James Hedge
Executive Producer / Series Editor / Snr Edit Producer
About Me
Over the last 28 years I've developed, created and delivered long and short-form factual content for major international broadcasters and streamers including: APPLE TV, BBC, DISCOVERY, CHANNEL 4, ITV and SKY.
I've shaped some of most talked about British TV brands of the last two decades, from THE BIG BREAKFAST to BIG BROTHER, from... Read More
I've shaped some of most talked about British TV brands of the last two decades, from THE BIG BREAKFAST to BIG BROTHER, from... Read More
Over the last 28 years I've developed, created and delivered long and short-form factual content for major international broadcasters and streamers including: APPLE TV, BBC, DISCOVERY, CHANNEL 4, ITV and SKY.
I've shaped some of most talked about British TV brands of the last two decades, from THE BIG BREAKFAST to BIG BROTHER, from BENEFITS STREET to BAKE OFF, overseeing editorial from pitch deck to final post, running multiple edits to tight TX deadlines.
My particular expertise lies in crafting first series, working closely with commissioning editors, executive producers and talent to establish the confident structure, bold style and unique tone required of popular, returnable formats. I've extensive experience creating talent-led formats that blend elements of reality, comedy, specialist factual and competition.
For the past few years I've led the edits on Discovery's successful returning classic car and home renovation format 'Ant Anstead: Born Mechanic', Quest's most watched programme, an international hit, now on it's bumper 18 episode third season.
As a highly experienced edit producer, I'm efficient, organised and instinctive, adept at teasing out humour, character and emotion from rushes, getting the best out of a cast. I pride myself on bringing a light, natural touch to voice over, and thrive when working collaboratively with editors to craft immersive storylines that resonate with audiences.
I've also fulfilled senior editorial roles, as executive producer and series editor, managing large, multi-discipline teams, alongside high profile presenters, comedians and writers, including Claudia Winkleman, Sue Perkins, Noel Fielding, Tom Allen, Andi Oliver, Katherine Ryan and Anita Rani.
As 'The Great British Bake Off's series editor, I navigated its highly scrutinised migration from BBC1 to Channel 4, working with a fresh line up of talent and new commissioners to ensure series' warm, witty tone remained perfectly preserved. Whilst on 'The Great British Sewing Bee' I guided Joe Lycett through his first prime-time presenting role. The series was rewarded with a move from BBC2 to BBC1, and Joe won the RTS award for Best Presenter.
I've taken several first series from development to delivery, including 'Aldi's Next Big Thing’ and celebrity snow-building Xmas extravaganza, 'The Greatest Snowman' (the highest-rating youngest skewing programme in primetime across public service broadcasters in 2021), both of which won recommissions from Channel 4.
I also exec-ed 8 part BBC 2 food travelogue series 'Andi Oliver's Fabulous Feasts', included in The Guardian's list of 'best TV of 2024 so far'.
My experience encompasses live studio producing, guiding presenting talent in the early stages of their careers, including Iain Stirling, London Hughes, Olivia Lee, Christian Manley, Caroline Flack and Milo McCabe.
I approach each project with energy and an open mind. I've an unwavering passion for uplifting talent, on and off screen, fostering creatively freeing working environments that encourage and value brave new ideas.
SKILLS:
- Taking ambitious ideas from development deck to delivery, as I did recently with 'The Greatest Snowman', 'Andi Oliver's Fabulous Feasts and 'Aldi's Next Big Thing'.
- Strong relationships with commissioners. Working as a conduit between production company and channel, making sure everyone's vision and needs are respected and accounted for throughout pre-production, filming and post.
- Using my wealth of contacts, and relationships with top industry talent, established during my 25 years in the business, to bring together the best team for the job.
- Nurturing relationships with high profile presenting talent, including Sue Perkins ('The Great British Bake Off'/'The Greatest Snowman'), Joe Lycett ('The Great British Sewing Bee') Anita Rani ('Aldi's Next Big Thing') and Andi Oliver ('Fabulous Feasts'}. I have a strong track record of working with comedians on formats to bring the perfect amount of light and shade, heart and humour.
- Casting real-world experts with little to no filming experience and producing them into confident, respected television judges and household names e.g. Esme Young ('The Great British Sewing Bee') and Julie Ashfield (Aldi's Next Big Thing).
- Remote working - running editorial teams and edits across the country, as I did on 'Andi Oliver's Fabulous Feasts' and 'Aldi's Next Big Thing'.
- Working alongside production executives/managers to refine budgets and create workable shoot and post schedules in the most complex of circumstances. For example 'The Greatest Snowman' required filming with 6 celebrities, 1 presenter and 3 experts on a snow-covered mountain in Austria, requiring the delivery of gigantic snowblocks, equipment and all of this during the tail end of the Covid pandemic.
- Crafting scripts and running orders. Collaborating with writers to enrich scripts. I have a long-standing working relationship with Sue Perkins' and Drag Race's comedy writer Christian Manley.
- Managing complex post-production workflows, and fast-turnaround edits eg on 'The Greatest Snowman' I had just 2 and a half weeks to ovesee the cut of a 1.5 hour special to hit a Christmas Eve TX deadline).
- Over 15 years Edit Producing experience, and an ability to step into projects and work closely with editors to transform cuts. Confident sourcing, handling archive.
- A hands-on approach to final post, directing VO sessions, running the dub, grade and online. Signing off final mixes.
- Writing ed specs and billings.
- Running multiple series simultaneously (including development projects).
- Overseeing contributor welfare and compliance.
- Location scouting.
- Many years experience directing multi-camera crews.
AREAS OF EXPERIENCE:
- Competition Shows ('Bake Off' / 'Sewing Bee' / 'All That Glitters')
- Factual Entertainment / Features ('Aldi's Next Big Thing'' / 'Ant Anstead: Born Mechanic) )
- Food / Travelogue ('Andi Oliver's Fabulous Feasts')
- Observational Documentary (inc hard hitting docs eg 'Benefits Street' / 'My Last Summer')
- Large-scale reality ('The Greatest Snowman')
- Live studio producing (Nickelodeon / CBBC)
-Children's TV (CBBC / Cartoon Network / RTE)
- Corporate / brand-aligned content ('Aldi's Christmas Secrets') Read Less
I've shaped some of most talked about British TV brands of the last two decades, from THE BIG BREAKFAST to BIG BROTHER, from BENEFITS STREET to BAKE OFF, overseeing editorial from pitch deck to final post, running multiple edits to tight TX deadlines.
My particular expertise lies in crafting first series, working closely with commissioning editors, executive producers and talent to establish the confident structure, bold style and unique tone required of popular, returnable formats. I've extensive experience creating talent-led formats that blend elements of reality, comedy, specialist factual and competition.
For the past few years I've led the edits on Discovery's successful returning classic car and home renovation format 'Ant Anstead: Born Mechanic', Quest's most watched programme, an international hit, now on it's bumper 18 episode third season.
As a highly experienced edit producer, I'm efficient, organised and instinctive, adept at teasing out humour, character and emotion from rushes, getting the best out of a cast. I pride myself on bringing a light, natural touch to voice over, and thrive when working collaboratively with editors to craft immersive storylines that resonate with audiences.
I've also fulfilled senior editorial roles, as executive producer and series editor, managing large, multi-discipline teams, alongside high profile presenters, comedians and writers, including Claudia Winkleman, Sue Perkins, Noel Fielding, Tom Allen, Andi Oliver, Katherine Ryan and Anita Rani.
As 'The Great British Bake Off's series editor, I navigated its highly scrutinised migration from BBC1 to Channel 4, working with a fresh line up of talent and new commissioners to ensure series' warm, witty tone remained perfectly preserved. Whilst on 'The Great British Sewing Bee' I guided Joe Lycett through his first prime-time presenting role. The series was rewarded with a move from BBC2 to BBC1, and Joe won the RTS award for Best Presenter.
I've taken several first series from development to delivery, including 'Aldi's Next Big Thing’ and celebrity snow-building Xmas extravaganza, 'The Greatest Snowman' (the highest-rating youngest skewing programme in primetime across public service broadcasters in 2021), both of which won recommissions from Channel 4.
I also exec-ed 8 part BBC 2 food travelogue series 'Andi Oliver's Fabulous Feasts', included in The Guardian's list of 'best TV of 2024 so far'.
My experience encompasses live studio producing, guiding presenting talent in the early stages of their careers, including Iain Stirling, London Hughes, Olivia Lee, Christian Manley, Caroline Flack and Milo McCabe.
I approach each project with energy and an open mind. I've an unwavering passion for uplifting talent, on and off screen, fostering creatively freeing working environments that encourage and value brave new ideas.
SKILLS:
- Taking ambitious ideas from development deck to delivery, as I did recently with 'The Greatest Snowman', 'Andi Oliver's Fabulous Feasts and 'Aldi's Next Big Thing'.
- Strong relationships with commissioners. Working as a conduit between production company and channel, making sure everyone's vision and needs are respected and accounted for throughout pre-production, filming and post.
- Using my wealth of contacts, and relationships with top industry talent, established during my 25 years in the business, to bring together the best team for the job.
- Nurturing relationships with high profile presenting talent, including Sue Perkins ('The Great British Bake Off'/'The Greatest Snowman'), Joe Lycett ('The Great British Sewing Bee') Anita Rani ('Aldi's Next Big Thing') and Andi Oliver ('Fabulous Feasts'}. I have a strong track record of working with comedians on formats to bring the perfect amount of light and shade, heart and humour.
- Casting real-world experts with little to no filming experience and producing them into confident, respected television judges and household names e.g. Esme Young ('The Great British Sewing Bee') and Julie Ashfield (Aldi's Next Big Thing).
- Remote working - running editorial teams and edits across the country, as I did on 'Andi Oliver's Fabulous Feasts' and 'Aldi's Next Big Thing'.
- Working alongside production executives/managers to refine budgets and create workable shoot and post schedules in the most complex of circumstances. For example 'The Greatest Snowman' required filming with 6 celebrities, 1 presenter and 3 experts on a snow-covered mountain in Austria, requiring the delivery of gigantic snowblocks, equipment and all of this during the tail end of the Covid pandemic.
- Crafting scripts and running orders. Collaborating with writers to enrich scripts. I have a long-standing working relationship with Sue Perkins' and Drag Race's comedy writer Christian Manley.
- Managing complex post-production workflows, and fast-turnaround edits eg on 'The Greatest Snowman' I had just 2 and a half weeks to ovesee the cut of a 1.5 hour special to hit a Christmas Eve TX deadline).
- Over 15 years Edit Producing experience, and an ability to step into projects and work closely with editors to transform cuts. Confident sourcing, handling archive.
- A hands-on approach to final post, directing VO sessions, running the dub, grade and online. Signing off final mixes.
- Writing ed specs and billings.
- Running multiple series simultaneously (including development projects).
- Overseeing contributor welfare and compliance.
- Location scouting.
- Many years experience directing multi-camera crews.
AREAS OF EXPERIENCE:
- Competition Shows ('Bake Off' / 'Sewing Bee' / 'All That Glitters')
- Factual Entertainment / Features ('Aldi's Next Big Thing'' / 'Ant Anstead: Born Mechanic) )
- Food / Travelogue ('Andi Oliver's Fabulous Feasts')
- Observational Documentary (inc hard hitting docs eg 'Benefits Street' / 'My Last Summer')
- Large-scale reality ('The Greatest Snowman')
- Live studio producing (Nickelodeon / CBBC)
-Children's TV (CBBC / Cartoon Network / RTE)
- Corporate / brand-aligned content ('Aldi's Christmas Secrets')