Who We Are

Michael Mannes

Michael is Managing Director of 12 Yard. With over 20 years experience in the television industry, he has produced an array of entertainment shows, both prime-time and daytime across all the leading UK channels. Prior to 12 Yard, Michael worked for the BBC, Pearson, At It Productions and Planet 24.

Liz Gaskell

Along with the brilliant 12 Yard development team Liz has overseen the creation of nearly 20 original networked series for the company, many of which have gone on to multiple recommissions and international success. Over a twenty eight year career she has worked at many of the most prestigious UK TV companies and broadcasters producing a wide range of entertainment and factual entertainment shows. Her favourite part of the job is employing and nurturing trainees.

Zoë Tait

Zoë has been Head of 12 Yard Scotland since 2011 and has overseen many primetime entertainment shows for the BBC and ITV including ‘Who Dares Wins’, ‘In It To Win It’ and ‘Big Star’s Little Star’. She has also worked on daytime hits such as ‘Perfection’, ‘Pressure Pad’ and ‘Think Tank’.

Prior to joining 12 Yard, Zoë produced such shows as ‘Deal or No Deal’, ‘Big Brother’s Little Brother’, ‘Charlie Brooker’s ScreenWipe’ and ‘Entertainment Tonight’.

Zoë has vast experience at running production teams in the UK, Ireland & America, with the majority of her expertise based around studio formats.

Sarah Williams

As Head of Production, Sarah works with her editorial colleagues to create and deliver successful content within the operational and financial constraints, whilst driving innovation and continuous improvement throughout the production lifecycle.

Sarah has overseen all types of productions during her TV career, from small development projects to large scale location filming and multi-camera studio shows with the varying budgets to match.

Paul McGettigan

Paul joined 12 Yard as an Executive Producer in 2013 and was made Head of Comedy Entertainment two years later. ‘Insert Name Here’ for BBC2 and ‘Big Star’s Little Star’ for ITV are both returning series made by his department. Prior to joining 12 Yard he produced many Comedy Entertainment shows including ‘Room 101’, ‘Frank Skinner’s Opinionated’ and ‘The Sarah Millican Television Programme’.

James Woolley

Over ten years devising TV formats, Jimmy’s developed many of our recent programmes, with international experience in the US, Germany and Switzerland.

John Lomax

John is a Development Exec who runs the development slate and has a track record of securing commissions across multiple genres and channels, from big scale reality shows to studio entertainment formats to daytime quizzes, including: Cheat: Unfinished Business (Netflix), The Cabins (ITV2), I’ll Get This (BBC2), Comedians Giving Lectures (Dave), Big Star’s Bigger Star (ITV1) and Revenge of the Egghead (BBC One). He has also moved across into production to produce multiple series and pilots.

Lottie Haigh

Chay Milne

Astra McKenzie

Nick Pagan

Claire Capaldi

Claire has overseen casting at 12 Yard Productions since 2011. From primetime entertainment shows to daytime favourites, she has cast, edit produced and series produced the likes of PopMaster TV, Eggheads and Big Stars Little Star to name a few.

Prior to joining 12 Yard Claire worked on programmes such as Take Me Out, Over The Rainbow and T in the Park. She began her career in children’s TV – live Saturday morning TV.

Amanda Shakespear