Whose Bright Idea Is This?
The programme makers were Neil Anthony and Bryan Izzard. The Bright Thoughts Company production offices were in the heart of Soho the Wardour Street end of Brewer Street. Neil produced, staged or choreographed all shows whilst Bryan directed and co-produced.
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The Big Channel 4-0
Neil Anthony was in at the start of the UK’s first new television channel for 18 years and recalls the heady and hectic times of producing new programmes. Read the full article, November 2022
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Programme Makers
The night Southern TV lost its franchise Neil and Bryan were at dinner with Jeremy Wallington, Director of Programmes at Southern and the news changed everything. Some of the ideas they had been developing for Southern, were too good to discard. They were encouraged to contact the newly announced Channel 4 to see if they would be of interest.
Their first meeting with Channel 4 was at the temporary offices in Knightsbridge opposite Harrods. They were both stunned, not to come out with one commission but four of the very first entertainment commissions. Their first shows were all low-budget, small cast, and relatively straight forward to produce. |
Agent Roger Hancock advised that this would at least get some track-record before getting too ambitious in these early. The operetta shows and the Chorus Girl format had been first discussed at Southern but Jeremy Wallington and Roger Hancock thought they might both be offered for Channel 4 and, even if they are too costly for C4, they may just have the UK rights as both shows would make ideal co-productions!
The early strategy was for the one-man-shows to be the 'bead and butter' along with other formats that would be low-cost and relatively easy to produce. This would enable them to not only establish track-record, but also to find co-production partners and nurture bigger projects for international markets and other exploitation. It became clear they were not going to get rich from the production and producer fees from Channel 4, but they were regularly incentivised to create product that had secondary marketing potential.
Neil and Bryan were extraordinarily prolific at a level which was unsustainable other than in short bursts. With their production budgets continually being screwed-down to the bare minimum by C4 they were never allowed the luxury to take-stock and work on developing our other projects and coproduction partners. Financially, they continually had to keep running just to stand still.
When the 'political wind' changed at Channel 4, they decided not be a part of it. They both had enough, and it seemed the C4 promises of 'jam tomorrow' from the marketing of the Bright Thoughts product was never likely to happen.
Choosing different directions, they collaborated on each others projects for many years. The two creative minds enjoyed time together dreaming up new ideas and fresh concepts. Sometimes Neil worked uncredited assisting Bryan at HTV, when working on a South Bank Show and other projects. Similarly, if Bryan advised on any of Neil's projects it was largely off the record.
Neil and Bryan remained life long friends and creative collaborators. Bryan sadly died in 2006.
The early strategy was for the one-man-shows to be the 'bead and butter' along with other formats that would be low-cost and relatively easy to produce. This would enable them to not only establish track-record, but also to find co-production partners and nurture bigger projects for international markets and other exploitation. It became clear they were not going to get rich from the production and producer fees from Channel 4, but they were regularly incentivised to create product that had secondary marketing potential.
Neil and Bryan were extraordinarily prolific at a level which was unsustainable other than in short bursts. With their production budgets continually being screwed-down to the bare minimum by C4 they were never allowed the luxury to take-stock and work on developing our other projects and coproduction partners. Financially, they continually had to keep running just to stand still.
When the 'political wind' changed at Channel 4, they decided not be a part of it. They both had enough, and it seemed the C4 promises of 'jam tomorrow' from the marketing of the Bright Thoughts product was never likely to happen.
Choosing different directions, they collaborated on each others projects for many years. The two creative minds enjoyed time together dreaming up new ideas and fresh concepts. Sometimes Neil worked uncredited assisting Bryan at HTV, when working on a South Bank Show and other projects. Similarly, if Bryan advised on any of Neil's projects it was largely off the record.
Neil and Bryan remained life long friends and creative collaborators. Bryan sadly died in 2006.
"Neil Anthony started in the business as a dancer. Writing and choreography were natural stepping stones to becoming a producer. Since forming The Bright Thoughts Company in 1981 they have produced many shows, mainly in the music and entertainment areas."
(Goldcrest Films & Television) |
"Bryan Izzard has worked in television for many years as a producer director in the Light Entertainment areas. He has worked on such Arts programmes as Aquarius and The South Bank Show and has held the post of Head of Entertainment at Scottish TV and Southern TV."
(Goldcrest Films & Television) |