Chalkboard TV Appoints New Creative Director

Chalkboard TV has appointed Tom Popay to the role of creative director.

At Chalkboard, Popay will spearhead the development of new business in the domestic and international markets and drive Chalkboard’s non-scripted ambitions. Popay joins the independent producer from Belfast-based Stellify Media, where he served as head of development.

During his tenure at Popay, he worked on such shows as Blind Date for Channel 5, Celebrity Snoop Dogs for Channel 4, Can’t Touch This for BBC One and Flinch for Netflix.

Popay will take over as creative director from Bill Hobbins, who is moving into the newly created position of director of programs to deliver One Question, Chalkboard’s new prime-time game show for Channel 4. Popay will report directly to managing director Mike Benson, with whom he worked earlier in his career during a previous stint as a development producer for Chalkboard.

Popay said: “I’m over the moon to be back at Chalkboard, which is a company I know well, having worked with Mike and his team in the past. Over the last five years, the team behind Chalkboard has taken massive strides—setting up a new scripted business with its sister company Clapperboard Studios, winning awards at Edinburgh and pulling in a string of commissions from across the U.K.’s regions and broadcasters, culminating in a high-profile prime-time quiz for Channel 4. I see my mission as helping to super-charge that pace by building on Chalkboard’s success in non-scripted. I can’t wait to get started.”

Benson added: “With this change in management structure, we’re heading into what promises to be another milestone year for Chalkboard in great shape. Welcoming Tom back into the family is a pleasure—he’s an exceptional talent and an inspiring creative leader.”