Kids TV production company, King Bert Productions, has appointed BBC Studios’ Nathan Waddington as its Director of Children’s.
The production company behind hit shows Malory Towers, Sandylands, Ratburger and Cinderella After Ever After, was established in 2014, with executive producer Jo Sargent, Conor McCaughan and David Walliams serving as company directors.
Waddington takes up the role from September, and will be responsible for overseeing King Bert’s children’s production slate, which includes Enid Blyton adaptation of Malory Towers, which TX’d on CBBC in the UK and The Family Channel in Canada, and several of Walliam’s adaptations including The Midnight Gang and Grandpa’s Great Escape.
In his new role, Waddington will be tasked with overseeing and expanding King Bert’s production and development slate, and with sourcing new projects in the children’s and pre-school genre. Waddington comes to King Bert with over 20 years of experience in children’s television and will report into King Bert’s Managing Director Jo Sargent.
Waddington succeeds Grainne McNamara, who is stepping down to take on a new consultancy role within the production sector. She will continue to work with King Bert in this new capacity.
Prior to King Bert, Waddington was the Head of Children’s at BBC Studios, where during his (nine year) tenure he was responsible for the children’s portfolio with a focus on development and content sales and a diverse slate including live action global hit The Next Step through to the animated pre-school series Bluey from Ludo Studios in Australia. Previously he held the position of Director of Co-Productions and International Sales at Planet Nemo, overseeing the implementation of sales and development strategies. He started his career at Nickelodeon in compliance and programme acquisitions before progressing at Fox Kids and Disney through his roles within Acquisitions and Programming at Jetix Europe (formerly Fox Kids).
Waddington said; “Jo and the team at King Bert are developing and producing some of the most exciting, diverse and original children’s content I’ve seen for a while. They are skillfully bringing their years of primetime comedy experience to the children’s genre and I’m incredibly excited to be joining them as their slate and reputation continues to grow.”
Jo Sargent, King Bert Productions Managing Director, said; “Nathan has an incredible track record and remarkable expertise across the children’s sector and he is a fantastic addition to the King Bert team. We’re seeing a strong demand for smart, emotive and high-end children’s and family content and Nathan’s experience will help to further expand King Bert’s production slate for the UK and international territories for young viewers worldwide.”
Jon Creamer
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