Sharing their experiences and insights into developing and pitching scripted content with be actor, stand-up and writer Tom Davis, development producer Lara Singer and MDs of Shiny Button Productions Andy Brereton and James De Frond.

Meet the panel:

​Andy Brereton

Andy started his career in a BBC development job where he helped develop a range of shows including The Weakest Link (BBC Two) and his first ever show Simply Complicated (BBC Choice). Andy went on to work across the independent sector creating, developing and producing a large range of successful comedy and entertainment shows - Coach Trip (Channel 4), The King Is Dead (BBC Three), Take Me Out (ITV), before joining Tiger Aspect. At Tiger Aspect, Andy created and exec produced a number of shows including Crackanory (Dave), Drunk History (Comedy Central) and Murder on The Blackpool Express (UKTV). It wasn’t long before the seed for Murder in Successville was sown and from the early stages of development, Tom Davis and James De Frond were also brought on board. Andy now works with James and Tom as a Managing Director at Shiny Button Productions where he continues to develop comedy programming.

Tom Davis

Tom Davis is an award-winning actor, stand up, and writer. After working with some the most prominent names in UK comedy, Steve Coogan, Catherine Tate, Leigh Francis,Tom came to prominence in the ground-breaking show Murder in Successville as the lead DI Sleet. As a result of the show’s success, Tom has gone to star in several feature films; Ben Wheatley’s Free Fire, Prevenge and Paddington. He was also part of 2017’s Bafta Breakthrough, which supports the UK’s best upcoming talent. From there he co-founded Shiny Button Productions where he is now writing a BBC comedy production with James De Frond, which he will also star in later this year.

James De Frond

James De Frond is an award-winning comedy director, producer and writer who has 18 years of experience in the television industry. He has been the creative force behind a number of highly original shows over the years including Bo’ Selecta, Chamone Mo’ Fo’ Selecta, A Bear’s Tail, Keith Lemon’s Very Brilliant World Tour, The Morgana Show, Very Important People and Murder In Successville. Through collaborating with the stars of these shows, Leigh Francis, Morgana Robinson and Tom Davis respectively, at every level of the production process, James has successfully guided an eclectic range of cult comedy classics. As one of the MD’s at Shiny Button Productions, he is currently co-writing a BBC production with Tom Davis, as well as working on various other exciting projects.

Lara Singer

Lara is a Development Producer at Big Talk Productions. She has spent the last eight years working in development and production across comedy radio, television and film. Before joining Big Talk, she worked for BBC development, BBC Radio 1, Kudos Film and TV, Origin Pictures, Tempesta Film and ARG at Avalon TV. Most recently Lara has developed and produced Just a Couple, an award-winning comedy-drama series for BBC Three & Channel 4. In addition to these, she helped develop the Bafta-nominated ITV2 comedy Timewasters, the critically-acclaimed series Back for Channel 4, BBC Two’s comedy-drama Defending the Guilty and Sky pilot Peacock.