she worked extensively with legendary director Bruce Gowers on innumerable LWT series, travel…

In this often laugh-out-loud edition of Behind the Scenes we’re chatting with actor Karl Jenkinson. In a 40-year career, he was regularly involved in the funniest Noel’s House Party ‘Gotcha’ set-ups while also appearing in top British TV series Eastenders, The Bill and Inspector Morse. These days Karl’s also become a top voice artist and a much in-…

If you’re a fan of classic and vintage television, you’ll probably think Robert Heading has enjoyed the best of jobs, because he’s one of Britain’s foremost TV documentary Archive Producers. Which means for the past 25 years he’s been paid to put his feet up and watch thousands of hours of old telly shows. And for the most part he’s specialised in …

Mike returns to chat about his time on Eurovision, Friday Night is Music Night at the BBC and preparing for his latest live WW2 Special Commemorative Event, marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day. And there’s more than a mention of his top selling autobiography “Turn Around And Take A Bow – My Musical Life”. Support the podcast by becoming a Patron:…

In Birmingham, on the 12th of May 1924, the performer who was to become one of Britain’s finest comic actors Tony Hancock was born. Across the 1950s and early 1960s, with his phenomenally successful, award-winningradio and television series, Tony was the most famous voice and then face in broadcast entertainment. The streets would empty when Hancoc…

This time on BTSWCE we’re chatting with TV Executive Producer and King of Saturday Nights on Channel 5, Simon Withington, about his role in putting together the newly published autobiography of his best friend, actor, singer and showbiz personality - Jess Conrad OBE. The book is called “From Blitz to Glitz” and Simon talks about the collaborative w…

This week we lost one of the most famous and best-loved personalities in the history of British broadcasting – Steve Wright. For almost half a century on BBC Radio Steve lifted the nation’s spirits with his energetic, anarchic style, breathless enthusiasm, relentless creativity and instantly recognisable voice. In this often emotional but frequentl…

In a 35-year career he’s created special effects for glamorous Formula 1 car launches, top dramas such as ‘Dr Who’ and ‘The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe’ and every major ratings-winning comedy and entertainment series. If anything’s squashed, set alight, or exploded on our screens, it's usually Andy’s skilful handiwork. A Royal Television Societ…

Hard to believe but it’s been 20 years to the day since we lost the British comedian, writer, actor, game show host and all-round polymath Bob Monkhouse. In this Special Edition of Behind the Scenes we’re marking the anniversary by chatting with Bob’s daughter, Abigail Monkhouse. What was it like growing up with a father who was one of the most rec…

Camera operator/Camera Supervisor Nigel Saunders takes us Behind the Scenes once again with more memories of his non-stop 45-year career in British television. The perils and pitfalls of working on live shows, top rated Light Entertainment and covering the biggest Royal events of the last decade – plus the finest directors, performers and warm-up a…

This time on Behind the Scenes Nigel Saunders chats about his life as a camera operator and Camera Supervisor, beginning at the BBC and working with most of the great names of television including the much-missed Roger Fenna, Stuart MacDonald andYvonne Littlewood. Royal events, children’s TV and light entertainment, including live Millennium show m…

As promised, here’s Part 2 of top British TV Vision Mixer Carol Abbott’s Behind the Scenes Podcast in which she chats about bringing up family while holding down a high-pressure, full-time, irregular-hours job at the sharp of TV. Carol shares her memories of rushing to the Old Vic to work with Sir Ralph Richardson while she was still dressed as a b…

Taking us Behind the Scenes this time: one of the most admired, versatile and experienced British television Production Assistants/Script Supervisors to have ever graced a studio control room or gallery - Anna Staniland. Anna shares her memories of an astonishing 40-year career at the BBC and in the freelance world, including live broadcasts, music…

This time we’re going Behind the Scenes with one of the most experienced and accomplished Vision Mixers working in television – Carol Abbott. Carol’s name has rolled up on our screens at the end of most of the major TV light entertainment shows of the past 40 years. Quizzes, chat shows, situation comedies, music, variety galas, not forgetting live …

In this episode of Behind the Scenes we meet one of the busiest Directors working in British television - Claire Winyard. Just off the back of wrapping her latest episode of the hit detective series ‘Vera’, Claire talks about what it’s like at the helm of one of ITV’s most popular shows, beginning her career at the BBC, directing all manner of mult…

This time on Behind the Scenes, TV presenter, performer and personality, also the Honorary Vice Present of the Magic Circle, Debbie McGee, reflects on an action-packed show business career, including her life and times with the country’s most famous stage and television magician Paul Daniels, along with what it takes to reach the Grand Final of Str…

In this episode of Behind the Scenes we’re chatting once again with John Foster - radio broadcaster, disc jockey and voice artist who is one of the most experienced in the industry. In a non-stop 30-year career in local and national radio, including BBC Radio 5 Live, he’s interviewed almost every major international actor and entertainer from eithe…

This time on Behind the Scenes we’re back to United States to chat with Andy Walmsley, the busiest and most successful designer in the history of theatre and television. He’s designed more Las Vegas spectaculars than anyone else and was the youngest scenic designer ever to work in the West End, on Broadway and in television. His name, along with hi…

This time on Behind the Scenes we are in the company of a former BBC Television Channel Controller. Between 2010 and 2017 Kay Benbow was the top flight commissioning exec at the heart and helm of the pre-school children’s network CBeebies. In those seven years she navigated the channel through dramatic shake-ups within the BBC, changes in viewer ha…

In this gala edition of Behind the Scenes we chat with one of the most successful ever television entertainment Producers, on both sides of the Atlantic. In the U.K, as ITV’s Head of Music Programming, he oversaw international television spectaculars starring most of the biggest global star names including Sir Elton John, Luciano Pavarotti and Cher…

Keith Lascelles returns to captivate us with further fascinating Behind the Scenes revelations, stories and recollections from his 40-year career as one of the most experienced and best-loved Floor Managers and Production Managers in British Television. Royal Variety Performances, Diana Ross, Liberace and more memories of Keith’s life and times in …

In this 2-hour Special Edition, former ITV Controller of Entertainment Mark Wells, along with actress, comedy writer and performer Jayne Tunnicliffe share their personal Behind the Scenes memories of one of Britain’s greatest entertainers and biggest personalities – a true Man of the People and comic genius - Paul O’Grady. Mark, the Executive Produ…

This time on Behind the Scenes our guest is one of British television’s most experienced Executive Producers who, for the last 3 decades, has overseen the nation’s best-loved and longest-running intellectual quiz programme University Challenge along with, more recently, Channel 4’s perennially popular word challenge hit, Countdown. Peter began his …

For decades Paul’s been at the helm of the U.K.’s sharpest, long-running comedy shows “Live at the Apollo” and “Have I Got News For You?”. And if you look at the credits at the end of giant specials with Lee Mack, Dara O'Briain, Jason Manford, John Bishop, Frank Skinner and Russell Brand – you’ll see this gentleman has worked with every major comic…

This time we go Behind the Scenes with a television Floor Manager turned Production Manager Keith Lascelles, who shares his recollections of a 40-year non-stop career at ATV, BBC and LWT working on innumerable Royal Variety Performances along with An Audience With…, Tiswas, Bullseye, Spitting Image and The Golden Shot. He also tells how his close f…

In mid-November of 2020 we lost one of the best-loved, most versatile and talented entertainers the U.K. has ever produced – Des O’Connor. Des was one of the biggest names in British show business. With his variety and quiz series and ratings-topping chat shows, he was a permanent face on British television screens for more than 50 years. As a solo…

This time we go Behind the Scenes with the fearless, highly talented singer Gilly Hamilton, whose career spanned 3 decades and encompassed the halcyon days of show business and variety. As a key member of the pop-music close-harmony trio The Kaye Sisters she appeared alongside most of the major entertainment stars of the 1970s through to the 1990s.…

Taking us Behind the Scenes this time is one of the most experienced, versatile and senior international sports executives in television. For the past 13 years he has held various senior roles at IMG Productions the globe’s leading sports and events company and he now is their advisor on special projects. Beginning his career at the BBC, he rose to…

This time on Behind the Scenes we meet one of the most experienced and versatile Script Supervisors in British television, the legendary Annie McDougall. In a non-stop career at the top that has spanned more than 40 years, she has worked on quiz, entertainment, variety, game and air shows, not to mention TVam. But I just have. Nowadays, Annie’s the…

Our guest this time is Kathryn Randall (latterly Edmonds) who, for the past 40 years, was one of television’s busiest Vision Mixers, specialising in the U.K.’s most popular music and light entertainment shows. At the BBC she was trained to cover all manner of genres: sport, news programmes, drama, sitcoms and children’s output along with national o…

Our Behind the Scenes guest this time is a composer, pianist and music director who has enjoyed a 40 year award winning career working with the most famous performers and conducting some of the biggest orchestras in the world. Mike Dixon has helped launch many of the great modern productions in the West End and on Broadway. He is the go-to-guy for …

This time we go Behind the Scenes with one of the great voices of BBC radio - an award-winning sports journalist, who The Spectator magazine described as ‘one of the best broadcasters in the country - The Poet Laurate of Sport’. Garry’s remarkable career has spanned half a century, making him the longest serving member on Radio 4’s flagship “Today …

This time we go Behind the Scenes with Adeel Amini who, back in 2015, was named as one of Broadcast magazine’s Under-30 Hotshots. Now, 7 years on, he’s a Senior Studio Entertainment Producer who’s overseen all manner of highly popular ratings winners including the revamped series of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire”, “Catchphrase”, “Celebrity Squares…

Grant Philpott is a British television comedy and light entertainment producer whose very first job was writing Q-cards for Bob Monkhouse on “The Big Breakfast”. 25 years later his career came full circle when he was one of the Edit Producers on “Bob Monkhouse: The Million Joke Man”, the UKtv documentary series which celebrated Bob’s life and caree…

This time we chat with the magnificent Simon Lupton, one of the most experienced comedy producers currently working in television. In an award-winning 25-year career Simon’s headed up series starring Paul Whitehouse & Harry Enfield, Matt Horne and James Corden, along with British sitcoms ‘My Family’ and ‘Red Dwarf’. Plus he’s worked with Hollywood …

This time on Behind the Scenes we power on through a few technical difficulties to chat with Ray Turner, a comic who has been entertaining audiences for thirty-five years. He cut his comedy teeth working clubs and theatres before establishing himself as one of the principal and most versatile studio warm up artists working in light entertainment te…

BBC Radio 2 listener favourite and former travel news reporter Lynn Bowles recalls her 18 laughter-filled years working on the radio ratings blockbuster Breakfast Show with the much-missed great man himself Sir Terry Wogan, then with that iconic whirlwind of the wireless Chris Evans. Not forgetting, how could we, her joyous banter with the reigning…

How does a lawyer turned top advertising executive become one of the most successful television writers on TV creating award nominated comedy series and dramas. This week’s Behind the Scenes guest has done just that. In addition to creating the long-running BBC tv series “May to December” and “My Hero”, plus the American animated comedy “Neigbours …

It’s part 2 of our Behind the Scenes chat with the true National Treasure of British television light entertainment, Royston Mayoh! His pioneering non-stop career has spanned six decades heading up the most popular high-profile L.E shows on our screens. Not forgetting his new career in front of the cameras starring in the hit ITV ratings winner “Of…

In the first of a 2-part chat we go Behind the Scenes with the most experienced and pioneering professionals still working in British television. This gentleman started in TV in 1957 sweeping the studio floor. In a 60- year career he went on to become a multi-camera director and producer of comedy and quiz shows, magic specials, lifestyle and award…

This week we go Behind the Scenes with scriptwriter Brian Leveson, author-broadcaster Louis Barfe and comedy Consultant Alan Nixon, who reflect on the incredible career of Barry Cryer and share their fond, personal memories of the great man who recently died, leaving an unparalleled legacy of entertainment as a performer, writer and raconteur, and …

This time we go Behind the Scenes with Producer, Director, Former BBC Departmental Head, Format Creator, Consultant and international TV Executive Jonathan Glazier. From his first television job in the Sound Department at ATV Elstree to more recently overseeing multi-million dollar productions in the Middle East, Asia and New Zealand, Jonathan reca…

This time we go Behind The Scenes with incredibly prolific and hugely versatile scriptwriter Alan Wightman, who chats about his long and non-stop career in movies and light entertainment. Alan shares memories of his friend John Sullivan (Only Fools & Horses), his time penning gags for top turns Jimmy Tarbuck, Jeff Stevenson and Des O’Connor, plus l…