Thames (a Fremantle label) is launching Upstream, a brand-new factual entertainment label, with Neale Simpson as Creative Director. As the leading producer of some of the UK’s most popular entertainment and shiny floor formats, Upstream will allow Thames to diversify its slate and expand its client base as Thames looks to broaden its outreach to other genres.
Neale brings a wealth of experience to the newly created role after over a decade at Banijay, most recently as the Creative Director of Fizz and RDF, where he led on development, operations and exec- produced series across both labels, with titles including: ITV’s Tipping Point, BBC Two’s Lightning, E4’s Shipwrecked, BBC Three’s Fight Dirty, Craig & Bruno’s Great British Drives for ITV and The Crystal Maze for C4 and Nickelodeon in the US.
Amelia Brown, Managing Director, Thames, says: “Neale is a creative force and we’re delighted that someone with his talent has joined Thames. He will be a huge asset to us and our brand-new label, Upstream, as we look to diversify and produce formats across multiple genres.”
Neale Simpson, Creative Director, Upstream adds:“Thames produces the biggest and best entertainment shows on British television, combined with an enviably rich slate of much-loved brands. The launch of Upstream presents a fantastic opportunity to join Amelia and the immensely talented team at Thames with a shared ambition to create feel-good formats that aim to put a smile on people’s faces – and don’t we all need a bit more of that right now?”