Fremantle-owned production house, Thames, has promoted Shona Baldwin to Creative Director and Charlie Irwin to Director of Programmes.
Since joining Thames in 2018 as Director of Development, Baldwin has helped secured orders including Supermarket Sweep, Blockbusters, Rob Beckett’s Savage Socials, Family Fortunes and the upcoming BBC One gameshow, I Can See Your Voice.
Reporting to Managing Director Amelia Brown, Baldwin now helps lead the company’s overall creative strategy, with overarching responsibility for the development of its slate of entertainment and factual entertainment shows.
Prior to Thames, Baldwin had led Development teams at companies including Studio Lambert and Twofour label Boomerang, creating the ITV format What Would Your Kid Do?
Charlie Irwin is a double BAFTA award winning producer whose career started at Thames in 2004 on the first series of The X Factor. Since then he has worked at many other independent production companies producing shows including Saturday Night Takeaway, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and Sunday Night at the Palladium, before returning to Thames in 2017 as Executive Producer of Britain’s Got Talent.
Working closely with Amelia Brown, Irwin will oversee all Thames output, nurture new talent and continue to grow and build upon the success of Thames in the Entertainment and Factual Entertainment genres.
Amelia Brown, Managing Director, Thames said: “Shona and Charlie are so well-deserved of these promotions. They are invaluable members of the Thames family and I couldn’t think of two better people to oversee and develop our slate as we look ahead to the future.”
Shona Baldwin, Creative Director, commented: “Thames is an incredibly special place, and I couldn’t be more delighted to be taking up the new role as Creative Director. I look forward to leading the label’s creative strategy for our next generation of global hits.”
Charlie Irwin, Director of Programmes, added: “I am beyond thrilled to be appointed Director of Programmes at the company where I began my career. Thames is an incredible place – full of super talented and creative people and already has a very impressive slate. I want to continue to build on the success of these programmes and create new exciting formats for viewers to enjoy.”
The promotions come as Thames (and Fremantle sister label Naked) have just been commissioned by BBC One for brand-new primetime mystery music guessing game I Can See Your Voice hosted by Paddy McGuinness. Thames has also recently announced that it is bringing back the global sensation Family Fortunes for ITV hosted by Gino D’Acampo.
Jon Creamer
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