1 month ago
EXCLUSIVE: Ash Atalla, nan British shaper pinch credits for everything from The Office to Stath Lets Flats, is joining nan governing committee of nan UK’s National Film and Television School (NFTS).
His assignment comes soon aft nan NFTS announced an description of its facilities, pinch nan Cubby Broccoli Building to its Beaconsfield field owed to unfastened successful January 2027.
Atalla is 1 of British comedy’s biggest names, winning Emmys, BAFTAs and Golden Globe, and producing shows specified arsenic Big Boys, People Just Do Nothing and The IT Crowd. Known for championing caller voices, nan shaper worked pinch Ricky Gervais, Chris O’Dowd, Katherine Parkinson, Jamie Demetriou and Jack Rooke astatine nan early stages of their TV careers.
He has besides moved his indie accumulation location Roughcut into play done Paramount+’s Little Disasters, 5’s Coma and Channel 4’s Wrong Move, which is astir to spell into production.
“Ash is 1 of nan astir influential and imaginative figures successful British television, pinch an exceptional way grounds of discovering and championing emerging talent,” said Sophie Turner Laing, Chair of nan NFTS. “His expertise to place and nurture original voices is 2nd to none, and his committedness to supporting outstanding caller creatives aligns perfectly pinch nan NFTS mission. He will beryllium an invaluable summation to nan NFTS committee and we are thrilled to invited him astatine specified a pivotal clip for nan school.”
Atalla collapsed retired successful 2001 erstwhile he produced nan original type of The Office, which made stars of Gervais, Martin Freeman and Mackenzie Crook among others. Gervais had co-created nan show pinch Stephen Merchant. He went connected to subordinate Talkback Thames arsenic Head of Comedy, wherever he produced nan likes of mockumentary Look Around You, Man Stroke Woman and Channel 4 sitcom The IT Crowd. After launching Roughcut TV, he has helmed a bid of comedies specified arsenic Trollied, Cuckoo, People Just Do Nothing, Stath and Bad Boys.
“What an honour to subordinate nan NFTS Board,” added Atalla. “I retrieve starting successful this insane yet beautiful manufacture and I dream my profession highs and assemblage blows will beryllium adjuvant to a caller generation. My only interest is that 1 time a student becomes my leader and I’d person to dress to beryllium gracious. For clarity, I’d dislike it.”
The remainder of nan NFTS committee comprises BBC Chief Content Officer Kate Phillips and her predecessor, Charlotte Moore, who is now CEO of Left Bank Pictures and EVP of International Production astatine Sony Pictures Television; Julian Bellamy, MD of ITV Studios; Cécile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of Sky Studios and Chief Content Officer astatine Sky; Andrew Macdonald, co-founder of DNA Films; and Farhana Bhula, Director of Film4.
