-
Tina Flintoff
Joint CEO
Tina joined Optomen as the Co-CEO in September 2016 responsible for developing new talent and creating factual, factual entertainment and features shows.
Before that she spent 4 years as a commissioning editor at Channel 4 overseeing a range of factual entertainment shows including Gadget Man with Stephen Fry, The Hoarder Next Door, 16 Kids and Counting, Naked Attraction, What Happens in Kavos, Travel Man with Richard Ayoade and magic series Troy for E4.
-
Nick Hornby
Joint CEO
Nick joined Optomen in September 2016, and together with Tina Flintoff oversees the creative and commercial direction of the company, with particular emphasis on programme delivery.
He previously worked at Channel 4 in the Factual Entertainment and Features departments and has over 25 years experience working in television across the range from observational documentaries to contemporary history series.
-
Eliana Capitani
Head of Development
Eliana Capitani joined Optomen as a Development Executive in September 2016.
Before joining Optomen she held development roles at a number of leading indies including Twenty Twenty Television, Mentorn Media and Studio Lambert. Her production credits include The Secret Millionaire, Seven Days and The Fairy Job Mother.
-
Demi Doyle
Head of Casting
Demi has been with Optomen since 2016. She specialises in securing access, finding amazing characters and producing compelling content.
Recently she been responsible for creating Tyson Fury: The Gypsy King for ITV1 and ITVBe’s hit reality show Absolutely Ascot.In the past she has worked on high profile shows including The Secret Life of 4 Year Olds, Big Brother, Educating Cardiff, The Apprentice and Gogglesprogs.
When not making television, Demi loves to travel and does more internet shopping than she likes to admit.
-
Charlotte Brookes
Executive Producer
Charlotte has over 15 years experience producing Entertainment Television. She has worked on major formats including The Voice, The Apprentice and Strictly Come Dancing. At Optomen Charlotte has overseen some of their biggest shows, from Crazy Delicious for Netflix to Sort Your Life Out for BBC One. At work, Charlotte is happiest running a large gallery team making sure she can be heard over everyone’s headsets. At home, Charlotte is happiest running her somewhat smaller team making sure she can be heard over Peppa Pig.
-
Verity Sutton Barrow
Director of Production and Operations
As Head of Production Verity is responsible for overseeing the smooth running of all output. Since 2007 She has held Head of Production roles at Leopard Films, Victory and betty and Production Executive roles at Shine and ITV Studios. Prior to joining Optomen she was the senior Production Executive at Objective Media Group managing a portfolio of start-up companies including Studio Ramsay.
Verity enjoys all genres of production most notably Factual, Factual Entertainment and Entertainment and programme highlights over the years include Jamie’s Kitchen, Cash in the Attic, Come Dine with me, The Biggest Loser, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Heston’s Great British Food, Bear Grylls: Mission Survive, The Undateables and Gordon, Gino and Fred: The Ultimate Roadtrip.
-
Emily Brownridge
Production Executive
Emily joined Optomen as Production Manager on the original series of Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares and Mary, Queen of Shops before progressing to Production Executive. She is responsible for production planning, budgeting and negotiating deals with broadcasters, and ensuring smooth running of productions.
Other credits for Optomen include Great British Menu, Kevin McCloud’s Manmade Home, Heston’s Feasts and Undercover Doctor.
Prior to joining Optomen Emily was Production Manager in BBC Specialist Factual, working across landmark series including Auschwitz, Leonardo and the Horizon series.
-
Tracey Williams
Production Manager
Tracey joined Optomen in early 2018 as Staff Production Manager. She has worked across a number of productions including Eight Go Rallying: The Road to Saigon (BBC), When I Grow Up (C4), In the Style (BBC 3) and Tyson Fury: The Gypsy King (ITV). She is also responsible for overseeing development projects and the start up of new productions.
During her 12 years in TV, Tracey has gained a variety of experience working across Entertainment, Factual and Shiny Floor programming.
-
Nicola Widdowson
Finance Director
Nicola joined Optomen in May 2022 to oversee all things Finance. She learned her trade in the City and defected to television in 2011 where she discovered her spiritual homeland. During her time in the industry she’s worked across distribution, operational finance, and production, and she loves nothing more than wrangling a giant spreadsheet.
-
Adilah Rojha
Finance Manager
Adilah who is passionate for the media industry has joined OTV in July 2020 as Finance Manager She is responsible for the production of Management Accounts, month end reporting and assisting the Financial Controller. Adilah has previously worked for Zinc Media and Icon Film where bafta winning films and programs were produced. She is always up for new challenges and endeavour to learn and grow at all time Out of work I like to squeeze in for a catnap whenever possible, Cooking and is always ready for a voyage. -
Sam Pirie
Management Accountant
Sam joined Optomen in May 2022 in the Management Accountant role. Before joining Optomen he worked at All3Media in the Corporate Head Office securing a full time position after completing a successful placement year in 2019. He loves finance and has a passion for Film & Television. Sam has a number of TV credits to his name including hit dramas White House Farm and Feel Good. He is loving life in the production industry and looks forward to bringing his experience to Optomen Television.
-
Mike Pipkin
Editor & Graphic Designer
Michael joined Optomen in 2003 to run their newly formed offline edit suites. Over the years he has edited for various productions including Man Made Home, Employable Me, and What Would Be Your Miracle? and has also provided graphics for a variety of Optomen shows including Matilda and the Ramsay Bunch, Heston’s Feasts and Escape to the Wild. He also contributes graphics and editing for the Optomen development team.
-
Sarah Eglin
Executive Producer
Sarah joined Optomen in 2018 to set up a regional office in Birmingham. From there she Exec Produces Great British Menu for BBC2, Snackmasters for C4 and from Manchester, the documentary series, Breaking Fashion for the BBC.
Prior to this, Sarah worked with startup indies to help develop and produce new commissions and was part of a BAFTA winning team at Maverick working on Embarrassing Bodies and Live from The Clinic as Executive Producer. She began her career with the BBC and won awards for investigative journalism but now her recent proudest moments are designing a fully functioning professional kitchen and studio for Great British Menu and encouraging Fred Sirieix to say “wa-fer” with a French accent, when recording his voice over for Snackmasters. -
Emma Riley
Production Executive
Emma joined Optomen in their Birmingham office on Great British Menu in 2019 and is now responsible for production planning, negotiating deals and the smooth running of productions in the Midlands. Previously, she’s been Production Executive and Head of Production Technology at Mentorn Media and Sunset+Vine, and was Head of Production for the Formula E production contract for Aurora Media. Her previous credits include The Apprentice, School Musical, An Idiot Abroad, Cowboy Trap and working on the £100m successful BT Sport channel tender.
Emma has a love of factual entertainment formats, especially anything involving food or houses, and a not-so-secret love of motorsport.
-
Jacob Moore
Production Manager
Jacob joined Optomen as Junior Production Manager on Great British Menu when it moved to a new home in the Midlands. He then moved on to Snackmasters as Production Manager and stayed with Optomen to PM GBM15 and series 2 of Snackmasters. Before joining Optomen Jacob worked as JPM on ‘Back In Time For The Factory’, ‘Garden Rescue’, Let’s Get A Good Thing Going’ and ‘ Steph and Dom’s 1 star to 5 star. He also worked as Production Manager on the regional segment of the Sunday Politics show which included setting up ‘as live’ and ‘live’ OB broadcasts.
-
Hannah McLaughlin
Production Coordinator
After joining Optomen in July 2019, Hannah quickly established herself as a multi-tasking, organisational maestro. She has to juggle the delicate balancing act of managing Nick and Tina’s busy diaries; with running the office and organising social events. She even pops into the odd brainstorm.
Outside of work, Hannah can almost always be found in a pub with her friends.