Scotland’s STV Studios hires RDF duo Andy Sockanathan & James Smales

LR: Andy Sockanathan & James Smales (Source: STV)

Scotland’s STV Studios has appointed Beat The Chasers co-creator Andy Sockanathan as director of development for its entertainment division.

Sockanathan joins from RDF, where for the last two years he has headed up development, latterly as head of entertainment at RDF label Fizz (Tipping Point).

Prior to that, Sockanathan led quiz and gameshow development at ITV Studios-owned Potato, where he co-created Beat The Chasers, which has been remade in countries including Australia and Spain.

He also had stints at BBC Studios, Studio Lambert’s Glitterbox and Endemol’s Initial, and will report to STV Studios’ creative director of entertainment, Gary Chippington.

The Scottish firm has also hired fellow RDF alum James Smales as development executive. He previously worked in the RDF development team, and before that held development roles at Triple Brew Media, Bandicoot and Hungry Bear.

RDF merged with fellow Banijay label Remarkable Factual last year, resulting in staff cuts. Kitty Walshe, who had headed up both labels, also departed.

Sockanathan and Smales will work to expand STV Studios Entertainment’s slate in the UK and internationally, which currently includes Celebrity Catchphrase for ITV and Bridge Of Lies for the BBC.

Chippington said the duo would help STV Studios “generate more brilliant ideas with the potential to grow into hit shows across the globe.”

STV acquired UK-based producer group Greenbird Media fro Keshet International (KI) last year after striking a £21.4m ($27m) deal for the company.

The acquisition came 10 months after TBI first revealed KI was exploring offers for the group, which handed STV stakes in 15 firms including A&E After Dark outfit Crackit Productions and Lego Masters firm Tuesday’s Child Television.