James Hedge
Executive Producer / Series Editor / Snr Edit Producer
About Me
I'm an Executive Producer, Series Editor and Senior Edit Producer with experience leading multi-discipline teams, working closely with commissioners and programme-makers, in tandem with high-profile and emerging on-screen talent, to take ambitious ideas from development to delivery.
My career began at Teddington Studios, working as a flo... Read More
My career began at Teddington Studios, working as a flo... Read More
I'm an Executive Producer, Series Editor and Senior Edit Producer with experience leading multi-discipline teams, working closely with commissioners and programme-makers, in tandem with high-profile and emerging on-screen talent, to take ambitious ideas from development to delivery.
My career began at Teddington Studios, working as a floor assistant on late 90s comedies including Black Books, The Sketch Show and the Harry Hill Show. A place on Planet 24’s Graduate Trainee scheme launched my eclectic 25 year career in entertainment and popular factual, working on some of the most iconic British TV brands of the last two decades, from The Big Breakfast to Big Brother, via Benefits Street and The Great British Bake Off.
At Love Productions I brought an entsy, comedy-leaning light touch to the nascent documentary commission ‘The Great British Bake Off’, and over the next 10 years was a key figure in the growth of both ‘Bake Off’ and ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’.
As 'Bake Off's Series Editor, I navigated its highly scrutinised migration from BBC1 to Channel 4, working with new on-screen talent and commissioners to ensure its distinctive warm, witty and captivating tone remained perfectly preserved, whilst on '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 closely collaborated with a range of top presenters, comedians and writers to elevate formats, including Claudia Winkleman, Sue Perkins, Noel Fielding, Andi Oliver, Katherine Ryan and Anita Rani. I've also live studio produced emerging talent in the early stages of their careers, including Iain Stirling, London Hughes, Olivia Lee, Christian Manley, Caroline Flack and Milo McCabe.
As Executive Producer I've taken several first series from pitch-deck to screen, 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.
At South Shore I also exec-ed 8 part BBC 2 food travelogue series 'Andi Oliver's Fabulous Feasts', which won praise for bringing a fresh, joyful slant to the genre, weaving in social history, great music, vibrant characters, alongside Andi's own personal mission to galvanise Britain's towns and communities by throwing epic parties. It was included in The Guardian's list of 'best TV of 2024 so far'.
Most recently I've been overseeing the edit for ITN Productions' classic car and home renovation format 'Ant Anstead: Born Mechanic' which became Quest's highest rating series, sold to multiple territories and streamers, recently winning a Discovery recommission.
In the edit I'm adept at teasing out humour, character and emotion, bringing a light, natural touch to voice over, getting the best out of a cast and turning tricky rushes into gripping stories that resonate with audiences.
In senior roles I lead with energy and an unwavering passion for originality and uplifting talent, fostering a creatively freeing working environment, that encourages and values brave ideas.
For 2025 I'm looking to bring my breadth of broadcast industry expertise to branded content, building on the success of 'Aldi's Next Big Thing', helping companies to connect with audiences through authentic, creative storytelling.
I'm also seeking opportunities to prove myself as a producer in scripted, currently collaborating with up-and-coming writers and performers to get their work onto screens big and small.
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
My career began at Teddington Studios, working as a floor assistant on late 90s comedies including Black Books, The Sketch Show and the Harry Hill Show. A place on Planet 24’s Graduate Trainee scheme launched my eclectic 25 year career in entertainment and popular factual, working on some of the most iconic British TV brands of the last two decades, from The Big Breakfast to Big Brother, via Benefits Street and The Great British Bake Off.
At Love Productions I brought an entsy, comedy-leaning light touch to the nascent documentary commission ‘The Great British Bake Off’, and over the next 10 years was a key figure in the growth of both ‘Bake Off’ and ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’.
As 'Bake Off's Series Editor, I navigated its highly scrutinised migration from BBC1 to Channel 4, working with new on-screen talent and commissioners to ensure its distinctive warm, witty and captivating tone remained perfectly preserved, whilst on '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 closely collaborated with a range of top presenters, comedians and writers to elevate formats, including Claudia Winkleman, Sue Perkins, Noel Fielding, Andi Oliver, Katherine Ryan and Anita Rani. I've also live studio produced emerging talent in the early stages of their careers, including Iain Stirling, London Hughes, Olivia Lee, Christian Manley, Caroline Flack and Milo McCabe.
As Executive Producer I've taken several first series from pitch-deck to screen, 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.
At South Shore I also exec-ed 8 part BBC 2 food travelogue series 'Andi Oliver's Fabulous Feasts', which won praise for bringing a fresh, joyful slant to the genre, weaving in social history, great music, vibrant characters, alongside Andi's own personal mission to galvanise Britain's towns and communities by throwing epic parties. It was included in The Guardian's list of 'best TV of 2024 so far'.
Most recently I've been overseeing the edit for ITN Productions' classic car and home renovation format 'Ant Anstead: Born Mechanic' which became Quest's highest rating series, sold to multiple territories and streamers, recently winning a Discovery recommission.
In the edit I'm adept at teasing out humour, character and emotion, bringing a light, natural touch to voice over, getting the best out of a cast and turning tricky rushes into gripping stories that resonate with audiences.
In senior roles I lead with energy and an unwavering passion for originality and uplifting talent, fostering a creatively freeing working environment, that encourages and values brave ideas.
For 2025 I'm looking to bring my breadth of broadcast industry expertise to branded content, building on the success of 'Aldi's Next Big Thing', helping companies to connect with audiences through authentic, creative storytelling.
I'm also seeking opportunities to prove myself as a producer in scripted, currently collaborating with up-and-coming writers and performers to get their work onto screens big and small.
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')