Executive Producer Guidelines

 

As part of Ofcom's requirements for Compliance and accountability, the BBC now requires every programme/series produced for BBC Radio by an indie to be overseen by an experienced Executive Producer. For some indies this may pose no real problem as they already have the services of suitable Execs in-house. However, for many indies this requirement means locating and retaining the services of a freelance Executive Producer.

RIG continues to work with BBC Radio 4 to maintain a list of approved EPs, each of who are available for freelance hire. RIG has also created a series of guidelines to help you and the EP understand the role and a basis for a fair and equuitable fee structure for the work.

 

N.B. It is important to note that neither RIG or the BBC is responsible for how you contract your EP! All information, guidance and advice offered on this web-site, or through any downloadable document is meant only as a guide to help you create your own personalised agreement. It is always recommended that you seek the advice of a lawyer if you are uncertain of any issue concerning contracts. RIG Legal Scheme members can take advantage of the heavily discounted rate offered by Hill Dickinson.

 

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RIG Executive Producer List

 

Dawn Ellis - 07734 528 651 - EMAIL ME   *** NEW ADDITION, 4th April 2011

Dawn spent 19 years in BBC Radio. Starting off as a script clerk in Radio Drama she quickly moved to Radio Entertainment (now Radio Comedy) and spent the next 18 years there starting off as a production assistant and ending with 9 years as producer, 3 years as an executive producer and some months as acting head. Leaving in 2009 she now works as a freelance. Her main focus was on developing and producing comedy drama and sit-com, but she also worked on Afternoon plays and several panel shows. Programme credits include: Ed Reardon’s Week (2010 winner of Best Radio at the Broadcasting Press Guild awards); Safety Catch; Miranda Hart’s Joke Shop; Rigor Mortis; Absolute Power; A Certain Age; The Shuttleworths; The Rapid Eye Movement; The Lawrence Sweeney Mix; High Table Lower Orders; The Write Stuff. As an executive producer Dawn complied most of the comedy output at some time including The News Quiz, The Now Show, Just a Minute and I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue.

 

Aled Evans - 07976-414-256 - EMAIL ME

Aled has been producing radio comedy and entertainment for over eighteen years. He joined BBC Radio Light Entertainment in 1993 as a producer and worked on a wide range of series (around 230 programmes in total) for Radio’s 1, 2 and 4 across a seven year period. For Radio 4 he series produced the first three series of ‘The Now Show’ (which he also co-developed and piloted), eight series of ‘The News Quiz’ and many other radio comedy, entertainment and archive productions. In recent years he’s produced radio series of Charlie Brooker’s ‘So Wrong It’s Right’ and ‘The Personality Test’ - and also acted as executive producer for Radio 4 series of ‘My Teenage Diary’ (Talkbackthames),‘Tonight – with Rory Bremner’ and ‘What’s So Funny’ (Unique). His experience covers sketch shows, panel shows, topical comedy, archive, quizzes, chat shows, narrative sitcom and readings. Aled is also very experienced television producer, with credits on BBC TV, Channel 4, Five and UKTV. He has overseen comedy and entertainment programmes for major independents including TalkbackThames, Tiger Aspect, North One, Endemol and in-house BBC as well as extensive work as a development executive.

 

Alan Hall - 020 8305 6936 - EMAIL ME

Alan Hall's 15 year career in radio production is divided equally between his time as a staff producer at BBC Radio 3, largely working on or originating classical music or arts documentary strands, and his activities as an independent and freelance producer.  His own company, Falling Tree Productions (formerly, Alan Hall Associates), successfully produces music, cultural, history and social affairs programmes, principally for BBC Radios 3 and 4, but also for foreign broadcasters (recently, Danish Radio and ABC).  As a freelance he has worked with a large number of in-house and independent programme providers. In the capacity of Executive Producer, he has worked with, among others, John Wynne on Hearing Voices (winner of an award at the 2005 Third Coast Festival), Dan Shepherd on The Workaday World, Tim Heffer on the acclaimed 84 Book Crossing Road, Julian Mayers on Rebuilding Rome, Pejk Malinovski on Wise Guy, Mary Price on Baptising the Gods and Joby Talbot on The Watchers (which was nominated by the BBC for a Prix Italia in 2002).  Alan is much in demand as a speaker on training courses and radio conferences, university teacher (Goldsmiths College and Bournemouth University) and awards judge. 

 

Clare Csonka - 07788 940660 - EMAIL ME

Before going freelance in 2004 I was a Senior Producer in the BBC Radio Documentaries department. I have over twenty years experience as a BBC staff radio producer, during which time I have made programmes mainly for R4, but also R3, R2, Five Live and World Service. I have specialised in documentaries, features and readings, but have also produced and exec’d magazine programmes, live formats and dramas. I was Executive Editor of the award-winning Essential Guide to the 21st Century for the World Service. Since leaving my staff job I have continued to make programmes for R4, as well as other broadcasters, including digital channel Teacher’ TV. I have also been part of the compliance team for BBC TV Global Channels.
I have covered as Radio 4 Compliance Editor for Independents, and have substantial knowledge of Editorial Guidelines and understanding of compliance issues, from the viewpoints of both the BBC and the independent producer. I have worked with a number of indies as Executive Producer, which has been extremely rewarding. I am also available for development and consultancy work.

 

Clive Brill - 07921 261569 - EMAIL ME

Over twenty years making Radio and Television programmes for the BBC (mainly drama) - both as an in-house Producer and an Indie. Commissioning editor of Serials and Serials at BBC Radio Drama for 3 years. Editor "Citizens" -Radio 4 Soap for 2 years. Producer and Director on "The Archers" for two years. Radio Drama Producer in Belfast, Birmingham, Manchester and London. Executive Producer on several BBC TV dramas. Head of Development for BBC TV Drama Series for 2 years. Producer of several TV Dramas for BBC (Bafta winner for G F Newman's The Healer). Director and Producer of "The Complete Arkangel Shakespeare" (Winner of major award in the US - "Audio Publication of the Year" 2004). Voice Director on "The Magic Roundabout - The Movie".

 

Clive Stanhope - 020 8871 0220 - EMAIL ME

Clive Stanhope has a broad knowledge of recording in general and making radio programmes in particular. Under the auspices of his company CSA Telltapes now trading as CSA Word, he has been supplying independent radio programmes to the BBC since 1992 and prior to that he was in the Music Industry as producer and executive producer for various types of music from pop to reggae. Since 1992 he has produced or exec produced features for Radio 4, World Service and Radio 2, Documentaries for World Service, drama for World Service and readings for both Radio 4 and Radio 2 as well as producing readings for his own audio-book company. He has been responsible for all the Compliance issues and handling all the agreements necessary as well as negotiating with both the Police and the BBC for a feature on the Mounted Police. He is also on his second year as member of the Executive Committee of RIG and in that capacity has been involved in negotiating the new Terms of Trade.

 

David Coomes - 07860 338887

I’m now retired from the BBC. Latterly I was Executive Producer, BBC Religion Radio, working in Manchester, and responsible for all Factual output. This included strands like Sunday, The Moral Maze, Beyond Belief, The Choice and Thought for the Day.  Plus commissioned series and documentaries such as In the Footsteps of Paul / Mohammad with Edward Stourton. I have also produced most editions of The Moral Maze (just over 400), and continue to do so as part of my current freelance commitments. This means I was the producer of its morning slot with the likes of David Starkey, Janet Daley and Rabbi Hugo Gryn – and now of its evening slot with the likes of Melanie Phillips, Professor Steven Rose and (shortly) Michael Portillo.  For the rest of the time I’m working for the radio arm of CTVC, and am currently producing a series with Dr David Starkey called ‘Who Killed Christianity?’ and have just produced a programme on anti-Semitism with Gerry Northam called ‘A War Against Prejudice’.  Current Affairs, the Arts and Religion are my principal interests. But I’m willing and able to work in all genres.

 

David Corser - 07968 159593 - EMAIL ME

I was Exec Prod whilst at Pebble Mill for a whole range of mainstream R2 programmes and since going 'indie' have EP'd many shows for my fellow Monty Funk producer Richard Collins and others - everything from Ghosts in the Machine (industrial hauntings) to The Drovers Return (life in the Cevennes) and The Periodic Tales (10x90" drop-ins to support a series about the elements) to Scars of Evolution (2 docs about evolution presented by Sir David Attenborough). I'm already fulfilling this role for Sera Lefroy-Owen.

 

Gordon House - 07740 818 304 - EMAIL ME

…joined the BBC as a Studio Manager in 1972, and worked in Children’s Television and Radio Sport, before becoming a drama director.  He headed the small BBC World Service Drama team for fourteen years, during which time the Unit won over thirty national and international awards - many of them plays directed by Gordon himself. He has instigated and overseen several international competitions; he initiated the the World International Playwriting Competiton for radio dramatists, run in conjunction with the British Council, which attracts well over 1000 entries. He was responsible, with his colleague David Hitchinson, for the development and launch of BBC World Service’s highly popular twice-weekly serial Westway , which ran for seven years. . He also wrote a monthly humorous column for the World Service magazine “BBC On Air” under the pseudonym “Nelson Mature” – a column which brought him far more mail than any of his productions! Gordon has twice adjudicated the National Theatre Awards in Zimbabwe; run Shakespeare workshops in Kenya and Uganda, been a guest lecturer on several occasions for the Radio Nederland overseas drama course and produced a Shakespeare revue for the Harare International Festival of Arts. He has directed a number of plays in conjunction with the Canadian Broadcasting Company and with LA Theatre Works, Los Angeles, most notably “The Glass Menagerie” starring Julie Harris and Calista Flockhart (TV’s “Ally McBeal”), In 1998 he won the Writers’ Guild Special Prize for services for his work with new writers, and two years later won the Sony Drama Award for best drama with his World Service production of Alpha by Mike Walker, an award he won again in 2004 with Gregory Whitehead, for Whitehead's The Loneliest Road . He is a founder member, and ex-Chair, of The WORLDPLAY GROUP a radio association of drama directors from broadcasting stations around the world. In April 2001 he became Head of BBC Radio Drama, a post which he held until his retirement from the BBC in March 2005. During this time he was a judge at Prix Italia and Prix Europa conventions, and his tenure as Head culminated in the Department winning its largest ever number of awards in a single year. Gordon has now retired from the BBC and is an Executive Director of Goldhawk Essential. He has recently produced Alan Bennett’s latest book Untold Stories for BBC Audiobooks and BBC Radio 4 and will shortly be directing a four-part production of Terry Pratchett’s Small Gods.

 

Graham Frost - 020 7287 2276 - EMAIL ME

A former Executive Producer within the BBC Entertainment Department, Graham's first independent radio production was a comedy drama series in 1990, and since then he's produced for several indies large and small as well as various spells within the BBC, together with being the Senior Producer at Ear-2-Ear Associates.  He's produced for all the BBC domestic networks plus World Service and ILR, and produced Rik Mayall on BBC 1.   Originally qualified as a barrister, his main areas of experience are in comedy, features, drama, arts, music, education, new media and overseas programmes.

 

Graham Pass - 01229 718324 - EMAIL ME

No information supplied

 

John Dryden - 020 7193 7112 - EMAIL ME

Award-winning radio producer/executive producer. Drama productions include: A SUITABLE BOY, recorded in India (Production and Drama awards at the 2002 Spoken Word Publishing Awards. Short-listed in the audio category of the 2003 British Book Awards): BLEAK HOUSE, (Sony Radio Awards 1999 – Winner: Best Drama. Talkie Awards 1999 – Winner: Best Dramatisation – Winner: Best Classic Abridgement): FATHERLAND (Spoken Word Publishing Awards 2004 – Winner: Best Drama); THE HANDMAID’S TALE, based on the novel by Margaret Atwood (Spoken Word Publishing Awards 2002 – Nominated: Best Production); TALK TO SLEEP (Sony Radio Awards 2000 - Nominated: Comedy): HOTEL EUROPA (Prix Europa 2002 - nominated). He also produced for Radio 4 the semi-improvised, fast-turnover news-based drama series ELECTION LIVES and The Hong Kong Holding Company. Recent productions for Radio 4 include radio dramatisations of Amitav Ghosh’s THE SHADOW LINES and Boris Akunin’s LEVIATHAN. Documentaries include: LANDSCAPE OF FEAR (Sony Radio Awards 1999 - Winner: Best Arts Documentary THE MYSTERY OF THE AFFRAY, the travel series The Traveller's Souk, ITCHY FEET and the Woman’s Hour serial DAUGHTERS OF BRITANNIA. He has recently returned to the UK after two years as Head of Drama and Light Entertainment for Radio New Zealand. He is currently producing for Radio 4 a full cast dramatisation in Egypt of The Cairo Trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz.

 

Lyn Champion - 07930 307169 - EMAIL ME

22 years varied experience in network radio production, and more recently digital film production. Now working across both media. Much live radio experience in magazine programmes, and much experience in documentary features for most of the networks. Music and “experimental” arts/docs a specialism. Tri-Media Production Trainer at BBC Training for 3 years. Lecturer in Radio /TV Journalist production at London University of the Arts. Softwares: Protools, Sadie, Radioman, Avid Express Pro, Final Cut Pro.

 

Marilyn Imrie - EMAIL ME

Marilyn Imrie was for 12 years a  BBC drama producer in radio and television in Scotland before she moved to London to devise and launch the BBC R4  soap Citizens.  During this period she won two TRIC awards for Radio productions, Two Sony awards for production and performance, and the Samuel Beckett award for her television drama production Paris from  BBC Scotland for BBC 2. She was commissioning editor Radio 4 plays until 1999, when she joined the award winning Independent company CBL, for whom she is development producer for screen  and radio drama;  she was part of the  production team that won  for the company both the  Sony Gold and Silver  drama awards this year, and a recent Sony nomination for the production Mortimer’s Miscellany. Her R4 production Ancient And Modern is nominated for this year’s Sandford St Martin Trust award.

 

Mik Wilkojc - 07802 212 101 - EMAIL ME

I've experienced high-end technical and editorial roles within the BBC - both at network and local level. In a nutshell, I joined BBC staff in 1979 and then surrendered that security for a rolling contract at Radio 1 between 1985 and 1995. Upon leaving that role, I formed 'apparatus' and subsequently worked with all other networks in some capacity, barring 1Xtra and Radio 3.

 

Mike Hally - 01592 840430 or 07801 445132 - EMAIL ME

Age 54, broadcast journalist since 1990; freelancing for Radio 4 since 1990, much of it potentially libellous stuff for You & Yours; produced three editions of File on 4 as a freelance -- all contentious subjects; founded Pennine Productions LLP in 2000, with three other producers; exec'd 17 of Pennine's programmes for Radio 4 -- VERY familiar with the Compliance procedures and the new Editorial Guidelines; founded Radio Independents Group in 2005, led successful negotiations on new Terms of Trade in 2005. Currently Chair of RIG.

 

Neil Gardner - 07590 555458 - EMAIL ME

18 years experience in professional UK radio, working as a presenter and producer for many commercial radio groups and for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office as producer for London Radio Service. Since joining Ladbroke Radio in 1999 I have engineered, produced and exec. produced over 500 BBC programmes for all the networks, but specifically Radio 4. Bought the company in Oct 2008 and am now Managing Director – specialised areas include engineering and compliance guidelines; Archive Hours, music docs and comedy, drama and readings. Award winning script-writer and radio drama director. Also former Chair of the Radio Independents Group, Trustee of the Radio Academy, and Trustee/Secretary of the Gateway School of Recording (GETSET Charity). I also co-own and run Spokenworld Audio, a new audio comissioning, publishing and distribution business.

 

Richard Grocock - EMAIL ME

Richard has been producing comedy and entertainment programming across the range of BBC Radio networks since 2002, when he became an in-house producer at Avalon Television. Throughout his seven years at Avalon, he played a key role in expanding the company’s radio output, producing and developing new and varied formats for BBC Radios 2, 4 and 5, and helped the company become one of the largest Independent producers of radio comedy in the UK. His critically–acclaimed back catalogue includes satirical shows such as Radio 4’s “The Department” and “Political Animal”, panel shows such as Radio 4’s “Banter” and “Heresy”, and broken comedy series such as Radio 2’s “Out To Lunch”. Now working freelance, he continues to produce and develop shows for independent production companies.Richard also produces for Television, having worked on comedy shows for ITV1, Channel 4, BBC Three and Fox Network in the US. He gained a Rose D’Or nomination for Best Comedy Series with “Touch Me, I’m Karen Taylor” in 2009, as well as cutting his teeth on shows such as Best Comedy BAFTA-winner “The Sketch Show” and cult classic “Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace”.

 

Roger Elsgood - 020 8692 0145 - EMAIL ME

Roger Elsgood is the creative director and executive producer at Arts & Adventure. He has been making long-form, usually location recorded, dramas and features on the arts and artists for more than eight years. He has produced ‘To The Wedding’, Theatre de Complicite’s first production for radio which was nominated for the Prix Italia; adapted, directed and produced Anne Michaels’s Orange Prize-winning novel ‘Fugitive Pieces’; adapted and produced the 5th century Sanskrit epic ‘The Mrichhakatikaa’ and John Berger’s play with the artist Juan Munoz ‘Will It Be A Likeness?’ He works closely with director Mike ‘Get Carter’ Hodges and has produced the first two plays in Mike’s radio trilogy ‘Shooting Stars and Other Heavenly Pursuits’ and ‘King Trash’. The third is currently in development.  His work also includes ‘When Shura Met Hobie’ with the pianist Shura Cherkassky; ‘A Shadow Into the Future’, a feature commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme with writer Geoff Dyer; ‘De Profundis’, Corin Redgrave’s National Theatre production of Oscar Wilde’s letter to Lord Alfred Douglas and ‘Berlin Project’ with the British artist Tacita Dean. Berlin Project has been acquired by the Tate Gallery and is currently part of Tacita’s exhibition at Tate St. Ives. He is currently producing ‘Inferno’, an adaptation of Dante’s poem for theatrical performance with audio artist Robin Rimbaud. Roger is a trustee of several arts organisations in the UK and France. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a member of the RIG executive committee.

 

 

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The Executive Producer Role

 

The following is a basic explanation of the role of the Executive Producer:

 

* To provide editorial guidance throughout the production

* To offer advice where requested

* To offer Compliance advice throughout the production

* To listen through to the final edit of the programme/series and suggest changes where required

* To listen through to the MASTER version of the programme/series where the producer is unavailable

* To check through and counter-sign the Compliance Form

* To be ultimately responsible for the editorial and compliance procedure relating to the production of the programme/series with said responsibility continuing after the production period has ended and the programme/series has been broadcast (e.g. advice/guidance/sign off for repeats, etc...)

 

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The Executive Producer Fee Structure

 

For the majority of Radio 4 programmes it is not expected that you will require the services of an Executive producer for more than 1 day (8 working hours) spread across the duration of the production. However, series, dramas and comedies may require more extensive input and therefore a bespoke agreement. The following fees are meant as an industry standard basis for agreements betwen EPs and indies. As always, you are free to negotiate your own rates:

 

* One Offs & Ad Hocs (up to 1hr duration)	1 Day	£250
* Series (up to 30mins per episode)	3hrs/ep	£150/ep
* Drama (up to 1hr duration)	1-2 Days	£250/day
* Drama (over 1hrs duration)	2-3 Days	£200/day
* Readings (up to 5 x 15min episodes)	5hrs	£200
* Readings (up to 10 x 15min episodes)	1 Day	£300
* Readings (over 10 x 15min episodes)	1.5 Days	£400

 

N.B. Strands should be negotiated on a per deal basis

 

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Executive Producer Contracts

 

The following guidance is intended to help both the EP and the indie to understand the contracting process:

 

* An EP has to be contracted to the specific production, with the contract laying out the responsibilities and fee structure

* The contract should also spell out the EP's continuing responsibilities in the production following transmission

* You should consult with a lawyer in regards to drafting company-specific terms and conditions

* RIG recommends, but in no way requires, that a standard-fee payment schedule should be based on a 'payment-after-delivery' basis - delivery being considered as acceptance by the BBC of all of the contracted items.