Daniel Nettleton and Derek McLean founded Bandicoot to devise and produce award-winning entertainment & factual entertainment.
Derek Mclean
Co-Founder & Managing Director
Derek is a two-time Emmy award-winning TV producer with over 20 years’ experience in the industry in both the UK & USA. As a freelance Series and Exec Producer, Derek gained a reputation for developing and launching new comedy & entertainment formats including Would I Lie To You, Charlie Brookers’ Screenwipe, John Bishop’s Britain and Tool Academy.
Daniel Nettleton
Co-Founder & Creative Director
Daniel began his TV career as Terry Wogan’s warm up man before being snapped up by Chris Evans for his UMTV development team. His first commission was 18 Stone of Idiot which he devised with Evans and Johnny Vegas.
Emma Read-Wilson
Head of Production
Emma joined Bandicoot as Head of Production in 2022. Prior to this, she held the role of Production Executive at Objective Media Group, overseeing their unscripted productions and development output across multiple labels, looking after shows like The Cube, Lingo, Flirty Dancing and Gordon, Gino & Fred’s Road Trip. Having been in Production Management for nearly 20 years, Emma previously worked at betty, Shine and ITV in the UK as well as spending six years working in Australia at Fremantle and Shine Australia. Her time in Australia gave her valuable experience, working from development through to production on various international formats including The Mole, X Factor and Survivor. Her other credits include I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Gladiators, Top Gear Australia and Bear Grylls' Mission Survive.
Kate Stannard
Head of Development
Kate began her TV career in 2004 on a development trainee scheme at 12 Yard Productions. Her long list of development credits include 5 Gold Rings, Cash Trapped, Catchpoint, Pick Me, Real Housewives of Cheshire, The Question Jury, The Games and Beauty and the Geek. As Head of Development at Bandicoot, Kate is charged with leading the very talented development team and working with them to devise new and exciting formats.
Liz Holmwood
Head of Talent
Liz began her career at This morning as a Travel Coordinator in 2006. She then moved over to the Showbiz team before leaving to take on a role at Thames Television, working on The Xtra Factor and Britain’s Got More Talent. From there, she moved into Comedy Entertainment, taking a position at Talkback and gaining credits on shows including Celebrity Juice and Through The Keyhole. Before joining Bandicoot in 2021, Liz was Head Of On Screen Talent at Fremantle, working on shows including Britain’s Got Talent, Harry’s Heroes, The X Factor: Celebrity and The Celebrity Apprentice. At Bandicoot, Liz is across talent for both The Masked Singer and The Masked Dancer, while also working on exciting new projects with the development team.
Katy Smith
Deputy Head of Production
Katy joined Bandicoot in 2018 to Production Manage their first commission, Chase the Case for BBC Scotland and has stayed with the company ever since. Renowned for having her fingers in every Bandicoot pie, Katy production managed Test Drive series 1 & 2, Peckham’s Finest, The Masked Singer: Unmasked and The Masked Sing-a-long, as well as being heavily involved in every series of the The Masked Singer and The Masked Dancer. It’s fair to say it’s been a busy few years for Katy Smith!
Robert Henry Cooke
Vice President of US Development
Robert started out in TV after being selected by Kate Phillips as a trainee on her infamous BBC Future Formats scheme. Before joining Bandicoot in 2021, Robert worked in development and production for the BBC and ITV. He has had series and formats commissioned at Bravo, BET, BBC1/2, BBC Three, ITV2, C4 and C5. As Bandicoot's Vice President of US Development, Robert is responsible for leading all US development from our UK and US offices.
Lynsey Wylie
Series Producer
Lynsey has been with Bandicoot since the beginning, series producing their first commission, Chase the Case back in 2018. Since then, she has worked across a wide range of Bandicoot productions including Test Drive, The Masked Singer, The Masked Dancer and The Masked Singer: Unmasked. In addition to this Lynsey is also part of the company’s flourishing development team, using her background in entertainment, reality, quiz and gameshows to devise and develop new formats and games.
Kirstie Ellard-Smith
Executive Assistant
Kirstie came to Bandicoot in early 2022 from UKTV where she was PA to the Director of Commissioning. She joins us with a wealth of experience from the Broadcaster side. Kirstie is EA to Derek and Daniel.
Isobel Nixon
Production Accountant
Isobel started out as a teacher of French and Italian before taking a leap into the world of accountancy. She has worked on various BBC productions, STV’s flagship crime drama, Taggart (there’s been a murder!) and in News and Current Affairs at STV. Isobel joined Bandicoot in 2020 as a Production Accountant, working on The Masked Singer and The Masked Dancer as well at various other productions.
Rebecca Ramsey
Production Coordinator
Rebecca became a fully-fledged full time member of the Bandicoot family in 2021 but has been part of the team on The Masked Singer since the very first series in one role or another! Before this, she worked on a wide range of productions including Dynamo: Beyond Belief for Phil McIntyre, Glastonbury for BBC Music and Sunday Brunch at Remarkable TV.
Gordy The Bordy
Head of Happiness
Gordy joined Bandicoot in 2020 and has proven to be a very sociable addition to the team. This role is Gordy’s first foray into TV production, but his playful disposition and effortless charm has shown him to have a natural talent for bringing joy. He is generous with his time, a great listener and is always keen to have meetings outside the office. Gordy brings a smile to the faces of all who meet him and asks only for a tummy rub in return, he truly is a team player.
Awards
The Masked Singer
- Broadcast Awards 2022Nominated – Best Entertainment Programme
- International Emmy Awards 2021Winner – Non-Scripted Entertainment
- TBI Content Innovation Awards 2021Winner – Entertainment Format of the Year
- National Reality Television Awards 2021Winner – Best Entertainment Show
- RTS Craft & Design Awards 2021Nominated – Costume Design – Entertainment & Non Drama
- BAFTA Television Awards 2021Nominated – Entertainment Programme
- National Television Awards 2021Nominated – Talent Show
- Rose D’Or Awards 2021Nominated – Studio Entertainment
- Broadcast Awards 2021Nominated – Best Entertainment Programme
- Broadcast Digital Awards 2021Nominated – Best Digital Support for a Programme
Test Drive
- BAFTA Scotland AwardsNominated - Entertainment