PERSONAL INFORMATION:
I grew up in the town of Leyland, Lancashire, England. Historically famous for Leyland Trucks, truck building was a massive part of the town until the mid-eighties. I have lived in Leyland, or the local surrounding area, for all of my life. However, I've managed to see a lot of Europe on holiday and through work.
In my very much younger days, I competed in BMX racing, reaching the position of 3rd in the UK and 7th in Europe at one stage.
I used to play football (soccer) at a regional level and was scouted by Blackburn Rovers (although nothing came of it).
I motorcrossed in my teens at the county level.
In my early thirties, I ran a motor racing team and scholarship programme in the Renault Clio Cup (sort of the 2nd division in the UK for saloon car racing).
I created the Clio Cup Racing Scholarship TV programme, filming, interviewing, editing, and producing it. Basically everything. It was shown on Motors TV. It is still available on YouTube.
Now in my forties, I've taken up the more sedate game of golf. I'm the Competitions Chairman and Director of the local golf club, Leyland Golf Club, and my handicap is a reasonable 8.
I've always been known as a dreamer (to the point where on my wedding day, my best man even commented on it). But the point is I do dream, but I have plans and back it up with action. I'm a very good visualiser, I can picture how something should work, and how it could be viewed. I visualise how to make something better and then look for ways to make it happen.
I love watching TV and Films of all genres. My least favourite is reality TV. Sci-fi is probably my favourite genre. I love Star Wars, anything to do with Vampires and I'm even a sucker for "chick-flicks", Notting Hill and The Holiday are just two of my favourites.
CAREER INFORMATION:
I started work at the age of 18 as a Junior Programmer. This led to a career in the tech. industry. I was a programmer for 8 years before becoming a manager in charge of a team of developers. I was the second employee at a tech. company and brought my vision, hard-working attitude, and determination to the company. I helped build their software, before going on to become their Professional Services Manager, visiting clients around the country and producing documentation for both the client (easy to understand) and the programmers (technical).
The company was eventually sold to an American firm and it was around this time that I decided I needed to start a company of my own.
Our company was formed in 2010 and although we were small (started in my converted garage), we produced documentation, a website, the software, and a sales pitch that made us look equally (and in a lot of cases more so) as important, knowledgable, and professional as our longer standing competitors. I was in charge of our sales team, alongside being a salesperson. I drove the company forward, built many reseller relationships, and it became a success. In 2019 we sold the business to a major company in France, and I retired at the age of 45.
Since then, we've bought a house with stables, which has taken some time and effort to get to the place it is now. I started writing my Autobiography. What prompted me to write my Autobiography? I'd been through a period of being down, issues with our kids, and not knowing what to do with my life, being the major catalysts. I thought it would be cathartic. Which it was. I'm never one for looking back, I always try to look forward and focus on the next thing to do. Writing the Autobiography allowed me to take a step away, look back on my life, and be very grateful for everything I've been given and achieved.
I loved writing.
It was at this point that I came up with the idea for a TV programme. I had the time to devote to it and I've never been scared of hard work, or trying something new. I have a very good business head, have been involved in selling/negotiating deals, and have written a lot of documentation. I am used to writing in specific formats and meeting standard requirements. Why not?
I joined a UK broadcaster-based education service, and have learnt from the likes of Jed Mercurio (Line of Duty, Bodyguard to name a few), about creating characters, their relationships, Episodes and Season Arcs and general writing techniques.
I have read many, many scripts for TV shows and I learnt from the excellent Stage32 educational webinars.
I now have my first draft for a pilot of my TV show, with season and series outlines. I have character bio's for each character in the show and am ready to share the script with some professionals to get some script coverage and feedback.
I'm not scared of hard work, knockbacks (to be expected), or anything this industry has to throw my way. I'm determined to succeed as I have in the other industries I have been involved in.
But this has to be the most exciting industry yet.
The Game of Life Sci-fi ⋄ Drama Playing with someone’s life takes on a whole new meaning when a company develops technology that allows you to do just that.