Nick Hornby and Tina Flintoff lead the creative and commercial direction of the company and remain closely involved in programme-making.

Nick Hornby and Tina Flintoff lead the creative and commercial direction of the company and remain closely involved in programme-making.

Eliana Capitani joined Optomen as a Development Executive in September 2016.

Before joining Optomen she held development roles at a number of leading indies including Twenty Twenty Television, Mentorn Media and Studio Lambert. Her production credits include The Secret Millionaire, Seven Days and The Fairy Job Mother.

Mel Bezalel joined Optomen as Creative Director of Development in October 2024, covering Eliana’s maternity leave.

Before joining the company, Mel was a Commissioning Editor at Channel 4 for three years – commissioning reality, formats and factual for E4. Highlights include: The Underdog: Josh Must Win; Celeb Cooking School; Celebs Go Dating; various Married at First Sight specials and accompanying podcast MAFS: It’s Official – and she helped develop forthcoming dating format The Honesty Box. Mel also led E4’s factual strategy, commissioning Emergency on Sunny Beach, Sam Thompson: Is This ADHD? and Dani Dyer: Is This Anxiety?

Prior to Channel 4, Mel spent seven years at RDF, rising to Director of Development – her credits include Shop Well For Less (BBC One), Secret Life of Four Year Olds specials (Channel 4), Lodgers For Codgers (C4), Rock Til You Drop (BBC Two), 100 Year Old Driving School (ITV), Disability and Abortion: The Hardest Choice (C4), Six Puppies and Us (BBC Two) and The Making of Me (C4).

Her other credits, in production and development, include: The Met (BBC One), GPs: Behind Closed Doors (Channel 5), Karl Pilkington: The Moaning of Life (Sky One), Hoff the Record (Dave) and Prison, My Family and Me (BBC Three). Mel entered TV on Channel 4’s long-running Production Trainee Scheme after a first career in print journalism.

She’s also a nerdy comedy fan and dressed up as Rimmer from Red Dwarf for her 30^th birthday. None of her friends were remotely surprised (or amused).

Alice joined Optomen as a Development Producer in 2022 and has helped develop Olivia Attwood: Getting Filthy Rich series 2, and Perfect Body for ITVX.

Prior to joining us, she worked at a number of leading indies spanning Factual Entertainment and Premium Docs, including Voltage TV, Pulse Films and Naked, where she helped develop Alan and Amanda: The Italian Job (BBC), Absolutely Dyer: Danny and Dani Do Italy (E4), Hip Hop Treasures with LL Cool J and Ice T (A&E), Hair Power: Me and My Afro (C4), and 21 Again (BBC Three).

Alice is from Liverpool and loves scousers, travelling with her partner James and Optomen parties.

Michael joined Optomen in 2003 to run their newly formed offline edit suites. Over the years he has edited for various productions including Man Made Home, Employable Me, and What Would Be Your Miracle? and has also provided graphics for a variety of Optomen shows including Matilda and the Ramsay Bunch, Heston’s Feasts and Escape to the Wild. He also contributes graphics and editing for the Optomen development team.

As Director of Production and Operations Verity is responsible for overseeing the smooth running of the company and all production output. Since 2007 She has held Head of Production roles at betty, Victory and Leopard and Production Executive roles at Shine and ITV Studios. Prior to joining Optomen she was the senior Production Executive at Objective Media Group managing a portfolio of start-up companies including Studio Ramsay.

Emily joined Optomen as Production Manager on the original series of Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares and Mary, Queen of Shops before progressing to Production Executive. She is responsible for production planning, budgeting and negotiating deals with broadcasters, and ensuring smooth running of productions.

Other credits for Optomen include Great British Menu, Kevin McCloud’s Manmade Home, Heston’s Feasts and Undercover Doctor.

Prior to joining Optomen Emily was Production Manager in BBC Specialist Factual, working across landmark series including Auschwitz, Leonardo and the Horizon series.

Caron joined Optomen in Dec 2021 as a Production Executive and is responsible for the budgeting and scheduling of new & existing projects, as well as overseeing the smooth running of her array of productions. Since joining her credits have included ‘India 1947: Partition in Colour’ , ‘Christine McGuinness: Unmasking My Autism’, a number of the X versus Y series‘ for Discovery + ‘At Home with the Fury’s’ and  ‘Great British Menu’ S19.

Prior to this, Caron had worked for Love Productions on and off for several years working her way up from Junior Production Manager to Head of Production and oversaw most of their output. She also has worked as a PE for Shine TV and Betty.

Before coming into TV Caron used to work as a professional dancer and personal trainer, before moving into event management. In her spare time, Caron loves to travel, keep dancing and socialize with her friends.

Tracey joined Optomen in early 2018 as Staff Production Manager. She has worked across a number of productions including Eight Go Rallying: The Road to Saigon (BBC), When I Grow Up (C4), In the Style (BBC 3) and Tyson Fury: The Gypsy King (ITV). She is also responsible for overseeing development projects and the start up of new productions.

During her 12 years in TV, Tracey has gained a variety of experience working across Entertainment, Factual and Shiny Floor programming.

Hannah has worked at Optomen since 2019 and in that time has made herself indispensable to all.

She has worked across almost all of the most popular series made by Optomen as well as overseeing the near-impossible task of managing Tina’s diary alongside her Production Coordinator roles.

Always the first to suggest Thursday drinks, Hannah is a keen member of the Optomen wine appreciation society and is a central member of the social hub!

No one enters or leaves Optomen without Hannah knowing about it and it’s safe to say, Hannah is to Optomen what the ravens are to the Tower of London.

Jaspreet joined Optomen in April 2023 in the Team Assistant role.

Before joining Optomen, she worked for Hungry Bear Media for a year as a office and production runner as well as a personal assistant to the Creative and Managing Director for a short amount of time.

As a team assistant, Jaspreet is responsible for the general administration as well as managing diaries for two joint CEOs.

On her free time, Jaspreet likes to write, socialise with her friends and family and have a hard session at the gym!

Nicola joined Optomen in May 2022 to oversee all things Finance. She learned her trade in the City and defected to television in 2011 where she discovered her spiritual homeland. During her time in the industry she’s worked across distribution, operational finance, and production, and she loves nothing more than wrangling a giant spreadsheet.

Adilah who is passionate for the media industry has joined OTV in July 2020 as Finance Manager.

She is responsible for the production of Management Accounts, month end reporting and assisting the Financial Controller.

Adilah has previously worked for Zinc Media and Icon Film where bafta winning films and programs were produced. She is always up for new challenges and endeavour to learn and grow at all time.

Out of work I like to squeeze in for a catnap whenever possible, Cooking and is always ready for a voyage.

Sam joined Optomen in May 2022 in the Management Accountant role. Before joining Optomen he worked at All3Media in the Corporate Head Office securing a full time position after completing a successful placement year in 2019. He loves finance and has a passion for Film & Television. Sam has a number of TV credits to his name including hit dramas White House Farm and Feel Good. He is loving life in the production industry and looks forward to bringing his experience to Optomen Television.

Naima has worked in Optomen since February 2023 for All3Media’s management accounts trainee scheme and secured a role as Finance Assistant in January 2024 after a successful, productive year in the Finance team!

Naima is always willing to help and enjoys assisting the Production & Finance team with any queries & ad-hoc tasks.

On her free time, Naima tries to read a book, from her bookshelf that is slowly stacking up, and enjoys a quick session in the gym.

Sarah is the Creative Director of the Optomen Birmingham Office, Executive Producing Great British Menu for BBC2 and the Versus Series for WarnerBros Discovery. In 2019 she made the BAFTA nominated series, Snackmasters for C4 and prior to that Breaking Fashion for BBC3.

Jacob joined Optomen in 2018 on Great British Menu when it moved to a new home in the Midlands. He has worked across a range of genres including current affairs, documentary, reality, and factual entertainment. Jacob’s experience also includes international filming, Live TV and outside broadcasts. Alongside GBM, his credits with Optomen also include Snackmasters, Manhunt, Highlife, Richard Hammond’s Crazy Contraptions, Johnny vs Amber, Vardy vs Rooney, Jamie vs Britney and At Home With The Furys.

Verity became part of the Optomen team in 2019 and has worked on Snackmasters, Great British Menu and Sort Your Life Out.

When not at work Verity enjoys exploring walks with her dog Annie, baking and playing tennis.