Edinburgh TV Festival Reveals 2018 Ones to Watch

Following an application process and interviews throughout the U.K., the Edinburgh Television Festival has chosen 30 successful candidates for its Ones to Watch (OTW) talent scheme.

OTW helps talent from a variety of backgrounds across the U.K. develop their careers in the television industry. The scheme was first set up in 1994. It is meant for individuals who already have at least three years of experience working in the TV business. Half of the applicants are freelance; the other half are from production companies and broadcasters.

The candidates will be able to partake in five days of sessions, creative debate and networking opportunities at the Edinburgh TV Festival next month. They will also be showcased to more than 2,000 delegates at the event and receive a year of mentoring from leaders in the industry.

The applicants include Rosemary Anyasodor, assistant producer at ITV Studios’ Potato; Emmanuel Ayettey, freelance assistant producer; Toby Bakare, freelance AP/producer; Charlie Brades-Price, development producer at Barefaced TV; Carly Brown, editor at Whisper Films; Nick Coupe, freelance producer; Lucie Crawford, assistant producer at Darlow Smithson Productions; Julie Cumming, script editor at BBC Studios; Tash Gaunt, freelance assistant producer; and Luke Genower, development producer at CPL Productions.

There is also Lisa Gifford, freelance writer; Amanda Graham, freelance scriptwriter; Alice Jones, producer/director at Nutopia; Jita Mitra, BBC Three YouTube executive at BBC; Sophia Morphew, freelance script editor; Lorraine O’Donovan, freelance DV director; Jacquie Pepall, freelance director; Sophie Perrins, assistant producer at Blast! Films; Sophie Pollock, freelance offline editor; and Thomas Popay, head of development for Stellify Media.

Additional applicants are Yasemin Rashit, freelance producer; Alice Rhodes, freelance producer/DV director; Rajveer Sihota, freelance assistant producer; Joanna Smith, head of corporate development for ITV Studios; Sonia Sohal, senior development producer at Studio Ramsay; Lina Stroud, script editor at BBC; Jessica Waite, development AP at BBC Studios; CJ Weerasinghe, scheduler for VICE; Eve White, freelance producer/director; and Adam Woodhall, freelance development producer and script editor.

Campbell Glennie, the director of education and talent development for the Edinburgh International Television Festival, said: “This year’s 30 really demonstrate the breadth and variety of talent coming up in television in 2018. They are all phenomenally talented, but that’s only one part of what makes a One to Watch. They’ve also shown they care about the industry, each other and those following in their footsteps. They’re not just the future of television, but its next generation of role models too.”