Kenton Allen is the CEO of Big Talk – one of the UK’s leading film and television production companies, winner of Best Independent Production Company at the 2017 Broadcast Awards.
Kenton is a multi-award-winning producer who holds the record for most individual awards for Situation Comedy in the history of BAFTA, with BAFTAs for Rev., The Royle Family and Him & Her. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to television, Kenton was awarded the Fellowship award by the Royal Television Society in 2019.
Kenton’s other notable credits include Martin McDonagh’s Oscar-winning film Six Shooter, as well as a host of critically acclaimed television series in both the comedy and drama genres. Comedy successes include Ambassadors, Brotherhood, Back, Chickens, Crashing, Cockroaches, Free Agents, Mum, Mr. Sloane, The Job Lot, Threesome, Friday Night Dinner and Timewasters alongside drama series The Town for ITV, BBC One’s Our Zoo, ITV’s highly anticipated return of Cold Feet and Sky’s dark comedy drama, A Young Doctor’s Notebook, starring Daniel Radcliffe and Jon Hamm.
Kenton has led the dynamic growth of Big Talk over the past nine years, including BBCW’s investment in Big Talk in 2008, which culminated in the sale of the company to ITV Studios in 2013. He has continued to lead Big Talk’s strategic growth in North America via changed format, international co-production and US originals. With numerous comedy and drama projects in active development at SVOD, premium cable and broadcast networks, Kenton (supported by an exceptional team) oversees an increasingly dynamic international portfolio.
Kenton and the Big Talk team have a keen eye for discovering and encouraging relationships with new and emerging talent; the next generation of writers, actors, directors and producers are key to the company’s success and Big Talk takes pride in nurturing existing high profile talent, whilst building new creative relationships, in front and behind the camera – which may be one reason why the company was named as one of Broadcast’s Best Places to Work in both 2017 and 2018.