Fincham/Hincks prodco staffs up

Expectation Entertainment, the fledgling UK prodco set up by Peter Finchan and Tim Hincks, has hired two creative directors, Colin Barr and Amy Flanagan.

Ex-ITV controller and Fincham and former Endemol Shine Group president Hincks have been building their new prodco, announcing the core team last month.

Additional to those hires, Barr will be creative director, factual and factual drama. A former BBC director and producer, he joins from SAS: Who Dares Wins prodco prodco Minnow Films, where he was creative director.

Colin Barr

“The chance to work with Peter and Tim and to help build Expectation into one of the most exciting and respected producers in the country, was just too good to refuse,” he said. “It feels like the perfect time to be creating a company that is truly cross-genre and collaborative and genuinely more than the sum of its parts,” he said.

Flanagan has been named creative director, factual, and joins from her role as deputy head of factual at Channel 4.

While at the broadcaster she commissioned shows including The Murder Detectives; My Son the Jihadi, The Romanians Are Coming and Hunted.

“Spending the last three years at Channel 4 has been a brilliant experience,” she said. “It’s been a total privilege to work with so many incredibly talented people both inside and outside the building, but I miss production and I’m very excited to be re-joining the indie world.”

Expectation has previously announced Nick Mather and Nick Samwell-Smith as creative directors, entertainment; with Nerys Evans joining as creative director, comedy in April. Barr and Flanagan join Expectation later in the year.

Speaking about the new appointments, Hincks, said: “Peter and I believe there are huge opportunities in factual storytelling, but you have to have the very best talent. We believe Amy and Colin are the best of the best. The idea that they can join us and not just make the best factual shows as individuals, but also collaborate on projects together, is a dream come true.”