Award-winning Scottish indie Bandicoot TV, a joint venture with global production group Argonon, today announces two major new talents hires to support future strategic growth and operational activity in the UK and US. The appointments follow the fourth series of International Emmy and RTS award-winning juggernaut The Masked Singer with further fully funded development projects underway with UK and US networks and streamers.
Louisa Benger joins in a newly created role as Director of Productions and Operations with a remit across Bandicoot TV, Bandicoot Scotland and the label’s expanding US operations. Louise’s new role spans the UK and US, including The Masked Singer and several other projects currently in development, on both sides of the Atlantic.
For the past seven years, Louisa has been working as Director of Production and Operations for Youngest Media, overseeing all output from the BAFTA nominated Moneybags to ITVs primetime game show Small Fortune and the E4’s international hit Game of Clones. She has over two decades’ broadcast production and operations experience having previously worked for Endemol Shine, ITV, BBC and MTV working on many a hit series such as Pointless, Golden Balls, Big Brother, Countdown, Restoration Home and Secret Eaters.
The news coincides with Emma Read-Wilson, Bandicoot’s Head of Production, leaving for an as-of-yet unannounced role.
Also announced today is the appointment of Ryan Meloy, who joins as Executive Producer, Development and becomes Bandicoot’s Creative Lead for Scotland. Meloy will work closely with Kate Stannard, Bandicoot’s Head of Development to develop new projects based out of the Glasgow office as well as working with the senior production team on The Masked Singer to continue to evolve the UK’s most popular entertainment show as it enters production of its fifth series later this year.
Ryan Meloy is a BAFTA and RTS-winning Development Executive whose creative credits include the award-winning children’s format, Last Commanders. Meloy has worked in scripted and non-scripted development and previous production roles included Thames Television, Tern TV, Objective Media Group, IWC Media and Beezr Studios. Previous production credits range from shiny floor studio shows like Break The Safe and Partners In Rhyme, to factual entertainment formats Science of Stupid and Scotland’s Home of The Year, as well as documentaries, live events, and digital content. In addition, he has also worked as a format consultant for international broadcasters such as Televisa and SMG. Both roles report into Bandicoot’s founders, Managing Director Derek McLean, and Creative Director Daniel Nettleton.
Derek McLean and Daniel Nettleton commented: “These exciting new hires build on our successes and highlight our ambition to take Bandicoot to the next level, with major UK and US projects in advanced, paid development with networks and streamers. Louisa joins us in an enhanced role and brings vast operational expertise and experience working on many of the biggest shows in unscripted. Ryan’s track record will expand our offering and help secure new commissions from our Scottish base and augment our creative firepower for future series of The Masked Singer.” They added: “We would like to thank Emma for her work at Bandicoot and wish her every success in her new role.”