Category Archives: Uncategorized

Thinking inside the box-set

I’m part of a growing group who don’t watch conventional TV in the way we all once did. For us it’s no longer a case of sitting down in front of the goggle box and watching ‘whatever’s on’. Oh, no – for box setters, ‘linear’ broadcasting (to use a pretentious-sounding term) is a thing of the past. Time, you see, is a limited commodity, so we’ve decided to focus in on programmes we actually want to watch – gorging on them like telly-addicted versions of Augustus Gloop.

The importance of storytelling in business…

One of the things that I love to do is to work with a business or organisation to distil their story into something meaningful, for both them and their customer base. Here’s a piece I wrote all about the importance of storytelling, published by the amazing folks at Proven. Saying: “I’m a Mac person” isContinue reading “The importance of storytelling in business…”

‘Smize’ like you mean it…

Communication, we all know, is a complex thing; filled with thousands of tiny nuances that can completely change the meaning of any interaction. A recent awareness of the importance of ‘Smizing’ has really brought home to me the need to be authentic in the way we as individuals, businesses and brands communicate.

Winning an Emmy…

As ever, in these gloomy times, I’m deliberately focusing on upbeat moments in the past.Some of my contacts may not be aware of my background in children’s TV. Over the years I produced and directed content for CBBC, Disney Channel and Nickelodeon. It was a fun period filled with silly characters, larger than life celebritiesContinue reading “Winning an Emmy…”

Hoff the record…

I’ve never been one for regrets. That said, there is something I regret not doing during my career as a studio producer: I wish I’d taken some photographs with the celebs that I met.

Michael Caines: Lympstone Manor

“I’ll not be happy!” said one old lady, so everyone on the bus could hear, “if he ruins that place, Courtlands House. Lovely it is!”
Her companion nodded in agreement.
“In fact, if he does, I’ll never watch his films ever again! He should stick to acting, blooming Michael Caine!”
I overheard this conversation, between a pair of endearingly-confused locals, just over a year ago. Today I find myself in the lush surroundings of Lympstone Manor (formerly Courtlands House), East Devon’s newest luxury hotel, talking to the man behind it all.