Director
From Teletubbies to the Paralympics, Neil has spent 30+ years directing comedy, drama, and entertainment for the BBC, Channel 4, Amazon, Sky, and more. His directing style is collaborative and actor-focused — creating safe, playful sets where talent can shine and stories connect with audiences.
Highlights from 30+ Years Directing for Screen
Neil’s recent credits include major broadcast projects spanning live sport, comedy, and drama.
Director – Paralympics 2024 – Channel 4
Studio Director on 2024’s coverage of the Paralympics, covering the afternoon show on More4 for the 12-day event. Whisper for Channel 4.
Writer / Director – Mother’s Best Child – Channel 4
Writing and directing comedy shorts for Channel 4’s online offerings, with one sketch having over 6 million views on Facebook
2nd Unit Director – Murder they Hope – UKTV
Directing drone sequences, pick-up and cut-away shots as well, as directing a short promo with Johnny Vegas and Sian Gibson for UKTV.
Director / Writer / Editor – Amazon Prime
Producing several projects for Amazon Prime, including 3 pre-school animation series and Puppy Time, a live action one-hour special for kids.
Producer / Script Editor – Just So Darwin – CBBC
This 13-part, BAFTA nominated series was made to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth.
Writer / Director – BVS Training Ltd
Creating dramatic reconstructions of abuse within care home settings to help train care workers to look after vulnerable adults.
Co-Producer / Director – Tony Biscotti’s School for Dramatic Youth – Nickalodeon
Directing a fully funded children’s comedy drama pilot for kids. Starred Steve Furth, Dolly Wells and a cast of over 40 teenage actors.
Freelance years
A wide-ranging freelance career delivering work for broadcasters, streamers, and clients across genres.
Animation Writer / Director – Steady Eddie
Created 10 x 15-minute animated stories, songs and live action inserts for five videos, starring the lovable lorry Steady Eddie based on Eddie Stobart Trucks. Contender Entertainment / Amazon
Writer / Director – KnowledgeBox – Pearson Broadband
Wrote and Directed 85 x 5 minute videos for Primary School English. Included studio interviews, drama workshops, demonstrations and performances.
Director/editor – Autism Educational Trust
Created a series of training films for aimed at teaching assistant, filming with autistic teenagers and their teachers at Spring Hallows school Ealing.
Director / Writer – Inc The Samaritans
Created several hundred business videos, animations, and comedy / drama based training films and for a variety of clients, including The Samaritans, Demand, Nuffield Trust.
Writer / Director – Teachers TV
Producing several series including Great Lesson Ideas, Lesson Starts, and a Seven-part maths series for GCSE students mixing real life problems with a graphic-rich studio explanation of mathematical techniques Leaders.
Writer / Director – Sell Through Children’s Videos – Contender Entertainment / Amazon
How to be a Ballet Dancer (Royal Academy of Dance endorsed), My First Day at School (National Association for Primary Education endorsed).
Series Director – Mega Mutt – Discovery Kids
Directed this 13-part children’s series, a kind of Superstars for the average family dog and their child owners.
Studio Director – Tool Time – Discovery Home and Leisure
20 x 25 min studio-based programmes on DIY and crafts, an Invincible Films Production for Discovery Home and Leisure.
Director / Writer – Beachcomber Bay – Channel 5
Directing 104 location inserts, as well as writing 20 x 25 min episodes over two pre-school puppet series.
Director / Writer – Numbertime – BBC Schools
Wrote and directed song and dance numbers for this BBC series on counting. (3 series)
Location Director – Teletubbies – CBeebies
Set up and directed inserts for this award-winning series. Ragdoll Production for the BBC.
Animation Writer / Director – Contender Entertainment / Amazon
Creator of two animated story videos for 3-6 year olds, voiced by Hugh Laurie and Joanna Lumley.
Studio Director / Writer – Megamaths – BBC Schools
Co-wrote and directed two series of ten x 20 min studio based maths programmes for 7-9 year olds. Japan Prize nominated and RTS award-winning first series.
Early BBC Career
Where it all began: writing and directing for BBC Schools, building skills in multi-camera studios, location, and educational drama.
Hotch Potch House – Writer / director 17 x five minute sketches for this puppet based series for 3-5 year olds.
English File – Poetry of Passion – Directed this 30-minute chat show on Love Poetry, hosted by Lily Savage. RTS and Japan Prize nominated series.
Mathsphere Special – Directed 5 x 20-minute documentaries, pulling the maths out of flying. Filmed on location at Gatwick Airport, the Costa Del Sol and Toulouse
English Express – The Case of the Missing Head – Wrote and directed this 20-minute comedy-drama on diaries and notebooks, in the English Express Series.
Numbersplus – Wrote three episode and directed ten x 15-minute studio based comedy series on counting for 5-7 year olds.
Square One Television – Wrote and directed mini-drama, comedy and documentary PSC items and “as live” multi-camera studio quizzes. Co-production with Children’s Television Workshop, New York and the BBC.
Words and Pictures – Researching, writing and directing location and studio elements of this long running series.
Relevant Directing Experience and Training
- Directors UK Inspire 2022 programme, mentor Ed Bye
- Directors UK Access and Inclusion committee member and Vice Chair of their Disability Working Group
- Director / writer / and performer with Chicken Shed Theatre Company
- Teaching / training in Video Production and TV Presentation for colleges and professional organisations
- Multi-camera studio direction – Including interview, drama, music and quizzes. BBC Training
- Introduction to direction – Basic studio and location directing techniques. BBC Training
- AVID 101 Non-linear editing – National Film & TV School
- Working with actors – BBC Training
What People Say
Neil is a talented and creative director who I have had the pleasure to work with on Murder They Hope series 2. He is also an accomplished writer and perhaps most important of all he has a full grasp of the intricacies required for making television comedy, a rare and wonderful thing.