Ian Hamilton
Male, Region categories : Neutral English, RP
Warm, Reassuring, Authoritative
Ian has been in the entertainment business for over forty years, starting his career at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera and the Bristol Old Vic in stage management. He subsequently moved to the BBC where, amongst other programmes, Ian directed ‘Animal Magic’, ‘Parkinson’, ‘Top of the Pops’ and ‘The Paul Daniels Magic Show’. Ian went freelance in 1980 and has produced and directed most major entertainment shows for the BBC, ITV and most independent companies.
Work includes three ‘Royal Variety Performances’, ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’, ‘The Weakest Link’, ‘The Chase’, and events such as ‘The Grand Opening of Eurodisney’, ‘Concert for the Millennium at Greenwich’, ‘Cabaret’ (Sam Mendes production), ‘Our House The Musical’ and countless other shows.
Ian received a BAFTA Award for ‘I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!’, a Chicago Film Festival Award for ‘Cabaret’, and a New York Film Festival Award for ‘Barrymore’.
Ian has directed commercials for The Sun, Alton Towers (three years as writer/producer/director with Terry Wogan), Apollo Leisure, SriLankan Airlines and Posthouse Forte. Voice over work includes ‘The Brian Conley Show’, ‘The London Studios DVD’ and ‘Joan Rivers Abroad in London’ for Showtime. He still loves the business and hopes to bring a wide breadth of experience to voice over work whether commercial, corporate or narrative.
Education: Durham University. Class II degree French, German & Archaeology. (1970 – 1972)
1969: Glyndebourne Festival & Touring Opera: Assistant Stage Manager.
1972 – 1974: Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company: Senior Deputy Stage Manager. (During this time Ian worked with Artistic Director Val May, as well as Peter O’Toole, Paul Eddington, Miriam Margolyes, Jim Dale, Barbara Leigh-Hunt, Eleanor Bron, Martin Webb, Nigel Stock and many, many more, on a wide variety of productions.)
1974 – 1980: BBC Television. Holiday Relief Station Assistant, Floor Manager, Vision-Mixer, News Director, Producer/Director. Ian started with BBC West based in Bristol in the news operation, and started directing in 1975. At Bristol he also directed ‘Foxwatch’, ‘Badgerwatch’, ‘Animal Magic’ with Johnny Morris, as well as producing and directing local music and documentary shows. In 1977, Ian was seconded to BBC Glasgow where he produced and directed a folk music show with The McCalmans band. In 1978, Ian was seconded to Entertainment Group at BBC Television Centre, where Ian directed ‘Parkinson’, ‘Top of the Pops’ and ‘The Paul Daniels Magic Show’. In 1980 Ian left the BBC to go freelance.
1980 – present: Since going freelance Ian has worked for every major ITV and independent company, as well as returning frequently to the BBC, working in entertainment, comedy, music and live events.
Highlights include: Three Royal Variety Performances, three ITV Telethons (as Senior Network Director), twelve BAFTA telecasts, four Miss World telecasts, Live from The Palladium (LWT, producer/director), Clive James at the Playboy Mansion (LWT), The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald (LWT/Showtime), The Funeral of HRH Princess of Wales, The Funeral of HM The Queen Mother (ITN), The Grand Opening of Eurodisney (LWT), Joan Rivers Abroad in London (Showtime), and countless music, chat and entertainment shows, including Parkinson, Des O’Connor Tonight, The Late Clive James, Paul O’Grady, Barrymore, Saturday Live, Friday Live, The Voice of Ireland (Shinawil/RTE), Laureus World Sports Awards, National Television Awards (ITV2), I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!, 77th. Annual Academy Awards (for Sky), Cabaret (Sam Mendes production for Carlton TV).
DVD work includes several Cliff Richard productions, Kylie Minogue, Our House – the Madness Musical, Jane Macdonald and more. Overseas work includes Sha’eer el Million (Pyramedia), Opening of the Kingdom Centre (Saudi Television), Sir Edmund Hillary Memorial Service, WWII Dedication (both TVNZ), and more.
Hobbies entail photography, foreign travel, cooking, theatre and cinema.
To discuss your requirements and to book Ian Hamilton
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