The Team

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

John has been a pathfinding radio and television producer for over 50 years. Best known for Blackadder, Spitting Image and Not The Nine O’Clock News, he also devised the format for QI, now in its 23rd year. Other long-running formats he started include The News Huddlines (26 years), Quote…Unquote (45 years), and The News Quiz (47 years and counting). John also produced the original pilot of To The Manor Born, co-wrote the first series of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, presented 17 series of Radio 4’s The Museum of Curiosity, came up with the idea for Mr Bean, and directed the Barclaycard ads that became the Johnny English movie franchise. In 2011, he was honoured with a CBE for services to broadcasting.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Simon is an executive producer with 30 years' experience in network TV.  He has worked on both sides of commissioning - as a Commissioning Editor at Channel 4 (Big Brother, Big Brother’s Little Brother), as well as producing shows (including the Bring Back franchise) for the same channel through his own small indie. His credits include BBC1 & 2, ITV1, C4 and E4 as well as leading international networks including TruTV USA, National Geographic, CNN International, RTL Croatia, TVE Spain, REN & TNT Russia. 

Alongside his TV career, Simon spent two years as Creative Director of tech/creative agency Rockabox/Scoota where he executive produced digital and online campaigns for leading brands including Tui, News International and John Lewis.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Former CEO across RDF and Remarkable Television, Kitty has a well-established track record in developing, pitching and producing innovative factual entertainment formats, specialist factual, documentaries and daytime series.  Kitty has originated and been the creative lead behind many award-winning formats that have travelled internationally. Recent successes include original formats such as Your Home Made Perfect (BBC2), Your Body Uncovered (BBC2) and Virtually History (YouTube), shows which embedded technology at the heart of the format, alongside popular returning formats including Sunday Brunch (Channel 4) and Animal Park (BBC1).

Always looking for how new television shows can stand out in a very crowded landscape, Kitty is excited to join the QITV Team to explore the opportunities for several projects currently in development in 2025.

HEAD OF PRODUCTION

Natascha is a highly experienced media professional with over 30 years in the industry. She has credits with all major international broadcasters including the BBC, Discovery, CNN, NatGeo, SKY, C4 and ITV - across every genre from Documentary, Live Events, Features, Factual, Drama-Documentary, News and Entertainment programming. 

Part of the EMMY winning documentary team in 2013 and awarded Journalist of the Year as Sky Italia’s Head of Programming in 2003, she has worked on a wide range of high-profile projects as Line Producer, Executive Producer and Head of Production, as well as a TV Consultant for new channels. Natascha joined the QITV team in early 2016.

SOCIAL AND DEVELOPMENT CREATIVE

James is currently leading unscripted comedy development for QITV. He has been responsible for QI's digital output on all social media channels since 2017 including YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and, most recently, TikTok. As part of the QITV Development team he co-created the BBC One daytime quiz The Tournament, which was re-commissioned for a second series in Autumn 2022. James works with writers, verifiers and the production team to deliver the thousands of questions required for each series. 

Outside of QI he has written about culture and media for a variety of outlets including the Guardian, The New Statesman and Gay Times.

STUDIO MANAGER

Ethan is responsible for operating QITV’s on-site studio, from bookings through to on-day technical assistance. He has experience as a camera, sound, and lighting operator on a number of projects for QI and external clients, in addition to his role as one of QITV's video, audio and stills editors. 

Ethan is also a Scriptwriter and Production Assistant on QI.