大象传媒

Working with companies across the UK

We鈥檙e delighted that the vast majority of daytime and early peak commissions are with companies based outside London. We鈥檙e also proud to work with a number of smaller companies with limited Network experience. The One Show has long ringfenced opportunities for Nations and English regions suppliers to authentically represent the lives of viewers in all parts of the country, and a targeted initiative offered smaller indies in the West Midlands and the North East of England an opportunity to make VTs for Morning Live.

We鈥檝e actively developed Scotland as a hub for quiz and gameshows, while at the same time successfully launching The Finish Line in Belfast. We also have an increasing number of factual returners in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and have co-commissioned series with 大象传媒 commissioning teams in each.

Our commissioners based in the Nations and English regions 

We have commissioning editors in the North East and Scotland who are committed to growing our supply base and off-screen talent pool in those areas, as well as getting better representation on-screen. 

Growing diverse talent

Diversity is implicit across all our content and we champion authentic representation both on and off-screen. Viewers should be able to recognise themselves in our programmes, whether that's via on-screen casting or because of off-screen talent with lived experiences guiding authentic editorial choices. Daytime is a key driver of viewing for underserved audiences and relatability is essential to that connection with audiences.

In recent years we've utilised our diversity development fund for placements in a range of roles across our shows, sometimes with on-screen roles, other times at entry level, or providing a step up to the next level to develop talent into more senior roles.

Meanwhile, after working as part of the question team on the first series of Bridge of Lies, Andrew Davis-Cole was given the opportunity to return as question producer on series three, was a role requiring huge attention to detail. Various circumstances on the team created opportunities for him to take on more responsibility than he鈥檇 expected, and his contribution was described by the production company as invaluable. He describes the experience as 鈥渉ugely rewarding鈥�, saying it 鈥渇orged in me a steely confidence in what I could be capable of at a senior level 鈥� both then, and in the future, I hope.鈥�

Separately from placements such as these, we鈥檙e keen for suppliers to use as diverse a range of on-screen talent as possible. For example, Morning Live regularly features deaf chef Yvonne Cobb cooking a variety of money-saving or seasonal dishes, and deaf stone carver Louis Francis is a mentor on Make It at Market.