Ex-Victory creative chief joins Flynn prodco

Former Victory Television creative director Stuart Shawcross has joined Youngest Media, the fledgling UK-based prodco of ex-Endemol Shine UK execs David Flynn and Lucas Church.

Shawcross has been appointed director of entertainment at the fledgling indie. He will drive entertainment strategy, with responsibility for developing new worldwide formats.

His credits include creating formats such as the BBC’s The National Lottery: Wish Your Wish List, Channel 4’s Five Minutes to a Fortune and launching the playalong app for ITV’s Who Wants to be a Millionaire?.

Shawcross’s former company, Victory, closed earlier this year after its founder, Victoria Ashbourne, stepped down. Shawcross had joined upon Victory’s founding in 2011 as head of entertainment and was promoted to creative director not long before the firm closed.

Victory parent Sony Pictures Television has since upped its focus on producing scripted programming in the UK, recently announcing Electric Dreams: The World of Philip K. Dick.

Youngest was set up earlier this year after Endemol Shine UK chairman Church and chief creative officer Flynn teamed up following their exit from the superindie.

The company secured its first commission, Game of Clones, earlier this month, with the show set to air on E4 in the UK. It also hired former Channel 4 commissioner Jody Smith as head of digital.

“It’s very rare to find someone who’s comfortable starting with a blank sheet of paper and creating a hit series and Stuart is one of those people,” said Flynn.

“Youngest is designed to be an independent place where the best creatives can do their best work, so we’re very pleased he’s joining us. I’m looking forward to plotting out the next big gameshow with him.”