James Hilton

SERIES DIRECTOR, PRODUCER/DIRECTOR & EDIT PRODUCER:

Self-Shooter – Self-Editor - Script Writer - Development Producer - Studio Director - Branded Content Producer – Lighting Director - Drone Pilot.

I’m a passionate story teller and content maker with over 15 years' industry experience, committed to creating bold, compelling, surprising, beautiful and innovative content. I love to collaborate within a brilliant group of like minds, manage large teams or am equally as happy lone working.

I’ve accumulated an array of UK and international broadcast TV, film, short and long form content creation experience. During my career making many acclaimed documentary films, Obs doc series, factual, entertainment, reality, consumer, crime and children’s programmes for terrestrial TX and global streamers.

I understand the importance of building productive relationships with contributors and clients alike so any project can thrive, ever conscious of a projects brief and creative ambition.

Lateral thinker and problem solver, with a history of originating concepts and developing them to fruition. I’ve spent as much time crafting in the edit as working in the field, honing script writing, paper editing, client relationships and delivery.

With a deep level of technical expertise and craft knowledge, I can deliver stunning production values whether it’s directing single/multi-camera shoots, producing glossy TVC's, enhancing a clients’ brand, sound-scaping, stylistic lighting, droning or using the latest technology and production equipment to raise the aesthetic bar.

April 2023 – January 2024

The King’s Guard: A year in service, S2, Proper Content, Channel 5

Series Director & Edit Producer 

Observational documentary series embedded with the King’s household division. Followed the historic regiments on the biggest state ceremonial occasions and on combat duties across the UK and Africa. 

October 2022 – March 2023            

Changemakers,S1, Proper Content TV, Paramount+

Producer/Director & Edit Producer 

International docu-series featuring the stories of 8 ordinary people fighting for a better world, focusing on grass roots activists facing challenges and campaigning for change.

September 2022                                                                  

Dirty Home Rescue S1, Crackit Productions , Channel 5

Edit Producer 

Fact/ent series following a professional cleaning crew find and clean up some of Britain’s dirtiest homes.

February 2022 – August 2022                                                                                  

Supervet S8, Blast TV, Channel 4                             

Producer/Director & Series Producer 

Returning documentary series following the pioneering work of super vet – Noel Fitzpatrick.

October 2021 – January 2022                                 

Street Dance: Against All Odds, Proper Content TV, Channel 4

Edit Producer                                                                             

Documentary/Reality series following a world champion hip hop dance group over the course of a season.

September 2021 – October 2021                                                                                  

Nurses S1, Label1 TV, UKTV                                                     

Edit Producer 

Warm hearted documentary series following the daily lives of Nurses in one of the largest hospital’s in the UK.

September 2020 – August 2021                                             

The Queen’s Guard S1, Proper Content TV, Channel 5

Producer/Director & Edit Producer 

Documentary series following the iconic ‘Coldstream Guards’ on the biggest royal and ceremonial duties.

January 2020 – April 2020                                 

Shoplifters: At War With The Law, Crackit Productions, Channel 5

Producer/Director

Documentary series following Britain's retail security teams in the battle against shoplifting.

October 2019 – December 2019                                 

Rich House, Poor House, Emporium Productions, Channel 5

Producer/Director

Documentary house/life swap series which explores Britain's social and wealth divide.

November 2019                                         

Secrets Of Your Super Market Food, Emporium Productions Channel 5 

Edit Producer 

Consumer series that uncovers the secrets behind what we put in our shopping baskets.

August 2019 – October 2019                                  

Rich Holiday, Poor Holiday, Emporium Productions, Channel 5

Producer/Director

Documentary series where the top 10% of UK earners swap holiday's with the bottom 10%.

July 2019 – August 2019                          

Grand Designs: House Of The Year, Boundless Productions, Channel 4

Producer/Director 

Kevin McCloud visits the extraordinary homes worthy of nomination for RIBA's house of the year award.

May 2019 – June 2019                                                

Escape To The Perfect Town, Boundless Productions, BBC1

Producer/Director 

Brand new series following house hunters searching for there dream home across Britain's market towns.

February 2019 – May 2019                                                                                     

Antiques Roadtrip S17, STV, BBC2

Producer/Director                                                                                 

Followed the country's finest antiques dealers competing to buy wares and sell at auction for the biggest profit. 

October 2018 – January 2019                                                

Going,Going,Gone (Pilot). Proper Content, Channel 4

Producer/Director & Edit Producer 

 A documentary pilot following home owners selling and buying property at some of the UK top auction houses.

May 2018 – July 2018                                    

Great British Railways Journeys S10, Boundless Productions, BBC2

Edit Producer                                                 

Long running travelogue/history series presented by former politician and now broadcaster Michael Portillo. 

March 2018 – April 2018                                                                    

Homestead Rescue S3, Raw TV, Discovery U.S

Producer/Director                                                                             

Alaskan Homesteading experts - the Raney family, attempt to transform failing homesteads across America.

February 2018                                                                                               

The One Show, BBC1, Media City Salford

Producer/Director

Worked on the VT team of BBC1’s daily live magazine show. Required to source, script and film topical pieces. 

October 2017 – December 2017                                        

The Housing Enforcers S5,Two Four Productions, BBC1

Edit Producer                                                                     

Ob doc daytime series which follows the work of housing enforcement officers across the UK.

June 2017 – August 2017                                                                              

Village Of The Year, Reef TV, Channel 4

Edit Producer                                                                                                 

Brand new series with Penelope Keith: Villages across Britain compete to be crowned the UK’s ultimate village.

January 2017 – April 2017                                                                         

Fake Britain S8, Screen channel TV, BBC1

Producer/Director                                                                                        

Strong journalism skills required to find, develop and film fresh stories in the murky world of counterfeiting.

December 2016                                                                                 

My Floating Home S2, Windfall Films, Channel 4

Producer/Director 

Design documentary series following home owners from around the globe swap suburbia for a water dwelling life, building their own bespoke floating dream home. PD'd builds across North America.

June 2016 – October 2016                                                                      

Claimed & Shamed S8, Curve Media, BBC1

Producer/Director & Edit Producer                                                          

Consumer/crime documentary series, which exposes the scams of the UK’s most shameless insurance.

October 2015 – Jan 2016                                               

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is S13, Reef TV, BBC1

Edit Producer                                                                  

Long running antiques series where antiques aficionados go head to head. 

June 2015 – September 2015                                  

Amish Dream Homes S1, Windfall Films, HGTV North America

Producer/Director                                               

Design/documentary series following an Amish family business building bespoke log cabins across America.

February 2015 – May 2015                   

Dr Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet  Double Act TV, Discovery US, Animal Planet

Producer/Director                                 

Observational documentary series following uber Vet, “Dr Jeff”, his staff and his clinic.

February 2014 – April 2014                                                    

Railroad Alaska 2, Windfall Films, Discovery America

Self-Shooting DV Director                                                   

Reality series following the working lives of the people that run, operate and maintain the Alaskan railroad. 

December 2013 – January 2014                                 

Harold Shipman:10 Years on,Crackit Productions, Channel 5

Self – Shooting DV Director                                 

Two-part documentary telling the story of the world’s most prolific serial killer, Harold Shipman.

March 2013 – July 2013                                                

Countdown To Murder, S1, Crackit Productions, Channel 5

Self – Shooting DV Director                                                       

Crime documentary series which uses reconstruction, interviews and archive to tell the story of infamous real life murders. 

October 2012 – February 2013                                                   

Harrow: A Very British School, Series 1, ITN Sky 1

Self – Shooting DV Director                                                       

Obs doc series following the lives of the boys of one of Britain’s most prestigious boarding schools – Harrow.

Leeds Beckett University (BA Hons) Fine Art & Design: Grade: 1st