Louise Thornton, Head of Multiplatform Commissioning
Responsible for: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Scotland’s TV, Radio and Digital commissioning
Louise is Head of Commissioning for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Scotland, responsible for devising and delivering a commissioning strategy to create great content across radio, tv, online and social for all audiences in Scotland. Louise works across all of Scotland’s scripted, unscripted and sport programming and heads up a talented multiplatform and multigenre team.
She has worked in and out of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ since 2002 and has a background in multiplatform production, ranging from linear television programmes to interactive games and short form viral content. Louise has a strong track record in public service broadcasting, working as an editorial lead in Learning for several years and she is one of the founders of the award winning talent development platform Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ The Social.
Louise has been in Commissioning since 2018 and was part of the team responsible for launching the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Scotland channel. She has a keen interest in developing new talent, creating formats across platforms and has a passion for Scotland and all it has to offer. She has numerous television and digital credits across the genres to her name and has a track record of commissioning podcasts such as Who Killed Emma? and Bible John: The Hunt for a Serial Killer. In her time as Head of Commissioning, she has been responsible for delivering on Scotland’s network co-commissioning strategy which has resulted in series such as Murder Case, dramas Guilt, Granite Harbour and Mayflies, and international feature docs like My Old School. Louise is also committed to investing in Scottish Sport and is working in collaboration with Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Alba to deliver wider coverage of women’s football as a key priority.
Sandra McFadden, Head of Business
Responsible for the financial and business management of multiplatform commissioning
Sandra is responsible for leading and managing the financial, business aspect of the multiplatform commissioning team for output on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Scotland channel, Digital output including i player & Sounds as well as Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ1 and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ2 co-commissioned content from Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Scotland.
A qualified accountant, Sandra joined the commissioning team at the start of 2023 and has extensive experience in the media industry having worked for the past 20 years in a variety of roles – the majority of which has been with News and current affairs in Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Scotland, but also has experience in Radio and finance.
Has a keen interest in new and emerging talent and how Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Scotland can play their part to develop great content for our audiences.
Commissioners and their briefs
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Radio and Events
Heather Kane-Darling -
Factual
David Harron -
Sport, Archive Formats, Acquisitions & New Talent
Tony Nellany -
Scripted and Entertainment
Gavin Smith -
Popular Factual and Formats
Steve Allen
Sidra Khan, Assistant Commissioner
Responsible for: Factual Entertainment, Network and Scotland
Sidra Khan is a television producer, director and development producer who produced and directed the first series of the BAFTA Award-winning Wife Swap, Wife Swap USA, Faking It, Supernanny, Come Dine With Me, The Apprentice and was a producer on Back In Time for Birmingham. She has been a development producer for Wall to Wall, Betty TV and was appointed the first Head of Development at Firecrest Films.
A trained lawyer, Sidra was selected for the Breakthrough Leadership Scheme as one of 50 black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds leaders who will help shape and redefine future leadership in the TV industry.
After 20 years in London, she relocated to her native Glasgow where she is developing ideas and building strong regional diverse contacts and talent.
Current credits include Paramedics on Scene, Crime Files, The Repair Shop and The Great British Menu.
Other commissioners
Gaynor Holmes, Commissioning Editor
Responsible for: Network Drama, based in Glasgow
Please submit proposals for Gaynor Holmes through PiCoS For any additional queries contact Christina Corro, Commissioning Coordinator.
Muslim Alim, Commissioning Editor, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Daytime TV
Responsible for: Network Daytime and Early Peak, based in Glasgow
All proposals need to be submitted through PiCoS to the Genre Controller or Commissioner, or Strand Head.
Ishbel Maclennan, Editor, Gaelic Programmes
Responsible for: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Alba Gaelic Programmes (TV, Radio and Online)
Neil McCallum, Commissioning Editor, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Daytime & Entertainment
Responsible for: Network Daytime/Early Peak, plus Network Entertainment, based in Glasgow
All proposals need to be submitted through PiCoS with the idea clearly marked as either Daytime or Entertainment.
Gregor Sharp, Commissioning Editor Entertainment & Comedy
Responsible for: Responsible for Network Comedy, based in Glasgow
All proposals need to be submitted through PiCoS
Commercial, Rights and Business Affairs
The Commercial, Rights and Business Affairs team at Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Scotland negotiates your Licence Fee, issues your programme production agreements and provides support throughout production. We are based at Pacific Quay.
Mike Griffiths, Head of CRBA, Nations
Jane Gilmartin, CRBA Manager, Factual, 0141 422 6848
Claire O’Neill, CRBA Manager, Entertainment, 0141 422 6928
Gillian Pauling, CRBA Manager, Multiplatform, 0303 0809779
Angela Mills, CRBA Manager, 0303 0800489
Mike Wheadon, CRBA Manager, 0141 422 6307