findaTVexpert.com

Experts: The TV Industry's on the Hunt for them

2011-11-01T03:18:00.000-07:00

I've been busy meeting, networking & brainstorming on behalf of the experts on findaTVexpert with Channel 4; Boomerang Productions; the deputy editor of BBC News; the Deputy Director of Content at STV; The Exec Producer of The Only Way is Essex; and a lot of influential people at the BBC in Manchester including the Head of CBBC Productions, the Series Producer for Blue Peter, the Head of Current Affairs and a producer on The One Show. And more & more members of the media (TV plus radio & press) are hearing about findaTVexpert and registering to search the site for talent. As a result, more & more experts are being found on findaTVexpert and contacted regarding different media opportunities. These are some of them:

1. Lady Lesley C, Aristocratic Tamer: Horses, Cattle & Kids
2. James L, Scientist: Health, Biology & Natural History
3. Jules H, Naturalist & Wildlife Conservationist
4. Dyfed P, Interior Architect
5. Tracy K, Influential & Opinionated Property Finder & Expert
6. Steve H, Dog Behaviour Expert + Dog Expert Witness
7. Mandy K, Psychologist: Abusive Relationships, Dating
8. Jheni O, Science Journalist: Natural World & Sports Science
9. Emma C, Chartered Mechanical Engineer + Science
10. David M, Gadgets and Technology Expert and Writer
11. Karen G, Natural Skincare & Fragrance Expert + Retailer
12. Jo H, TV Psychologist: Behaviour, Relationships, Celebs
13. Abigael S, Doctor of Clinical Psychology
14. Marverine C, Beer Evangelist, Journalist, TV Presenter
15. Joanna R, Food Addiction, Eating Disorders, Spirituality
16. Pippa S, Psychotherapist and Hypnotherapist
17. Cate M, Love Coach
18. Kerry D, Consultant Forensic Psychologist
19. George H, Finance, Management, Internal Audit, Risk Mgmt
20. Danielle H, TV Presenter, Hypnotherapist, Phobia Expert
21. Andy J, Dating & Sex Expert + Adventure Journalist

For your chance to be spotted by a member of the media and booked for a screentest, expert comment in the press, etc, do what these experts have done and register on findaTVexpert.com.

New Faces on TV: found on findaTVexpert

2011-09-28T07:44:00.000-07:00

Mike E, Medical Historian, War Wounds & Trauma Surgeon: booked as an expert contributor for C4's 'Crusaders: Back from the Dead'. Sundays, 8pm.

Ben H, Award Winning TV Designer & Renovation Expert: signed up as a designer on Channel 4's new design series, 'The Renovation Game'.

Dr Anita S, GP w/specialist interest in Dermatology: signed up to be the 'Doctor Presenter' on Channel 4's 'The Joy of Teen Sex', which airs on the 27th of October.

Phill W, Hands on Restoration & Sustainable Building Expert: signed up as a judge on BBC3's new 'Young Carpenter of the Year' series. TX date tbc.

Giles M, Consumer Champion & Money Expert: booked as an expert contributor for a new BBC consumer affairs series.

For your chance to be spotted by a TV producer and booked for a series, do what these experts have done and register on findaTVexpert.com.

Could you be a TV Expert? Find out from the comfort of your home or office.

2011-09-26T04:19:00.000-07:00

If you know me, you'll know that I'm a people person. I like meeting, seeing and talking to people face-to-face. So when someone suggested I host my 'Could you be a TV Expert?' seminars online - as opposed to in a meeting room - I had my doubts. But having done a few now, I think they're the way forward. And here's why:

- it's easy for the experts! They can attend a seminar from the comfort of their office or home.

- experts who wouldn't normally be able to attend one of my seminars (because the locations/venues weren't convenient) now can.

- I keep the groups small (7 max) and the format's exactly the same: experts hear my voice and see the presentation on their computers. And it's just as interactive as the 'real' thing. Experts ask me questions - and answer mine.

The only difference is that we can't have a networking drink at the end. But anyone who wants to meet me in person can always stop by my TVGreenRoom at a later date.

So if you want to find out how the TV industry works, why experts are crucial to the success of TV programmes, what kind of experts the programme makers are looking for, how they find them and whether YOU could be a TV expert, 'come along' to one of my online seminars.

Tuesday, 4 October
Thursday, 6 October
Tuesday, 11 October
Thursday, 13 October

The seminars run from 6-7.30pm and I'll be presenting them. I'm the founder of findaTVexpert.com, a Talent Hunter and Producer of some of TV’s most popular shows including BBC’s Changing Rooms, Ready Steady Cook & Don’t Get Done Get Dom. (See my CV here).

The seminars are free but you must book your place in advance as numbers are limited.

To do so, click here to save your place. We will then send you the login details.

Testimonial: Andy Jones, Dating Expert & Broadcaster

2011-09-14T04:20:00.000-07:00

"findaTVexpert has helped me take my existing skills to the wider market of broadcast. Having already made a slight dent on the world of TV, findaTVexpert has helped me turn that into a lasting imprint. Television seems like such a large and impenetrable beast, but having my name and profile on such a widely read database helps me keep fresh in the minds of those making the decisions that matter." Andy Jones, dating expert and broadcaster.

Could you be a TV Expert? Find out in London on Sept 8

2011-08-15T06:26:00.000-07:00

findaTVexpert's popular Could you be a TV Expert? seminar is heading to The Soho Theatre in London on Thursday, 8th of September.

It will be presented by findaTVexpert ’s Claire Richmond (TV Talent Hunter & Producer of some of TV’s most popular shows including BBC’s Changing Rooms, Ready Steady Cook & Don’t Get Done Get Dom) and give experts the chance to find out how the TV industry works, why experts are crucial to the success of TV programmes, what kind of experts the programme makers are looking for, how they find them, and what experts need to be doing to make the industry sit up and take notice of them.

Seminar booking info: Entrance to the seminar is free but tickets must be booked in advance as spaces are limited. For more information and/or to book your place use this link.

Feedback from attendees of Could you be a TV Expert? seminars:

"Great style. Claire really knows her stuff. She's an expert!"
"Friendly, warm & accessible. I feel inspired!"
"Thought provoking."
"Loved the session. Really engaging & helpful."

Need an expert? Find one on findaTVexpert.

2011-06-06T07:50:00.000-07:00

People often ask me what the industry's on the hunt for. As you can see from the experts who have been found on findaTVexpert recently - and contacted by TV, Radio, Press & PR companies to comment on a subject or be screentested for a new series - the areas of expertise are incredibly varied.

Experts contacted by TV companies recently:
Stephanie M, Nutritionist + Food Therapist
Sian A, Lady Builder, Interior Designer, Landlord, Stepmum
Sarah M, Molecular Scientist: the human body
George J, Antiques Expert, Presenter, Writer, Consultant
Rob R, Cotswold Chef & Food Campaigner
Antonia PT, Haute Couture Designer
Maya P, Marine Biologist and Educator
Becky S, Psychologist, Dating Coach, Sex Therapist
Wendy S, Business Psychologist
Keren S, Relationship Expert, Mid Life Guru, Agony Aunt
Mike E, Medical Historian, War Wounds & Trauma Surgeon
Andrew W, Fatherhood and Modern Parenting

Experts Contacted by Radio, Press & PR Companies recently:
Abigael S, Doctor of Clinical Psychology
Sue A, Parenting Expert and Author
Jules S, The Colour Counsellor - How NOT to Wear Black!
Craig H, Classical Historian
Vena R, Kama Sutra, Tantric Sex and Romance Expert

To increase your chances of being contacted by TV production companies - and other media - do what these experts have done and join the team of experts on findaTVexpert.com.

Register now and get on the site, in my newsletter to the industry (mainly TV but also radio, press & PR - see copies here) and in my little black book which I take to all my one-to-one meetings with TV development producers, creative directors, commissioners and more.

findaTVexpert's TV Green Room

2011-05-24T08:34:00.000-07:00

Do you want to find out how the TV industry works, how findaTVexpert works and/or if you've got what it takes to be a TV expert? If your answer's yes, stop by my TV Green Room for a quick coffee and a chat. I'll be at the Benugo Bar & Kitchen on Wednesdays from 5.00-6.00, starting on the 1st of June (BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XT.) Follow me on twitter #TVGreenRoom for updates.

Could YOU be a TV Expert? Find out on the 23rd of June in Cardiff

2011-05-24T02:41:00.000-07:00

findaTVexpert's popular Could you be a TV Expert? seminar is heading to the Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff on the 23rd of June.

It will be presented by findaTVexpert ’s Claire Richmond (TV Talent Hunter & Producer of some of TV’s most popular shows including BBC’s Changing Rooms, Ready Steady Cook & Don’t Get Done Get Dom) and give experts the chance to find out how the TV industry works, why experts are crucial to the success of TV programmes, what kind of experts the programme makers are looking for, how they find them, and what experts need to be doing to make the industry sit up and take notice of them.

Seminar booking info: Entrance to the seminar is free but tickets must be booked in advance as spaces are limited. For more information and/or to book your place use this link.

Feedback from attendees of Could you be a TV Expert? seminars:

"Great style. Claire really knows her stuff. She's an expert!"
"Friendly, warm & accessible. I feel inspired!"
"Thought provoking."
"Loved the session. Really engaging & helpful."

Claire's going on a hunt for TV talent across the UK this year and hosting the Could you be a TV Expert? seminars in Bristol, Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester and London. For details of all the seminars, please contact findaTVexpert.

Art Expert found on findaTVexpert for new BBC2 series

2011-05-09T06:18:00.000-07:00

Arts & Architecture Expert Roy Bolton was found on www.findatvexpert.com by Lucky Day Productions, part of the Zodiak Media Group, and signed up as one of the expert judges on ‘Show me the Monet’, BBC2s new 10-part art series which goes out at 5.15pm every weekday from today until the 20th of May.

Roy is one of many experts who have been found on findaTVexpert since its launch in 2008 and contacted by TVcompanies for studio interviews, presenting roles, pilots and other media opportunities. Other experts include Aristocratic Tamer: Horses, Cattle & Kids, Lady Lesley Cooper (Superscrimpers: Waste Not Want Not - Channel 4); Homeowner Rights, Consumer and Property Expert Roger Southam (Don't Get Done Get Dom - BBC1); Janet Thomson (Who Knows Best: Fighting the Fat- Channel 4); Food Scientist Audrey Deane (E Numbers: an Edible Adventure - BBC2); Confidence Coach Sean Brickell (The Vanessa Show - Channel 5) and Dr of Clinical Psychology Abigael San (Sky Real Lives). And in the past few months alone, over 30 experts have been screentested for programmes that are in development.

“We’re always on the hunt for new experts and when we were commissioned to make our new series, Show Me The Monet, findaTVexpert was a first port of call,” says Lucky Day Productions Managing Director Damon Pattison, who also Exec Produced the series for the BBC. “So we’re delighted we found Roy there as he - and the other experts on Show Me the Monet – has exactly the right mix of knowledge, warmth and wit that will appeal to a very wide audience.”

”I’m very happy for Roy and for all the experts who are being found on findaTVexpert and getting a step closer to fulfilling their TV ambitions,” says findaTVexpert founder and TV Producer Claire Richmond. “TV companies are always on the hunt for passionate and inspiring experts – and the more ways they can find them, the better. So if you’ve got an expertise, make sure you flaunt it to the TV industry because you never know what they’ll be looking for next.”

Could you be a TV Expert? Find out on the 25th of May in Bristol

2011-05-05T06:09:00.000-07:00

findaTVexpert's popular Could you be a TV Expert? seminar is heading to the West Country.

It will be presented by findaTVexpert ’s Claire Richmond (producer of some of TV’s most popular shows including BBC’s Changing Rooms, Ready Steady Cook & Don’t Get Done Get Dom) and give experts the chance to find out how the TV industry works, why experts are crucial to the success of TV programmes, what kind of experts the programme makers are looking for, how they find them, and what experts need to be doing to make the industry sit up and take notice of them.

Seminar booking info: Tickets cost £30 per person or £50 for two and must be purchased in advance as spaces are limited. For more information and/or to book your place, please contact findaTVexpert.

Read a review of one of last year's Could you be a TV Expert? seminars.

Feedback from attendees of 'Could you be a TV Expert?' seminars:

"Great style. Claire really knows her stuff. She's an expert!"
"I think seminar was very good value for money."
"Friendly, warm & accessible. I feel inspired!"
"Thought provoking."
"Loved the session. Really engaging & helpful."

If you can't make it to the Bristol seminar, don't worry. The Could you be a TV Expert? seminar will also be held in Cardiff, Glasgow, Birmingham and London this year. For details of all the seminars, please contact findaTVexpert.

Skills Transfer: How setting up and running a business is like developing and producing a TV series

2011-05-04T10:19:00.001-07:00

I’ve had two eureka moments in my life. The first was in 1993, at the age of 29. I had a successful career in PR but I packed it all in because I wanted to work in TV. Fourteen years later, at the age of 43, I had my second eureka moment - on a barge on the Canal du Midi in France. This time I stepped away from a successful career spent making & developing TV programmes (including Changing Rooms, Ready Steady Cook and Don’t Get Done Get Dom for BBC1), looking for talent and running channels (London TV and Today on 3 Mobile) to set up www.findaTVexpert.com.

In a nutshell, findaTVexpert is an online database of talent that gives experts who want to be considered for TV&Media opportunities the chance to promote themselves to the industry – and members of the media a fast and easy way of finding experts to comment on a subject or be part of a show. As the meerkats say in their catchy little ad, ‘simples’!

The only problem was that I’d never set up a business before. I wasn’t a natural born entrepreneur. I didn’t sell lemonade when I was young. I’d been an employee since I left University and words like cashflow, profit & loss forecasts and returns on investments were double dutch to me. That wasn’t the language I spoke. I was a “creative”.

But I had passion. And conviction. I knew this was a service the experts wanted and the industry needed. So much so that when I was offered a contract to oversee another series of Don’t Get Done Get Dom for BBC1 (10 months of financial job security!), I turned it down. I was going to live off my savings and create a bespoke business that plugged a gap in the market, played to my strengths and allowed me to do the things I enjoyed doing – ie help experts get on TV, meet people, network, write and be creative!

And that’s when I realised that setting up and running a business was like developing and producing a TV series. First of all, I needed the vision (the TV idea). Then I had to do my research. In the case of findaTVexpert, I’d researched the market but I needed to find out how to run a business. So I read the Financial Times Guide to Business Start up 2008; Starting a Business for Dummies, Starting & Running an Online Business for Dummies, Marketing for Dummies, Great Brand Stories: Innocent and Anyone Can Do It.

Having done my research, I wrote a business plan which gave me a clear idea of what findaTVexpert did, how it worked and why it was unique. This was equivalent to writing a TV pitch, format and running order.

Then I started pulling everything together, which was like developing and producing a TV series. And like so many of the series I worked on, I had an extremely tight schedule and very small budget. But I made it happen.

findaTVexpert launched in April 2008 – 9 months after I had my eureka moment on the Canal du Midi - and has gone from strength to strength ever since. And I’m still using my TV skills: I have to be organised; I ask for help when I need it (a problem shared is a problem halved, as an executive producer once said to me); I see problems and challenges as ‘opportunities for excellence’ (as another executive producer once said to me); and I think creatively 100% of the time (what’s working, what isn’t, how can I do it differently, how can I do it better, etc).

Packing in my TV career and setting up a business was a huge risk but every time I get a call from an expert who’s been spotted on findaTVexpert and booked for an interview, a screentest or a series, I know it’s been worth it.

I’m still not brilliant with the financial side of things – I’m a ‘creative’ after all - but I’ve realised I don’t have to know everything. There are people out there who can help me. All I have to do is ask.

I used my TV skills to create a bespoke business. Could you use your skills to do something completely different?

Testimonial from Simon Warr

2011-05-03T05:43:00.000-07:00

After successive years filming various TV series, including playing the Headmaster in Channel 4's 'That'll Teach 'Em', in 2008 my phone suddenly stopped ringing. 'Had I outstayed my welcome?' I wondered. A friend of mine, who works for an independent TV company, told me that without an agent there were bound to be dips in my media career and she told me that in the circumstances, the best way forward was to contact a company called findaTVexpert, which is regularly used by both TV and radio researchers. I've not looked back. Since signing up to findaTVexpert (for a very modest charge), I have been inundated with offers of work. I am a regular on both Radio 2 and 5, on Talksport and have appeared on BBC Breakfast, Daybreak and Big Brother's Little Brother. I now cover local sport for BBC in the East. This very week, I have been asked by a well known teenage magazine to write an article about exam revision. I cannot thank Claire Richmond and her team enough. If you are talented in your own particular field, then I strongly recommend you contact findaTVexpert.

Simon Warr, M.A.

If you want a TV company to call you, they have to know where to find you!

2011-04-14T02:14:00.000-07:00

When a TV production company is looking for experts to comment on a subject or be part of a show they're developing, they find them in lots of different ways: personal recommendations, google searches, newspaper & magazine articles, Associations, Universities ... and on findaTVexpert, of course. Here are some of the latest experts who were found on findaTVexpert and contacted to discuss different media opportunities.

1. Roger S, Homeowner Rights, Consumer and Property Expert: recently interviewed for BBC1's Don't Get Done Get Dom (TX 11 May).

2. Laura M, has been contacted by a TV Production Company.

3. Jason M, Entrepreneur: Waste Management & Recyling: has been contacted by a TV Production Company.

4. Sian A, Lady Builder, Interior Designer, Landlord, Stepmum: has been contacted by 2 TV Production Companies.

5. Stuart F, Radio 1 Doctor Practising NHS Doctor & Media Medic: recently interiewed for The Independent newspaper, Closer Magazine and a martial arts magazine. Is also in discussions with a TV production company re a new series.

6. Victoria G, Doctor of Counselling Psychology & Life-Coach: was recently a contributor on Sky Living's House Of Grazia.

7.Lady Lesley C, Aristocratic Tamer: Horses, Cattle & Kids: can currently be seen on Channel 4's Superscrimpers: Waste not Want Not (Wednesdays, 8:30pm)

8. Jheni O, Science Journalist: Natural World & Sports Science: has recently been screentested for a new Channel 4 programme.

9. Abigael S, Doctor of Clinical Psychology: interviewed for the March issue of More! magazine re spring-cleaning relationships.

10. Nadine H, Jugglista, Life-Work Balance: interviewed for VIVA magazine (a Dubai expat mag) re time management tips and strategies.

Do you want to get on the TV industry's radar? If the answer's yes, then do what these experts have done and register on findaTVexpert.com.

Testimonial from Cate Mackenzie

2011-03-21T14:51:00.000-07:00

You can't beat a great testimonial. And this one, from findaTVexpert's Love Coach Cate Mackenzie, made me blush!

"Claire is a a beautiful, compassionate, wise, sassy, bright, intelligent and incisive TV Coach with a vast experience and knowledge. She makes herself utterly available to her clients and prepares you to be on TV. Being in the media is an artform and Claire can guide you and support you to understand how to be in this world from preparing and researching to speaking with clarity and diction and looking and being the part. As an authentic, generous and committed person she wants and wishes you to do well and she knows what works. Her informative loving guidance takes you on a journey to "being out there" in the world with depth, maturity and integrity. If you listen to Claire you cannot go far wrong, she knows what you need to know about TV and is the ultimate TV Guru! She is the best and I cannot recommend her enough!"

findaTVexpert: from strength to strength

2011-03-08T06:26:00.000-08:00

I had the idea for findaTVexpert in July 2007, having spent 15 years making and developing TV programmes and looking for experts and new talent. I'd never set up a business before, so I approached it like a TV series: come up with the idea, figure out what's unique/different about it, research it, develop it, work extremely hard to get it off the ground and then launch it. And like a TV series, it's incredibly exciting to watch it grow and do what it set out to do: give experts who want to be considered for TV&Media opportunities an easy way to promote themselves to the industry - and members of the media (primarily TV but also radio and press) a fast and easy way to find an expert to comment on a subject or be part of a show. Below are some of the latest experts who have been found on findaTVexpert and approached by TV productions companies, journalists or radio producer and booked for interviews, screentests of other media opportunities. (Unfortunately I can't tell you which TV production companies and/or members of the media have contacted these experts, because they wouldn't like their competitors to know what they're working on.)

1. Cate M, Love Coach
2. Amana W, Coach:find your personal X factor and stand out
3. Alexandra J, Science, Technology and Environment
4. Vena R, Kama Sutra, Tantric Sex and Romance Expert
5. Sarah N, Youth Expert, Family Peacemaker and Parent Coach
6. Rachel B, Engineering, Science and Technology
7. Lindsay E, Garden Designer
8. Paul B, Pest Control: Rats, Wasps, Pigeons, etc
9. George HB, Finance, Management, Internal Audit, Risk Mgmt
10. Diana M, Etiquette Expert & Dress Doctor
11. Katie E, Sociologist: Biblical images in ads & pop culture
12. Lady Lesley C, Aristocratic Tamer: Horses, Cattle & Kids
13. Sian A, Lady Builder, Interior Designer, Landlord, Stepmum
14. Henry P, Buying & Selling Property
15. Phill W, Hands on Restoration & Sustainable Building
16. Rob H, Practising GP, TV&Radio Dr & Medical Commentator
17. Sarah M, Molecular Scientist: the human body
18. Nadine H, Jugglista, Life- Work Balance, Time Management
19. Caroline T, Gardens: designer, writer & broadcaster:
20. Shaun A, Ex Convict, Author, Public Speaker
21. Jane P, Beer & Food Matching Expert + Beer Historian
22. Audrey D, Food Scientist, Nutritionist and Omega 3Expert
23. Steve B, Pop Up Businesses in Shopping Centres & Retail
24. Abigael S, Doctor of Clinical Psychology

If you'd like to get on the TV industry's radar, do what these experts have done and register on findaTVexpert.com

Experts catching the eye of TV Producers - and of the Media

2011-01-19T04:10:00.000-08:00

When I set up findaTVexpert.com in 2008 my aim was very simple: to help bridge the gap between the professionals and the programme makers. To give experts who want to be considered for TV&Media opportunities a chance to showcase their skills to the industry. And members of the media (primarily TV but also radio and press), a fast, free and easy way of finding experts to comment on a subject or be part of a show.

That's how I described the service and the business in my business plan, and that's exactly what findaTVexpert is doing today. Below are some of the latest experts who have been found on findaTVexpert and contacted by production companies for screentests, taster tapes and presenting opportunities; by journalists looking for quotes (being quoted is one of the steps to becoming a TV expert - read the other 9 here); by PR companies looking for media spokespeople (another great way of being heard and seen by TV producers on the hunt for experts and new ideas; and for other media opportunities.

I haven't included the names of the TV production companies, magazines, newspapers and PR companies that have been in touch with these experts because they probably wouldn't want their competitors to know what they're developing/writing/working on and who they're contacting. But trust me, it's all good stuff!

And one expert, who isn't mentioned below, has been signed up for a new BBC2 series. Needless to say, as soon as I can issue the press release, I'll be doing so!

1. Ben H, Award winning TV Designer & Renovation Expert

2. Rowan B, Hands on builder/developer and property finder

3. Sean B, Confidence Coach

4. Christopher T, Classteacher + Phonics/Literacy & Teaching Expert

5. Stuart F, Radio 1 Doctor Practising NHS Doctor & Media Medic

6. Lindsay A, Self Help Author & Coach: I Change Lives

7. Jennifer E, Chocolate Expert + Food Developer

8. Gary H, Human Ecologist: Science, Environment & Behaviour

9. Anita S, GP w/specialist interest in Dermatology

10. Alexandra J, Science, Technology and Environment

11. Lexi P, Dating Guru and Matchmaker

12. Sarah M, Fitness Trainer: Pilates to Pole Dancing

13. John G, The Spicy Cook

14. Joanna T, Leadership, China trade & culture

15. Agnes Chi, Science and Technology

16. Cate M, Love Coach

17. David M, Consumer & Corporate Technology Expert

18. Andrew W, Fatherhood and Mondern Parenting

19. Niki D, Psychotherapist & Counsellor: Adults & Teenagers

20. Debi B, Transform Your Life...Self Improvement Expert

21. Vanessa K, Passionate Trained Chef & Food Writer

22. Amana W, Coach: find your personal X factor and stand out!

23. Rachel R, Franchising Expert & Lay Minister.

24. Susie P, Get Happy, Change Your Life and Get on Track Fast.

TV Talent Hunters Head to Manchester

2011-01-19T03:58:00.000-08:00

Could YOU be a TV Expert? Have you got the X-PERT factor? Do you want to know how to get on TV? Find out on the 10th of March 2011.

FindaTVexpert.com and Mentorn Media are on the hunt for new TV talent across the UK this year and their first stop is Manchester. They’ll be presenting the Could YOU be a TV Expert? seminar at The Cornerhouse on the 10th of March from 6-7.30pm and giving experts who want to be considered for TV opportunities the chance to find out how the TV industry works and what they should be doing to catch the eye of a TV producer. Advance booking is required.

Findatvexpert.com is the online database of new and existing TV experts which was set up by TV series producer Claire Richmond in 2008. And Mentorn Media is the UK’s longest established independent TV production company with programmes including Question Time, Motorway Cops, Cutting Edge and Panorama under its belt.

Experts who think they’ve got the x-pert factor and want to promote themselves to the TV industry, can attend the Could YOU be a TV expert? seminar and discover why experts are crucial to the success to TV programmes, what kind of experts the programme makers are looking for, how they find them, and what experts should be doing to make the industry sit up and take notice of them.

The seminar will be presented by findaTVexpert’s Claire Richmond, series producer of some of TV’s most popular shows including BBC’s Changing Rooms, Ready Steady Cook & Don’t Get Done Get Dom TV, and Mentorn Media’s Head of On-Screen Talent, Sonia Beldom.

“The aim of findaTVexpert is to bridge the gap between the professionals and the programme makers; to bring together experts who want to be considered for TV programmes with production companies looking for experts to comment on a subject or be part of a show,” says findaTVexpert founder Claire Richmond. “I’m sure Manchester’s got lots of experts who'd be great on TV and I’m looking forward to meeting them and helping them get a step closer to achieving their goal.”

“New experts are crucial to the success of factual programmes because they bring passion and credibility to a series. They also bring new ideas to the table and access to people, places and projects that have the potential to inspire viewers, attract new audiences and set new trends. We are committed to making ground breaking factual television and we’re also committed to finding and nurturing new experts who will help us achieve that. Manchester here we come!" says Sonia Beldom, Head of On-Screen Talent at Mentorn Media.

Seminar booking info: Tickets cost £30 per person and must be purchased in advance as spaces are limited. For more information and to book your place email claire@findatvexpert.com.

If you can't make the Manchester seminar, you can join findaTVexpert and Mentorn Media on their hunt for new TV talent in Bristol (07/04/10), Glasgow (12/05/11), Cardiff (09/06/11), Birmingham (7/07/11) and London (08/09/11).

Get on TV This Year

2011-01-12T07:24:00.000-08:00

Last year I outlined the 10 Steps to Becoming a TV Expert. Well ... I'd like to add an 11th one: if you can't get in through the front door, try the back one. What I mean is this: if there's a TV series that ties in with your passions & interests (instead of your expertise), apply to be on it as a contributor. For example, if you like cooking, get in touch with the Come Dine With Me team. If you're house proud, try ITV's May the Best House Win, etc. Because all these shows give you a platform to say who you are and what you do. They also give your personality a chance to shine through. Plus an understanding of how TV programmes are made, contacts within TV production companies and the chance of being clocked by the channel's commissioning editor. Think of Ben Fogle. He was on BBC's Castaway as a contributor in 2000 and hasn't been off our TV screens since. And the same is true of Alison Hammond. She was on the third series of Big Brother in 2002 and is now a regular on This Morning. So if you want to get on TV this year, think of the programmes you'd be good on and google them. If they're looking for contributors there will usually be something on the website. Good luck! (And if you want to find out how to promote yourself as a TV expert, come along to one of the 'Could you be a TV expert? seminars I'm hosting with Mentorn Media's Head of On-Screen Talent. Details in post below.)

GOT THE X-PERT FACTOR? WANT TO BE ON TV?

2011-01-10T01:20:00.000-08:00

TV TALENT HUNTERS, FINDATVEXPERT.COM AND MENTORN MEDIA, ANNOUNCE DATES FOR THE 2011 'HUNT FOR NEW TV TALENT’ REGIONAL TOUR

News Release

Could YOU be a TV expert? Do YOU want to 'get on TV?' Findatvexpert.com has teamed up with Mentorn Media, one of the UK's longest established independent television production companies, to host a series of ‘Could YOU be a TV Expert’ seminars across the UK in a ground breaking hunt for new TV talent in 2011.

The 6-location tour will commence in March 2011 with two of the UK's best talent hunters visiting Manchester (10/03/11), Bristol (07/04/11), Glasgow (12/05/11), Cardiff (09/06/11) and Birmingham (7/07/11), finishing in London in September (08/09/11).

Experts who think they’ve got the x-pert factor and who want to be considered for TV programmes,can attend one of the Could YOU be a TV expert? seminars and discover how the TV industry works, what kind of experts the programme makers are looking for, how they find them, and what experts should be doing to make the industry sit up and take notice of them.

Each seminar will be presented by findaTVexpert founder Claire Richmond, who has series produced of some of TV’s most popular shows including BBC’s Changing Rooms, Ready Steady Cook and Don’t Get Done Get Dom and Mentorn Media’s Head of On Screen Talent, Sonia Beldom.

Seminar booking info: Tickets cost £30 per person and must be purchased in advance as spaces are limited. For more information or to book your place email claire@findatvexpert.com.

Ends

Note to Editors
Findatvexpert.com is an online database of new and existing TV experts. It gives experts who want to be considered for TV opportunities the chance to promote themselves to broadcasters and TV production companies. And it gives broadcasters and TV production companies a fast and easy way of finding experts to comment on a subject or be part of a show.

Since its launch in 2008, numerous experts have been found on findaTVexpert and booked for TV & Media opportunities, including personal finance & property expert John Rennie (BB1’s ‘The Unsellables); tapping expert Janet Thomson (Channel 4's 'Who Knows Best: Fighting the Fat); food scientist Audrey Deane (BBC2’s E Numbers: an Edible Adventure); Dr of Clinical Psychology Abigael San (Sky Real Lives); and explosives & bomb expert Stephen Miller (BBC2’s Victorian Pharmacy). And in the past 2 months alone, over 30 experts have been screentested for programmes that are in development.

Christmas Competition Winner: Jack Brelstaff

2010-12-24T21:11:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Jack Brelstaff, who won a unique Christmas present: a year's membership on findaTVexpert (details of competition here). He's doing a PhD in frontotemporal-dementia and is an expert in most areas of neuroscience. He's deeply passionate about his work and the implications of his research in the future. We're delighted to welcome him to the team of experts on findaTVexpert and help promote his knowledge to the TV industry.

TV Companies on the Hunt for Talent

2010-12-13T02:49:00.000-08:00

I spent a lot of time last month discussing a wide range of experts with Channel 4, Steadfast TV, Fremantle Media, Princess Productions, Liberty Bell and a freelance development producer who's on the hunt for experts based in Scotland. And in the past few weeks more Heads of Development, Creative Directors, Casting Producers, Series Producers, Assistant Producers and Researchers from RDF, Lime Pictures, Daisybeck, Isis Media, Fever Media, Dragonfly TV, Two Four, Studio Lambert, the BBC and ITV have registered to search the site. Plus freelance journalists and a reporter from The Scotsman.

The industry's definitely on the hunt for talent. And the good news is that they're finding it on findaTVexpert. Here are some of the latest experts who've been booked for TV appearances, screentests and media interviews.

1. Lady Lesley C, Aristocratic Tamer: Horses, Cattle & Kids

2. Sian A, Lady Builder, Interior Designer & Landlord

3. Vena R, Kama Sutra, Tantric Sex and Romance Expert

4. Stephanie M, Nutritionist + Food Therapist

5. Anna G, Happy Working Parents = Productive Employees

6. Lexi P, Dating Guru and Matchmaker

7. Dr. Victoria G, Doctor of Counselling Psychology & Life-Coach

8. Madam Becky, Ex Madam, Author & Speaker on UK Prostitution

9. Susie P, Get happy, change your life & get on track fast

10. Simon W, Teacher + Youth, Familial & Social Issues

I don't want to blow my own trumpet but it's Christmas, so I will: findaTVexpert is a great service. And from a personal point of view, knowing that something I set up is helping experts achieve their goals is a great feeling.

Unique Christmas Present: A Year's Membership on findaTVexpert

2010-12-01T06:34:00.001-08:00

Forget sweaters, socks, perfume or aftershave. What you REALLY want for Christmas is a present that can change your life: a year's membership on findaTVexpert.com, the online database of talent that more and more members of the TV industry turn to when they're looking for experts to comment on a subject or be part of a show.

So if you think you could be the next Hairy Biker, Kim or Aggie, Handy Andy, Jamie Oliver, David Attenborough, Jo Frost, Tanya Bryon, Lawrence Llewellyn Bowen, etc, here’s what you have to do for your chance to win a year’s free membership on findaTVexpert.com for Christmas.

Email the following to info at findatvexpert dot com by 6.00pm on Wednesday, 22 December 2010:
1. A paragraph of no more than 100 words explaining who you are, what you do and why you’d be a great TV Expert.
2. A current photo and contact number (daytime & evening).
3. A copy of your CV (or similar) outlining your employment history and the training/qualifications that prove you’re an expert in your field of business.

Everyone with the skills, training and qualifications to prove they’re an expert in their field of business can enter the competition, from architects to zoologists and all the experts in between - handymen & historians; wildlife, survival & adventure experts; sportsmen, business men & tradesmen; dentists & designers; scientists, sociologists, etc – because you never know what the industry will be looking for next.

The competition opens on Wednesday, 1 December 2010 and closes at 6.00pm on Wednesday, 22 December 2010. Completed entries will go into a draw and one winner will be picked at random and announced here and on twitter on Christmas Day, Saturday, 25 December 2010.

Good Luck!

Terms and conditions apply:
1. The competition opens on Wednesday, 1 December 2010 and closes at 6.00pm on Wednesday, 22 December 2010. Entries received after that time will not be considered.
2. To be eligible you must be an expert in your field of business with the skills, training and qualifications to prove it; over 18 and a UK resident. And you must not have any previous criminal convictions.
3. Proof of age and eligibility may be required.
4. By entering this competition you agree to comply with these terms and conditions and you agree that your entry may published in all media, adapted, in whole or in part at the Promoter’s sole discretion.
5. All eligible entries must be received via email and contain a paragraph of no more than 100 words explaining who you are, what you do and why you’d be a great TV Expert; a current photo & contact number and a CV (or similar) outlining your employment history and the training/qualifications that prove you’re an expert in your field of business.
6. All eligible entries will be entered into a draw on the 22nd of December 2010 after the closing time. One winner will be picked at random and announced here - and on twitter - on the 25th of December 2010.
7. findaTVexpert bears no responsibility for entries which don’t make it into the draw because they’ve been blocked or identified as junk email, spam, etc.
8. findaTVexpert will not acknowledge receipt of any entry that is sent in.
9. Entries that fail to meet the eligibility criteria or otherwise fail to meet these terms and conditions will not be entered into the draw.
10. The prize is a year’s free membership on findaTVexpert.com, which gives experts the chance to create a searchable Profile & CV and be promoted to the TV industry.
11. The winner will have until the 31st of January 2011 to register their details on www.findaTVexpert.com. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the prize and findaTVexpert reserves the right to award the prize to the next eligible entry picked at random.
12. There is no alternative prize or cash equivalent and the prize is non-changeable and non-transferable.
13. The winner may be required to participate in publicity relating to the competition.

findaTVexpert teams up with Mentorn Media on a Hunt for Talent across the UK

2010-11-15T00:14:00.000-08:00

findaTVexpert.com announces it has teamed up with Mentorn Media and is going on the hunt for new TV talent across the UK in 2011

15 November, 2010 findaTVexpert.com, the online database of experts created by series producer Claire Richmond in 2008, announces it has teamed up with Mentorn Media, one of the UK's longest established independent television production companies, to host a series of ‘Could You be a TV Expert?’ seminars across the UK in a ground breaking hunt for new TV talent in 2011.

Experts who think they’ve got the x-pert factor and want to be considered for TV programmes but don’t know how to promote themselves to the industry, will be able to attend a ‘Could You be a TV expert?’ seminar in Manchester (10/03/11), Bristol (07/04/10), Glasgow (12/05/11), Cardiff (09/06/11) Birmingham (7/07/11) and London (08/09/11).

Each seminar will be presented by findaTVexpert’s Claire Richmond, series producer of some of TV’s most popular shows, including BBC’s Changing Rooms, Don’t Get Done Get Dom and Ready Steady Cook, and Mentorn Media’s Head of On-Screen Talent, Sonia Beldom.

“I’m thrilled Mentorn Media is joining me on my hunt for talent across the UK. The aim of findaTVexpert is to bridge the gap between the professionals and the programme makers – and having Mentorn Media’s support is terrific," says Richmond.

Beldom adds, “Great experts are crucial to the success of factual programmes because they bring passion and credibility to a series. They also bring new ideas to the table and access to people, places and projects that have the potential to inspire viewers, attract new audiences and set new trends. At Mentorn Media we are committed to making ground breaking factual television and we’re also committed to finding and nurturing the new experts who will help us achieve that. So we’re delighted to be supporting findaTVexpert.com in their hunt for talent."

TV Tips: What to Wear/What Not to Wear on TV

2010-11-01T08:43:00.000-07:00

If you're working on your 10 Steps to Becoming a TV Expert (read them here), at some point you'll be booked for a screentest (read tips here) or a straightforward, on-the-couch interview.

If it's the latter, the first thing you need to do is prepare - ie is the interview live or pre-recorded; how long is it; what's the angle; what's the 'tone' of the show; who are the viewers; what are the key messages you want to get across; what examples are you going to use to bring the interview to life and get your messages across in a way that's succinct & relevant to the viewers; etc.

Having done your preparation, the next question is: what to wear - and what not to wear? And here are some tips:

1. Do some research. If the show is a live, daily show, watch it and look at what the presenters and guests are wearing. Is it formal or informal? Smart or smart/casual? What looks good and what doesn't. What colours clash with the set, etc?
2. Avoid checks, stripes and small patterns because they strobe.
3. Avoid black (very few people look good in it).
4. Wear block colours.
5. If you're filming in a studio, wear fabrics that don't make you sweat (it gets VERY hot under studio lights).
6. Remember that a microphone will be attached to your top - and that the battery pack and wire will be fed down your back and attached to your trousers, skirt waist, etc. So good necklines and easy access clothes are important.
7. Because of the above, steer clear of polo necks.
8. Avoid jewellery that will rustle up against the microphone that's attached to the neckline of the top you're wearing. You don't want your interview to be cut short because the sound is awful.
9. Wear clothes/necklines that flatter your shape.
10. Cameras really do add pounds so avoid thick, bulky fabrics.

And to complete the 'look', sit up straight, relax your shoulders and smile!

TV Screentest Tips

2010-10-18T01:29:00.001-07:00

A successful TV series need great talent and a great format. So screentests are crucial to the process. Make yours a good one and chances are you'll get through to the next stage of the development process. Here are a few tips that will help.

1. Look like your photo. That's the person they're expecting to see.
2. As you're going to be filmed, wear colours & clothes that flatter you and make you stand out.
3. Prepare! Define your USP and understand the market. (Read Steps 1 & 2 of my '10 Steps to Becoming a TV Expert). The production company might not know exactly what they're looking for. So make sure you give them a clear idea of what you do and how you do it. Remember, they'll be thinking from a TV point of view. How will what you do look on TV? Think of examples of people you've worked with & things you've done. Paint the picture & get across your passion.
4. If they like you, your half hour chat will probably get edited down to a one minute taster tape which they'll show to the commissioner. So have a few one-liners/key points up your sleeve. And remember to pause at the end of each one so the editor can cut it in.
5. Increase your energy by 50-100%. Get across your passion. Really switch it on. And engage your body: lean forward, use your hands and SMILE! Remember that in any screentest you'll be up against many other experts like you. And once the 'expertise' box is ticked, it's all down to personality.
6. There's a huge difference between coming across as passionate and coming across as desperate. Make sure you're the former!
7. Practice. Digital cameras and mobile phones all have filming options. Get a friend to ask you a few questions about what you do and see what you look like on camera.
Good luck.

Could you be a TV expert? That's what the industry wants to know.

2010-10-08T06:57:00.000-07:00

The TV industry is always on the hunt for experts, ideas and the next 'big thing'. That's why more and more members of the industry are registering on find a TV expert and getting experts in for a chat or screentest. Here are some of the most recent experts who have had that phone call.

1. Kim I, Leading Fitness & Mental Strength Expert

2. Sean B, Confidence Coach

3. Maria M, Motoring Journalist & Publishing Expert

4. Rasheed O, Lifestyle Coach - Motivational Speaker

5. Domonique B, Successpert: Getting the most out of your Life

6. Steve T, Personal presentation & non-verbal communication

7. Jane W, Life Change Expert

8. Jessica R, Performance Expert & Transformational Coach

9. Richard R, Psychotherapist, Hypnotherapist and Charisma Coach

10. Andrew W, Fatherhood and Modern Parenting

11. Alison B, Getting a job: interviewing technique, CV, etc

12. Susie P, Get happy, change your life & get on track fast

13. David Y, The Power of Language: How Words Change Lives

14. Amana W, Coach: find your personal X factor and stand out!

15. Alex B, Master Brewer, Beer Sommelier & Flavour Expert

16. Jennifer E, Chocolate Historian & Guide + Food Developer

17. Dr Gemma N, Medical Doctor - GP in West London

18. Dr James L, Scientist: Biological + Natural History

19. Sarah M, Dog Trainer, Dog Behaviourist, Gundog Trainer

20. Rebecca P, Hair & Beauty Salon Makeovers and Internet Mktg

21. Debbie C, Behaviourist: Pets, Livestock, Child/pet safety

22. Dr Victoria G, Doctor of Counselling Psychology & Life-Coach.

Good luck to all of them!

Do you have what it takes to be a TV expert? Do you want to promote your passion and expertise to Heads of Development and Heads of Talent? Then do what other experts have done and join www.findaTVexpert.com!

findaTVexpert gets experts noticed by the TV industry

2010-07-26T07:57:00.000-07:00

Becoming a TV Expert takes time, because getting shows commissioned also takes time. Commissioners are pitched hundreds of programme ideas each week and only a few tick the right boxes. But like everything in life, if you really want it, you have to keep plugging away at it. Because when it happens, it's worth it. So the more screentests you have, the more the industry hears and reads about you, the better. (Read my 10 Steps to Becoming a TV Expert here). And that's what findaTVexpert does: helps you get on the TV industry's radar and raise your profile. Here are some of the latest experts who have been found on findaTVexpert and contacted re different TV&Media opportunities.

1. Lesley C: Aristocratic Tamer (Horses, Cattle & Kids). Screentested by Raise the Roof Productions and contacted by a literary agent re a book idea.

2. Abigael S: Doctor of Clinical Psychology. Assessed contributors for C4’s The Sex Education Show (and received an onscreen credit for her work) and is currently working with Endemol on contributor assessments for Supersize Superskinny. Also interviewed by Cosmo for a piece about sexual confidence.

3. Elinor O & Isobel B: Contemporary Art and Art Investment Experts. Contacted by Lucky Day Productions re a possible series.

4. Roy B: Art & Architecture. Also contacted by Lucky Day Productions.

5. Naomi R: Life Coach for Children (Self Esteem, Divorce, etc.) Contacted by Garden Productions re a documentary.

6. Andrew W: Fatherhood and Modern Parenting. Screentestd by a Canadian production company re a series for Canada & North America. And contacted by a PR company re a commercial tie up/media campaign.

7. Mike E: Medical Historian, War Wounds & Trauma Surgeon. Contacted by Moving Mountains.

There are hundreds of hurdles to overcome between a screentest/exploratory chat and a commission. But it's the first step of the process.

10 Steps to Becoming a TV Expert

2010-07-12T08:02:00.000-07:00

Britain’s Got Talent and The X-Factor are fantastic opportunities for singers and dancers to promote themselves to the industry. But if you’re an expert – historian, scientist, property guru, chef, lawyer, businessman, tradesman, doctor, dentist, designer, criminologist, psychologist, marine biologist, etc – and you want to promote yourself to the TV industry, you have to understand the market, figure out what you have to offer and start making some noise. In other words, you need to get to work!

Step 1: Define your USP. There are thousands of experts like you out there. What makes you stand out from the rest? What’s going to make TV producers, commissioners and – ultimately – viewers, sit up and take notice of you? Is it your contagious enthusiasm for the subject matter? Your quirky personality? Your sense of humour? Or maybe the projects you’re working on or the people you have access to?

Step 2: Understand the market. If you’re applying for a job, you research the company and figure out what you what you have to offer. If you want to get on TV, the same applies. Watch TV. Think TV. Understand TV. Read the media sections of the nationals and sign up for the trade magazines to keep your finger on the pulse of what’s being commissioned, which shows are getting the highest ratings, who’s making them and, more importantly, why you’d be perfect for them.

Step 3: Write a book & become the authority. Researchers and producers often browse online bookshops to find out who has written books about the subject/area of expertise that’s relevant to the programme they’re developing. It's what I used to do at the end of each series of Changing Rooms when we were looking for new designers to join the team. So if you’ve got a book in you, write it.

Step 4: Get Noticed. Give presentations at consumer fairs, trade fairs, networking events & exhibitions. You never know who’ll be listening - or on the hunt for talent.

Step 5: Be at the top of Google/Yahoo/Bing searches under key words that relate to your expertise. Words that a researcher would type in to find experts like you. Story has it that's how Gareth Malone (The Choir, BBC2) was found. They typed in 'choirmaster' and he came up in the search results. And I'd be happy to bet my bottom dollar that when the Icelandic 'ash cloud' started covering our skies a lot of reseachers and producers were typing "volcano+expert" or "volcanologist" into Google. So if you want to be a TV expert, make sure the TV industry can find you.

Step 6: Join clubs, associations & networking groups that are relevant to your area of expertise and make sure you’re on their list of experts who are happy to be contacted by the media. Here's why. When I was working at L!VETV, I was asked to develop & produce the pilot for 'Bouncy Weather', a weather forecast which featured a dwarf on a trampoline infront of a weather map (don't ask!). Anyway, my first port of call was The Restricted Growth Association. I explained what we were going to do and they put me in touch with Willow Management, a management agency that represents short actors. And as a result we found and hired the lovely Rusty Goffe. Enough said.

Step 7: Join the online directories of experts which TV production companies turn to when they’re looking for an expert to comment on a subject or be part of a show. Ok, now it's time for a bit of self promotion. There are a few online directories of experts out there, but www.findaTVexpert.com is the only one that's run by a TV producer with 15 years experience making & developing programmes and looking for talent (see my CV). In other words, findaTVexpert is run by someone who understands the needs of the experts and of the industry. By registering you'll be in a directory that's actively promoted to the TV industry - and that more and more members of the industry are turning to when they're looking for experts, ideas & inspiration. You'll also be in my little black book (which I take to my regular meetings with heads of development, creative directors, executive producers, etc) and you'll have a chance for extra PR in my newsletters to the TV industry. See recent copies here. Ok, self promotion over. But you get the message. If you want to be a TV expert, the TV industry has to be able to find you.

Step 8: Get quoted. Researchers and development producers scour newspapers and magazines for experts and ideas. And if an article in which you’re quoted catches their eye, you could be the first expert they contact – assuming they can find you. That’s why Steps 5, 6 & 7 are so important.

Step 9: Be pro-active. Watch the programmes which feature experts like you, find who makes them (check the credits at the end for the name of the production company and the executive producer) and contact them directly. When I series produced Changing Rooms for the BBC, I was surprised at how few letters and showreels I received from interior designers who wanted to get on my radar and be considered for the programme. In three years I think I had less than 10. And most of the people who contacted me hadn't done Steps 1 & 2 - ie identified what made them stand out from the other designers and outlined why they'd be perfect for the show. So be pro-active. But do your homework first. And keep your email to the point: a 'pitch paragraph' and a photo.

Step 10: Get a showreel. TV’s a visual medium so promote yourself to it in a visual way. Photos are good but showreels or video pitches are better because the industry can see what you look and sound like on camera. Keep your videos short (1-2 minutes maximum), engaging and to the point. And remember: they’ll know within the first 10 seconds if you’re what they’re looking for. It's like a first date. You just know. So make those first 10 seconds count: big smile, great eye contact and lots of energy. At least 50% more than normal. You've got to really switch it on if you want to stand out and make an impression.

The harder you work at promoting yourself and increasing your visibility, the "luckier" you will be. Because the TV industry is always on the hunt for new experts, new ideas and the next big thing.

Good luck. And if I can be of any help, just give me a call.

Raise your media profile & increase your chances of being spotted by the TV industry

2010-07-06T11:06:00.001-07:00

Over the past two weeks, I've outlined the 10 Steps to Becoming a TV expert. In Step 7 I highlighted the importance of joining online directories of experts and shamelessly plugged the fact that being on findaTVexpert is a great way to raise your media profile. And here's the proof: some of the latest experts who've been found on the site and booked for screentests, interviews and other media opportunities.

1. Donna D - Psychologist: Personality, Behaviour & Sex: filmed for the pilot of a new TV series re security.

2. Cate M - Love Coach: approached by Big Brother's Little Brother re appearing on the show, screentested by the BBC for a new series and interviewed by Men's Fitness re dating tips for men.

3. Abigael S - Doctor of Clinical Psychology: interviewed by Men's Fitness re the World Cup. How football means so much to us as a nation and how we react to losses.

4. Audrey D - Food Scientist, Nutritionist and Omega 3 Expert: screentested by Betty TV (and coincidentally by someone who used to present a show I produced at L!VETV. Small world.)

5. Vena R - Tantric Sex and Romance Expert: contacted by a literary agent who spotted her in one of my updates to the industry (see copies here) and by Big Brother's Little Brother (Endemol). If you want to be a TV Expert, writing a book is very important. Find out why in Step 3 to becoming a TV Expert. Read it here.

6. Terri B - The Stress Doctor: interviewed for Prima & Men's Fitness magazine. (Step 8)

7. Caroline T - Gardens: designer, writer & broadcaster: did a day's filming with Mark Three Media.

8. Jonathan T - Sport, music and film memorabilia: contacted by Plum Pictures.

9. James L - Scientist: Biological + Natural History: in discussions with Darlow Smithson re a series for Animal Planet and is doing a podcast with Pulse-Project.

10. Ian C - Obesity Expert: liaising with Endemol re a CBBC series. Idea has been pitched. Fingers crossed.

Ten Steps to Becoming a TV Expert: Step 10

2010-07-05T11:29:00.000-07:00

Step 10: Get a showreel. TV’s a visual medium so promote yourself to it in a visual way. Photos are good but showreels or video pitches are better because the industry can see what you look and sound like on camera. Keep your videos short (1-2 minutes maximum), engaging and to the point. And remember: they’ll know within the first 10 seconds if you’re what they’re looking for. It's like a first date. You just know. So make those first 10 seconds count: big smile, great eye contact and lots of energy. At least 50% more than normal. You've got to really switch it on if you want to stand out and make an impression.

The harder you work at promoting yourself and increasing your visibility, the "luckier" you will be. Because the TV industry is always on the hunt for new experts, new ideas and the next big thing.

I hope these 10 Steps to Becoming a TV Expert have given you some ideas about how to promote yourself to the industry. Good luck. And if I can be of any help, just give me a call.

10 Steps to Becoming a TV Expert: Step 9

2010-07-02T00:37:00.000-07:00

Step 9: Be pro-active. Watch the programmes which feature experts like you, find who makes them (check the credits at the end for the name of the production company and the executive producer) and contact them directly. When I series produced Changing Rooms for the BBC (see my CV here) I was surprised at how few letters and showreels I received from interior designers who wanted to get on my radar and be considered for the programme. In three years I think I had less than 10. And most of the people who contacted me hadn't done Steps 1 & 2 - ie identified what made them stand out from the other designers and outlined why they'd be perfect for the show. So be pro-active. But do your homework first. And keep your email to the point: a 'pitch paragraph' and a photo.

10 Steps to Becoming a TV Expert: Step 8

2010-07-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

Step 8: Get quoted. Researchers and development producers scour newspapers and magazines for experts and ideas. And if an article in which you’re quoted catches their eye, you could be the first expert they contact – assuming they can find you. That’s why Steps 5, 6 & 7 are so important.

10 Steps to Becoming a TV Expert: Step 7

2010-06-30T00:26:00.000-07:00

Step 7: Join the online directories of experts which TV production companies turn to when they’re looking for an expert to comment on a subject or be part of a show. Ok, now it's time for a bit of self promotion. There are a few online directories of experts out there, but www.findaTVexpert.com is the only one that's run by a TV producer with 15 years experience making & developing programmes and looking for talent (see my CV). In other words, findaTVexpert is run by someone who understands the needs of the experts and of the industry. By registering you'll be in a directory that's actively promoted to the TV industry - and that more and more members of the industry are turning to when they're looking for experts, ideas & inspiration. You'll also be in my little black book (which I take to my regular meetings with heads of development, creative directors, executive producers, etc) and you'll have a chance for extra PR in my newsletters to the TV industry. See recent copies here. Ok, self promotion over. But you get the message. If you want to be a TV expert, the TV industry has to be able to find you.

10 Steps to Becoming a TV Expert: Step 6

2010-06-29T00:30:00.001-07:00

Step 6: Join clubs, associations & networking groups that are relevant to your area of expertise and make sure you’re on their list of experts who are happy to be contacted by the media. Here's why. When I was working at L!VETV, I was asked to develop & produce the pilot for 'Bouncy Weather', a weather forecast which featured a dwarf on a trampoline infront of a weather map (don't ask!). Anyway, my first port of call was The Restricted Growth Association. I explained what we were going to do and they put me in touch with Willow Management, a management agency that represents short actors. And as a result we found and hired the lovely Rusty Goffe. Enough said.

10 Steps to Becoming a TV Expert: Step 5

2010-06-28T07:38:00.001-07:00

Step 5: Be at the top of Google/Yahoo/Bing searches under key words that relate to your expertise. Words that a researcher would type in to find experts like you. Story has it that's how Gareth Malone (The Choir, BBC2) was found. They typed in 'choirmaster' and he came up in the search results. And I'd be happy to bet my bottom dollar that when the Icelandic 'ash cloud' started covering our skies a lot of reseachers and producers were typing "volcano+expert" or "volcanogist" into Google. So if you want to be a TV expert, make sure the TV industry can find you.

10 Steps to Becoming a TV Expert: Step 4

2010-06-25T03:35:00.000-07:00

Step 4: Give presentations at consumer fairs, trade fairs, networking events & exhibitions. You never know who’ll be listening - or on the hunt for talent!

10 Steps to Becoming a TV Expert: Step 3

2010-06-23T23:46:00.000-07:00

Step 3: Write a book & become the authority. Researchers and producers often search online bookshops to find out who has written books about the subject/area of expertise that’s relevant to the programme they’re developing. It's what I used to do at the end of each series of Changing Rooms when we were looking for new designers to join the team. So if you’ve got a book in you, write it!

10 Steps to Becoming a TV Expert: Step 2

2010-06-23T00:31:00.000-07:00

Step 2: Understand the industry. If you’re applying for a job, you research the company and figure out what you what you have to offer. If you want to get on TV, the same applies. Watch TV. Think TV. Understand TV. Read the media sections of the nationals and sign up for the trade magazines to keep your finger on the pulse of what’s being commissioned, which shows are getting the highest ratings, who’s making them and, more importantly, why you’d be perfect for them.

10 Steps to Becoming a TV expert: Step 1

2010-06-22T07:16:00.000-07:00

Britain’s Got Talent has come and gone and auditions for The X-Factor are underway. Both shows are fantastic opportunities for singers and dancers to promote themselves to the industry. But if you’re an expert – historian, scientist, property guru, chef, lawyer, businessman, tradesman, doctor, dentist, designer, criminologist, psychologist, marine biologist, etc – and you want to promote yourself to the TV industry, you have to understand the market, figure out what you have to offer and start making some noise. In other words, you need to get to work. There are 10 steps you need to take to be considered for TV opportunities. So starting at the top ...

Step 1: Define your USP. There are thousands of experts like you out there. What makes you stand out from the rest? What’s going to make TV producers, commissioners and – ultimately – viewers, sit up and take notice of you? Is it your contagious enthusiasm for the subject matter? Your quirky personality? Your sense of humour? Or maybe the projects you’re working on or the people you have access to?

Could you be a TV expert?

2010-06-11T07:12:00.000-07:00

If you want to be a TV expert you need to think about how to pitch yourself to the TV industry. My 'Could you be a TV expert?' seminars are packed with tips and ways to do this. But don't take it from me. Read what a reviewer from remotegoat.co.uk had to say here.

Want to get on TV? Get on findaTVexpert!

2010-06-11T03:39:00.000-07:00

If you want to be on TV, researchers, development producers and heads of talent have to be able to find you. Being on findaTVexpert is one of the ways the TV industry finds experts, which is why more and more experts are signing up to showcase their skills, passion and expertise. To see the latest experts hoping to catch the eye of a TV producer, click here.

More experts being found on findaTVexpert

2010-05-06T05:25:00.000-07:00

People often ask me what kind of experts the industry (TV, Radio & Press) is looking for. The answer's quite simple: all kinds of experts. And the good news is that more and more members of the media are finding them on findaTVexpert, as you can see from the latest success stories below:

1. Janet T - Tapping for Weight Loss, Anxiety, Depression, etc: has been signed up for a new Channel 4 series. Details tba.

2. Ceril C - Red Carpet Style, Celeb Lingerie Secrets, Dating: is guest presenting on QVC from May 14th.

3. Nadine H - Time Investment Expert, Time Management, Jugglista: is in talks with a PR company re a media campaign they're running.

4. Naomi R- Life Coach for Children: Self Esteem, Divorce, etc: has been put forward by Maverick TV for a programme they're developing.

5. Audrey D - Food Scientist, Nutritionist and Omega 3 Expert: provided expert comment for the Daily Mirror and Men's Health magazine and is in discussions with a PR agency re a media campaign they're planning.

6. Stephen M - Explosives & Bomb Expert - ex MoD: is involved in a documentary series that Lion TV is making for the BBC.

7. Dr Abigael S- Doctor of Clinical Psychology: was interviewed by BBC Radio Humberside and Lincolnshire re depression and by Grazia re Cheryl Cole and why she's reluctant to open up about her feelings.

8. Julie C - Evolutionary Social Psychologist: was booked as the expert for the Eden Project's 'The Big Lunch' media campaign, which is a UK-wide incentive to get neighbours talking. Also interviewed by BBC Radio West Midlands re what ring tones say about you.

9. Amana W - Coach-find your personal 'X' factor,and stand out: was contacted by Men's Fitness re an article and by Summer Films re a project they're developing.

10. Deborah J - Historian: Toys & Women Inventors: is in discussions re a pitch to The One Show about British female inventors.

11. Tim B - Physique Specialist: was contacted by Love Productions re a programme they're pitching to Channel 4.

12. Chi C - Science & Technology: was contacted by Shine TV who are interested in casting her in a new CBBC show.

13. Jacky N - Paranormal Experiences, Angels & Afterlife: was booked to do the media promotion (radio, TV & print) for the DVD release of the 'Lovely Bones' film.

14. Debi B - 'Get what you want' Coach / Expert: was also asked to do a piece for Mens Fitness and has a programme in development with a broadcaster. All hush hush for now.

15. Jane W - Life Change Expert: was interviewed for the April issue of Health & Fitness.

Testimonial: Freelance Journalist

2010-04-30T02:21:00.001-07:00

I think findaTVexpert.com is a great resource for TV producers, radio producers and members of the media on the hunt for new talent or looking for people to comment on a subject or be part of a show. But then I would, wouldn't I? It's my business!

So don't take it from me. Take it from a journalist who uses the site:

"As a busy freelance journalist, I turn to findatvexpert.com regularly to find reliable and authoritative sources to give my copy extra impact. I've used a handful of experts now, all of which have provided timely and useable quotes specifically tailored to the target audience." Karen Hirst.

Start of Year Three in Business!

2010-04-27T23:53:00.000-07:00

It was literally on a barge on the Canal du Midi in France in July 07 (having finished a contract to series produce Don't Get Done Get Dom for BBC1) that I had my Eureka Moment and thought of www.findatvexpert.com.

So when I got back from holiday I did some research. There wasn’t a similar service out there – I knew this from having worked in the industry for 15 years – and when I mentioned my idea to a few expert friends and TV colleagues everyone thought it was a winner.

This was a service the experts wanted and the industry needed. I’d never set up a business before but I believed in my idea so much that when I was offered another 10 months contract at Flame TV starting in September 07 (10 months of financial and job security!) I turned it down and decided to live off my limited savings and set up findatvexpert.com from my kitchen table (luckily that domain name was available – so many have already been taken.)

And nine months after I’d had the idea on the Canal du Midi, www.findaTVexpert.com went live.

I still remember the excitement I felt on Monday, 28th April 2008 when I sat at my desk at 8am and 'launched' findaTVexpert. And here I am at the start of year three. As excited now as I was then.

There have been challenges along the way, but I'm loving every minute of the journey.

Best of all, it's working: more and more members of the media are registering to search the site every week and experts are being found and booked for presenting roles, interviews, screentests and other media opportunities.

I don't really believe in horoscopes, but I happened to read one in YOU Magazine in September 07 when I started setting up findaTVexpert and it said (because I kept it as a reminder): 'You are entering an important new cycle in your life, a cycle which - if used properly - will bring lasting rewards in the future. It may be difficult - even painful - at times, but it will almost certainly be rewarding in the long run. No matter what you dreams may be, Saturn will create the conditions that make the realisation possible. From then on, it's up to you."

And it was spot on!

Here's to a successful Year Three and many more successful years ahead for the business - and for all the experts being found through it!

Countdown to Start of Year 3: After The Times ...The Daily Telegraph!

2010-04-23T00:31:00.000-07:00

I was in New Zealand for Christmas (Dec 08) when I received an email from a journalist saying he'd read my press release about John Rennie, the personal finance & property expert who was spotted on findaTVexpert and signed up to co-present a new property series for BBC1, and was going to do a piece for the Telegraph. Needless to say, I was delighted. I emailed him all the information he needed and then we had a quick phone interview. Starting the year with small mention in the Telegraph would be good for business, I thought. Infact, it was FANTASTIC for business. Because I got a double page spread! Read it here.

Countdown to Year Three: findaTVexpert in The Times

2010-04-21T01:37:00.000-07:00

The first thing I did when I set up findaTVexpert.com in April 2008 was tell as many people as I could about it, which included issuing a press release targetted at journalists who wrote about start up businesses. The Daily Express was the first national to pick up my story - see blog below. Then I was featured in the careers section of The Times, which was fantastic. Read 'My Big Idea' profile piece here. Good publicity - and getting noticed - is crucial in business, which is why I do as much as I can to get it: press releases, twitter, blogs, recommendations, etc. So if you're reading this, help me spread the word! Because word of mouth is fantastic PR too!

Loud & Proud: findaTVexpert heads towards start of third year in business

2010-04-20T00:25:00.001-07:00

On Monday, the 28th of April 2008, findaTVexpert started doing what it set out to do: help bridge the gap between the professionals and the programme makers. Give experts who want to be considered for TV & Media opportunities the chance to promote themselves to the industry and give members of the media on the hunt for new talent and ideas (or up against tight deadlines!) a fast and easy way of finding experts to comment on a subject or be part of a show. If you want to get noticed as an expert, you have to be loud and proud. And the same applies to a business. If you want to get noticed, you have to make some noise. So in April 2008 I did a PR blitz and the Daily Express was the first to pick up on my story. Read it here.

New Experts & Last Night's Election Debate

2010-04-16T03:35:00.000-07:00

I've just sent out my udpate to the TV industry with details of new experts - from BBQ Masters to Money Hunters (did you know that most people are entitled to a £2000, tax free bereavement payment from the state?) - and a topical TV Pt of View. This week it's Liam Hamilton, Director of Business Development at DCD Media, on last night's election debate. Let the experts inspire you and read what Liam has to say here.

Could you be a TV expert? Here's the first question you have to answer.

2010-04-13T04:18:00.001-07:00

The TV industry is always on the hunt for talent, ideas and the next big thing. So could you be a TV expert? Well here's the first question you have to answer: what is going to make TV producers, broadcasters and (ultimately) viewers sit up and take notice of you? And if you want to know what else you should be thinking about if you're interested in promoting yourself to the TV industry, come along to my 'Could you be a TV expert?' seminar and find out! Details in post below.

"Could you be a TV expert?" seminar

2010-02-15T04:33:00.000-08:00

What do producers of factual TV programmes need to create a new, successful series? New & engaging experts!

Think of Location Location Location, SuperNanny, The Choir, Grow Your Own Drugs, The Apprentice, Grand Designs, How Clean is Your House, You are What You Eat and The House of Tiny Tearaways, to name but a few. They all needed new experts when they were devised – and so will many future shows.

Find the right experts and combine them with a great format and everyone’s a winner: the broadcaster, the viewer and the experts, of course. Because being a TV expert raises your profile, increases your income and gives you the chance to help and/or inspire a huge number of people. But how does the TV industry find new experts? And could you be one?

These are some of the questions that will be answered at the ‘Could you be a TV Expert?’ seminar on Thursday, 10 June from 5-6pm (Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, W1D 3NE).

The seminar will be hosted by Claire Richmond, series producer of some of TV’s most popular shows - including BBC’s Changing Rooms, Ready Steady Cook & Don’t Get Done Get Dom - and founder of www.findaTVexpert.com, the online database of experts for members of the media on the hunt for new talent.

”Being a TV expert isn’t a privilege that’s bestowed on an elite few,” says Richmond. “It’s an opportunity that’s available to all experts. But a lot of experts don’t realize that their knowledge, their passion or the projects they’re working on could be exactly what the TV industry is looking for. And many don’t know how to approach the TV industry. These seminars will shed valuable light on that,” adds Richmond.

The “Could you be a TV expert?” seminar will give experts an insight into:

- The importance of experts on TV - and why the industry is always on the hunt for them
- What makes a good TV expert – and could you be one?
- The kind of experts the TV industry is currently looking for
- How the TV industry finds experts / How experts can promote themselves to the TV industry
- The programme making process

”The TV industry finds new experts in many ways,” says Richmond. “If you’re lucky you might be in the right place at the right time – it’s how Jamie Oliver got his break - but the more pro-active you are and the more structured your approach, the better. Joining findaTVexpert is one way of getting on the TV industry’s radar but there are others. And these seminars will help potential new TV experts understand the process.”

Tickets cost £25 and must be purchased in advance (places are limited). For more information or to book your place, call or email Claire Richmond directly:

claire@findatvexpert.com / 020 8742 2541.

Claire Young - The Apprentice

2010-02-09T04:07:00.001-08:00

It's great to welcome Claire Young, of BBC1's The Apprentice fame, to the team of experts. When TV opens a door for you, you have to take advantage of it. And Claire most certainly has. She's using her fame, passion and business expertise to help back young Britain by working with the Prince's Trust, UK Youth, Business Link and several youth enterprise organisations.

Be Unashamedly Persistent

2010-01-19T09:45:00.000-08:00

I read an article about Vanita Parti, founder of Blink eyebrow bars in the Times earlier this month - How I Made It - and loved her advice to would be entrepreneurs: "Be unashamedly persistent. That really got me through the first six months where I had the phone slammed down on me. I thought no, this is going to work and I'm going to convince you."

The same applies to the TV industry: whether you're trying to get into TV, get onto camera or get a programme commissioned. If you've done your research and you really believe you have what it takes - or you have a groundbreaking programme idea - you have to keep going. It might take time. You might get knocked back along the way. But you have to be unashamedly persistent.

TV Insider

2009-12-30T10:22:00.000-08:00

Find out who's joined the team of experts, which experts have caught the eye of the TV industry, how to increase your chances of getting on TV, etc by signing up to the findaTVexpert updates. Just add your email to box on the right.

Success stories: experts being seen, heard and read about!

2009-12-17T01:48:00.000-08:00

TV&Media companies find experts for their shows and articles in lots of different ways: via google, University websites, TV agents, associations, word of mouth, contacts - and findaTVexpert of course! Here are some of the latest success stories.

Mike - Medical Historian, War Wounds & Trauma Surgeon: has just done some filming with Cloud One productions for a new BBC series called History of the World.
Deborah - Historian, Toys & Women Inventors: contacted by Lion TV re a new series and in discussions with enteraction TV re a history series.
Craig - Classical Historian: also in discussion with enteraction TV re a history series.
Hannah - Expat Money Expert: interviewed by BBC Radio Wales re the financial issues that have to be taken into account when retiring to the sunshine.
Jonathan - Freesourcing, How to start a business with no money: congratulations to Jonathan for making the final shortlist of a new BBC Business series. And commisserations for being pipped to the post.
Sue - Armchair to action, get out of your comfort zone: being featured in Essentials magazine in February.
Graham - Dog Trainer, the man who speaks dog: has been approached by TwoFour productions re a project and was on Talksport Radio.
Gina - private investigator: interviewed for TalkSport re private investigations in the workplace and in relationships.
David - vocal coach: has just done some filming for a new Biography Channel series which will TX in January. And still in discussions with Love Productions.
Bill - food critic, writer, broadcaster: contacted by Five News to be interviewed re making Christmas dinner on the cheap (but he was on holiday in the Philippines!)
Kirsty - consultant clinical and forensic psychologist: has been contacted by BBC1's The Big Questions team to discuss appearing on the show.
Dr Pete - scientist & author: interviewed for TalkSport re the vaccination programmme for Swine Flu.
Tara - Wine Expert: Tara wrote a treatment for a programme idea which I thought ticked the right boxes, so I discussed it in several of my meetings with TV companies and enteraction TV are interested in developing it further, which is great news. It's only the beginning of a long process (which is why patience is a virtue!) but it's a start.
Debi - Power of Positivity: interviewed on STV re how to manage your bank balance over the festive season. And has been booked back for the 4th january to do a session on unwanted christmas gifts, which is great news.
Keren - Relationship Expert & Midlife Muddles Guru: interviewed by Essential magazine for the March issue.
Jackie - Financial Lifecoach: interviewed by Top Sante magazine for a Career & Finance article.
Maggy - Priest, Prosperity is your birthright: interviewed by TalkSport Radio re forgiveness after the case of two bullies who drove Rosimeiri Boxall to kill herself.
Simon - Teacher, Youth & Familial Issues: interviewed by TalkSport re the link between divorced parents and poor adolescent behaviour.

Cash in on your career in the New Year!

2009-12-08T02:34:00.000-08:00

Could you be the next Jamie Oliver, Jo Frost (SuperNanny) or Gok Wan (How to look good naked)? Are you working on any projects or research that might be of interest to the TV industry? Do you have the X-pert factor? If the answer’s yes, try and cash in on your career by promoting yourself to the TV industry in the New Year.

Factual entertainment and specialist factual programmes need experts. And broadcasters are keen to find them because they deliver passion, credibility and commitment. What’s more, if you combine the right expert with a great format, everyone’s a winner. Everyone cashes in.

Think of Dragon’s Den, Grand Designs, Strictly Come Dancing, Location, Location, Location, the Antiques Roadshow, Would Like to Meet, How Clean is Your House, You Are What You Eat, The Choir, Super Vets, Ladette to Lady, The Apprentice and the House of Tiny Tearaways. They all needed experts when they were devised – and so will many future shows.

Experts can be found in numerous ways: google searches, press coverage, word of mouth, connections, being heard on the radio and, if you’re lucky, being in the right place at the right time. Changing Room’s Handy Andy, for example, just happened to be doing some work for Linda Barker when the programme producers were looking for a cheeky chippy. And Jamie Oliver caught a producer’s eye when they were doing some filming at the River Café!

And, of course, they can also be found on findaTVexpert.com, the business I set up to give experts with the X-pert factor the chance to promote themselves to the industry and try and cash in on their expertise & passion. And it’s working!

Classical Historian and Actor Craig Henderson was found on findaTVexpert and is now a regular presenter on BBC’s Inside Out. “I have found findaTVexpert.com to be possibly the most effective website I've ever been on. I've been on the site for just over a year and have presented six features for BBC’s Inside Out. And I’m being paid to do what I love, which is fantastic.”

Doctor of Clinical Psychology Abigael San is also increasing her media profile and boosting her earnings as a result of being on findaTVexpert. “This site is a brilliant idea. I have contributed to several TV & Radio programmes since I registered and been interviewed for numerous press articles as a result of being found on findaTVexpert.”

Other experts who have recently been found on findaTVexpert and approached regarding interviews, screentests and other media opportunities include Stuarts, Marx & Witchcraft Historian John Callow (recently booked to do 8 days of filming for UK Living’s ‘Most Haunted Live’); Psychologist & Business Stress Expert Sue Firth; Expat Money Expert Hannah Beecham and Social Anthropologist & Flirtologist Jean Smith.

Everyone with the skills, training and qualification to prove they’re an expert in their field of business can register on findaTVexpert.com. From art therapists to zoologists and everyone in between - forensic scientists, vicars, bailiffs, embalmers, marine biologists, dentists, detectives, designers, personal finance advisors, architects, etc – because you never know what will catch a producer’s eye and ignite the creative process. There is a membership fee, but it could be your best investment yet!

So if you’ve got an expertise, try and cash in on it in the New Year. Let the TV industry know you exist - and if you're working on an exciting project or research that could make good TV, make sure you tell them about it. Joining findaTVexpert is obviously one way of doing this, but there are others. What's important is that you get on the TV industry's radar.

Other experts have done it, so why can't you?

The importance of experts on British TV

2009-11-26T12:29:00.000-08:00

I've been asked to do a presentation to Chinese TV Executives in December about the importance and variety of experts on British TV - because that's what makes British TV unique.

Think about it.

Food, property & parenting shows; science, art & history shows; business & finance shows; health, fitness & education shows; animal, wildlife & natural history shows; news & breakfast TV shows; and even programmes on how to clean your house and tame teenage mums all have once thing in common: experts. Find the right one and combine it with a great format and you’ve got a TV hit on your hands.

Dragon’s Den, Grand Designs, Supernanny, the Antiques Roadshow, Changing Rooms, Ready Steady Cook, Would Like to Meet, Hairy Bikers, You Are What You Eat, The Choir, Ladette to Lady and The Apprentice all needed experts when they were devised -and so will many future shows.

Because successful, factual programmes need passionate and inspiring experts. And in Britain, they can come from everywhere and anywhere.

And that's what makes British TV unique.

Great start to the week

2009-11-16T10:42:00.001-08:00

I've just heard that one of the experts on findaTVexpert - medical historial Mike Edwards - was found on findaTVexpert and booked to do some filming for a new BBC series. What a great start to the week! And here's hoping that another expert who was found on findaTVexpert and screentested for a new business series, makes the shortlist (he should find out this week.)

TV Tip #2

2009-11-16T02:20:00.001-08:00

People often ask me what they should wear for a TV interview, screentest, etc. The best piece of advice I can give is this: switch on the TV and look at what other experts and presenters are wearing. What looks good and what doesn't? When there are several expert guests taking part in a studio interview, who stands out and why? On the whole though, keep the following in mind:

1. avoid black (very few people actually look good in black), stripes and dots.
2. cameras really do add 10lbs so choose clothes with neat, streamline cuts
3. think of colours that bring you to life and cuts that flatter your figure. Blocks of colour always look good.
4. avoid bulky fabrics and anything that's too fussy
5. remember that it can get very hot under studio lights so don't wear anything that's going to make you sweat

Don't forget the importance of hair & make-up - and remember to smile!

Getting on the TV industry's radar & the Media's map

2009-11-09T00:35:00.000-08:00

In the past few weeks I've had meetings with Reef TV, Twenty Twenty, FIVE, Talkback Thames and Shiver Productions and have got meetings with Mentorn and etv lined up this week. Some experts receive phone calls as a result of these meetings, other receive phone calls because they're spotted in my weekly updates (see copies here) and many are found when researchers, journalists & producers search the site for specific areas of expertise. Below are some of the most recent experts who have been found on findaTVexpert - and who are now on the TV industry's radar and the media's map.

1. Psychologist & Business Stress Expert: Sue's been contacted by CBBC re possible involvement in a future programme.
2. Consultant Clinical & Forensic Psychologist: Kirsty was interviewed for 'Live From Studio Five' re a girl gang that attacked a stranger in the street.
3. Historian - Stuarts, Marx, Witchcraft: John's just finished 8 days of filming for Living TV's 'Most Haunted Live'. John's also in discussions with Lime Pictures.
4. Leading UK Personal Trainer: Kim's been contacted by a freelance journalist for an article re how to be more confident for Essentials magazine (on sale Jan 2010)
5. Gardens - designer, writer and broadcaster: Caroline's been contacted by Tern TV to discuss a gardening programme idea.
6. Social Anthropologist & Flirtologist: Jean's doing some filming for OhTV.
7. Paranormal Experiences, Angels & Afterlife: Jacky was interviewed by The Western Mail (Wales) re her garden angels.
8. Journalist - technology & small business: Guy's also had a meeting with OhTV.
9. Historical Novelist - 17thC: Fiona was approached by VpointTV to present a programme for the BBC.
10. The Stress Doctor: Terri was contacted by BBC Radio Scotland and did an interview re stress at work.

findaTVexpert teams up with Talent TV to provide a new service for experts

2009-11-03T02:22:00.000-08:00

findaTVexpert is delighted to announce that it has teamed up with Jonathan Glazier, Director of Entertainment at Talent TV (an independent television production company) to provide a new service for experts: short & succinct video pitches that can be embedded into the experts’ profile page and used to help sell themselves to the TV industry.

"The TV industry wants to know what experts look and sound like on camera. But they don’t want four minutes of random, homemade clips. They want short, well shot, well lit and well produced video pitches – and Jonathan can provide that. He’s got 25 years experience in the TV business and knows what the industry wants to see and hear, which is why I’m thrilled we’ve teamed up to offer the experts this service”, says founder of findaTVexpert.com, Claire Richmond.

Experts who want to take advantage of the service - and increase their chances of getting noticed by the TV industry - email their written pitches to Jonathan, who casts his editorial eye over them to make sure they’re TV relevant and provides suggestions if they’re not. A filming date is then set up at the Talent TV offices in London and Jonathan, who used to be a producer & director, films the 30-60 seconds video pitches which are then be embedded into the expert’s findaTVexpert profile page.

”Online videos are essential for anyone who has - or wants - an internet presence: from experts who are pitching themselves to the TV industry to businesses who want short narrative programmes or infommercials for their customers. So much so that Talent TV has set up a new division called Talent Digital to cater for this exploding market,” says Glazier. “And we’re delighted that findaTVexpert is one of our first customers because we understand their business. We often look for experts on findaTVexpert and know how beneficial these short videos will be to researchers, producers and execs like myself,” adds Glazier.

”findaTVexpert already works with Alfi Media to provide media training for experts. Video pitches are the next step up TV ladder for the experts – and a natural progression for the business,” added Richmond.

For more information, email claire@findatvexpert.com or Jonathan at experts@talentdigital.tv.

Unique Christmas Present: the chance to be a TV star

2009-11-02T04:01:00.000-08:00

Forget sweaters, socks, perfume and aftershave this Christmas. Surprise your partner with a present that could change their life: a year’s membership on www.findaTVexpert.com.

”The TV industry is always on the lookout for new talent,” says founder and ex-TV producer Claire Richmond. “So if your partner is an expert in their field of business and oozes confidence, personality, energy and charisma, give them a present with a difference this year: the chance to catch the eye of a TV commissioner or Development Producer. The chance to be a TV star.”

findaTVexpert.com is an online database of experts to which TV&Media companies turn when they’re looking for experts to comment on a subject or when they’re brainstorming ideas for a new show.

It was set up by ex TV producer Claire Richmond because as a TV insider she knew this was a service the experts wanted and the industry needed. And she was right. Members of the media are registering to search the site and experts are being found and booked for TV, Radio & Press interviews, screentests, TV pilots and other media opportunities.

Membership costs £100 per year - plus a one off £50 joining fee - and includes consultancy advice from a TV professional who can help your partner create a profile that’s tailored to the TV industry; the chance to be featured in newsletters that get sent out to over 1500 researchers, development producers, commissioners and heads of factual programming each week (plus radio producers and journalists) and ongoing PR & Marketing.

And as its Christmas, all the experts who are given a year’s membership on findaTVexpert.com as a Christmas present will also receive a surprise gift in the post.

You know they’re worth it!

Catching the Eye of a TV Producer

2009-10-23T05:53:00.000-07:00

The TV industry is always on the lookout for new people, new ideas and the next 'big thing'. That's why I send out details of new experts to over 1500 researchers, producers, creative directors, heads of development, heads of factual and TV commissioners each week. To try and bridge the gap between the professionals and the programme makers and help ignite the creative process. (Use this link and click on a date to see this year's newsletters.) It's obviously impossible to know who's going to catch the eye of a producer, but the TV industry likes visual stimulation and findaTVexpert gives it to them!

Meeting the Media

2009-10-20T08:10:00.000-07:00

Although findaTVexpert is set up so members of the media can search the site and contact the experts directly, there's nothing quite like a face-to-face meeting. That's why I try to meet as many development producers and creative directors as I can. It gives me a chance to find out what they're working on, to suggest relevant experts and to brainstorm new ideas with experts. And the next two weeks are looking good: Twenty Twenty TV, Reef TV, Talkback Thames, etv and Channel Five.

My TV Tip

2009-10-16T03:28:00.000-07:00

When you go for a meeting or a screentest with a TV producer, make sure you look like the photo they’ve seen of you (on your website, facebook, twitter, etc) because that's the look that caught their eye. There's nothing worse - as a TV producer - than walking into reception to meet someone who looks completely different to the person they had in mind. And smile!

Recent Success Stories

2009-10-08T04:29:00.000-07:00

When I quit my job as a TV producer after 15 years in the industry to set up findaTVexpert last year, my aim was to help bridge the gap between the professionals and the programme makers. To give experts who want to be considered for TV&Media opportunities the chance to showcase their skills and passion to the industry. And it's working. Which makes it all worthwhile. Here are some of the recent success stories:

1. Classical Historian: Craig is filming another episode for BBC's Inside Out. (Craig has filmed several of these since being found on findaTVexpert last year).
2. Psychologist & Business Stress Expert: Sue's been screentested by Shine TV and is on the shortlist of experts for a new Virgin 1 series. Sue was also interviewed by BBC Radio Kent re good/bad children and is being featured in the 'Ask the Expert' column for Zest Magazine in Dec/Jan.
3. Confidence Coach: Sean is also on Shine TV's shortlist for the Virgin 1 series.
4. Consultant Clinical & Forensic Psychologist: Kirsty has been approached by TwoFour re a programme they're pitching to BBC3.
5. TV & Radio Youth Expert and Teen/Parent Coach: Sarah's done some work for The Broadcasters, a company that does mixed media PR campaigns for a variety of clients.
6. Singing Teacher & Vocal Coach: David's been approached by Daisybeck Productions re a makeover show for the Biography Channel.
7. The Family Communication Diva Duo: Lisa was featured in Essential Magazine in an article re how to talk to your parents.
8. Wedding Planner & Top Selling Bridal Author: Sarah was contacted by the Sunday Times for a feature on at-home marquee weddings.
9. Positive Psychology, Confidence & Change: Chris was featured in Bliss Magazine in an article re what makes someone a bad influence/how to stand up to someone who's a bad influence, etc.
10. Life Strategist & Psychic: Susie's been contacted by Flame TV re a new series they're developing.
11. Environmental Journalist & Radio Owner: Chantal was interviewed on BBC Radio Kent re the UK's energy consumption and possibility of power cuts by 2017.
12. Priest & Author: Robin was spotted in one of my recent updates to the industry and contacted by Flame TV.

Be a TV expert

2009-10-07T05:43:00.000-07:00

I've just got back from a meeting with the website designers - Zero One Design. Following the suggestion of an expert who joined findaTVexpert.com recently (Rebecca Page from www.skinaid.org.uk) I'm going to create a landing/home page that is aimed at experts and spells out the benefits of joining findaTVexpert: how it works, the fact that it's run by a TV producer with 15 years experience who understands the needs of the industry, what I do to promote it to the industry (weekly mtgs with TV production companies and updates that get sent out to over 1500 TV researchers, producers, commissioning editors, etc), online PR and marketing, TV tips, links to showreel makers and media training companies, etc. In keep with findaTVexpert.com it will be called beaTVexpert.com. Watch this space!

Success Stories

2009-09-11T00:02:00.000-07:00

findaTVexpert continues to do what it set out to do: help experts get onto the industry's radar and the media's map. Below are some of the most recent success stories:
1. Stephanie Moore - Nutritionist, Health & Stress Coach: has done a screentest for Endemol (for a C4 show) and is doing a screentest for Flame TV.
2. Sue Hayward - Money, Consumer, Shopping & Property: has just done some filming for BBC Watchdog for the new series.
3. Dr Abigael San - Doctor of Clinical Psychology: interviewed by Daily Telegraph journalist re Jaycee Lee Dugard case - read article here - and contacted by Endemol to assess suitability of two contributors who want to appear on a show about food addiction.
4. Hannah Beecham - The Expat Money Expert: booked as a guest on BBC's Working Lunch last week.
5. Rowan Black - Hands on Property Development & Mortgages: has done a screentest for the BBC.
6. Chi Chukuemeka - Science & Technology: is meeting a development producer at the BBC next week.
7. John Gregory Smith - Cook, food prep & recipe writing: has done some filming for UKTV's Market Kitchen and is doing a 'viral' Bacardi Mojito ad.
8. Sarah Pennells - TV&Radio Money & Consumer Expert: interview with Glamour re Credit Crunch.
9. Richard Fenton - Debt Doctor: interview with Glamour (as above).
10. Jean Smith - Social Anthropologist & Flirtologist: did a piece with Bliss magazine re celebrity body language.

New TV Experts, New TV Ideas

2009-09-09T05:23:00.001-07:00

I can't believe it's been over a month since I last blogged. August came and went in a busy flash and brought a lot of new experts and ideas - all of which I'm passing on to the industry. To see a copy of my most recent updates, click here.

The Key to a Successful TV format

2009-07-30T08:08:00.001-07:00

As I speak to experts everyday, I have more programme ideas now than I did when I was working in production. And if you want to know what the key to a successful, re-commissionable TV format is, I'll tell you. In a word: simplicity. Think of Property Ladder, Escape to the Country, Cash in the Attic, 60 Minute Makeover, Changing Rooms, Wife Swap, Would Like To Meet, How Clean is Your House, etc. The format is so straightforward that you could almost watch it without volume. Because the pictures do the talking and engage you. So if you've got an idea for a TV series, think about whether it would pass the 'low volume' test. And good luck!

The Expert Academy Media Training Day

2009-07-24T01:41:00.000-07:00

It's great to see another part of my business plan taking shape. Teaming up with Media Trainers was always part of the plan - and it's happened. Today's the first Expert Academy Media training day with Alfi Media. It's designed to help prepare experts for TV&Media interviews and develop their x-pert factor - and is packed with practical exercises, tips, mock interviews, etc.

The best thing about running your own business

2009-07-22T11:34:00.000-07:00

There are so many great things about running your business but one of them has to be this: at the end of a long day you can walk out of the office and go for a long run - instead of a long commute home on a crowded tube.

And you don't have to take a day off work to wait for the delivery man who can only narrow it down to 'between 8am and 5pm'!

Meet the TV Experts

2009-07-20T10:09:00.000-07:00

I've just got back from a meeting with the head of development at a TV production company. We're going to organise a 'meet the experts' day - speed dating style. Each expert will have 15 minutes to pitch themselves/their programme idea. Watch this space.

findaTVexpert shortlisted for the 2009 Nectar Small Business Awards

2009-06-26T08:10:00.000-07:00

I've just heard that findaTVexpert has been shortlisted for the Nectar Small Business Awards. I've never run a business before - and I've only been going for just over a year - so to have impressed the judges enough to make the shortlist is very exciting. It's good for business - and the publicity will also be good for the experts. The winners will be announced later in July. Here's hoping!

Moving findaTVexpert forwards

2009-06-26T04:55:00.000-07:00

TV is a visual medium and, understandably, development producers want to know what people look & sound like on camera. Which is why showreels and clips are so important. I’ve been looking for the right person to make 30-40 seconds 'pitches' for the past six months. Someone who understands how the industry works and who can produce well shot, well lit and well directed pitches at an affordable cost. And I think I've found him! We're filming 3 'trial' pitches in 2 weeks time. Needless to say, I'm very excited because if it works it will benefit the experts and continue to move the business forwards.

Time flies when you're busy

2009-06-25T09:28:00.001-07:00

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I last wrote. But it's been a good month. And a busy one. I've met lots of development producers and have many more meetings lined up. What's great about meeting DPs is that I can suggest experts for programmes they're developing or producing - and go through their details there and then (I always take my mini laptop with me). I've also been busy putting the final touches on a tailor made media training workshop that's designed to help experts develop their x-pert factor - and if all goes to plan I'll be able to offer tailor made showreels soon as well. Watch this space!

A media-fest!

2009-06-03T06:58:00.001-07:00

I re-issued my 'case studies' press release yesterday (but with a different distribution service) and it's been all systems go ever since! Feature writers from national and local papers, freelance journalists and magazine editors have registered to search the site, requests have been made for stories and experts have been contacted for interviews. And TV&Radio researchers, development producers and MDs keep registering too, which is great news for everyone.

The Media's a Hungry Beast

2009-05-27T05:38:00.000-07:00

Broadcasters, TV productions companies and members of the media are always hungry for new stories, twists & angles. So I feed it with weekly updates, press releases, etc which are designed to spark off creative ideas. For a copy of this week's update, use this link and click on today's date. And to see a copy of my 'case studies' press release, click here.

Every expert has a story

2009-05-27T01:42:00.000-07:00

I let the TV industry know about back stories last week. Today, it's the media's turn. I've just issued a press release to feature/consumer/lifestyle journalists highlighting the fact that most experts have interesting back stories which could be used as case studies. Read press release here.

Back Stories: You Couldn't Make it Up!

2009-05-21T08:33:00.000-07:00

Every expert has a back story, a turning point or something that's a bit quirky about their life. And as back stories can spark off programme and feature ideas, I'm going to start highlighting them to the industry. Read yesterday's 'You Couldn't Make It Up' stories here: http://tinyurl.com/ckwrkk

John Rennie's debut on the BBC

2009-05-11T01:12:00.000-07:00

I'm looking forward to watching John Rennie's debut on the BBC today: The Unsellables (BBC1, 11am). He was spotted on findaTVexpert and signed up as the co-host.

Challenges of running a new business

2009-05-07T01:21:00.000-07:00

First 6 months: the focus is on sales, PR & Mktg. Months 6-12: admin creeps in. Year 2: make sure admin doesn't take over and eat up all the sales, PR & Mktg time!

Best Job in the World

2009-05-06T06:53:00.000-07:00

Ben Southall has won the 'best job in the world' as an island caretaker in Australia - and congratulations to him. To be honest though, I think I have the best job in the world. I speak to amazingly inspiring people every day, I feel very happy when an expert emails me to say they've had a call from a TV company or member of the media (which happens quite a lot) and I work from home. Yes, life is very good. Ok, so I don't live in an oceanfront villa with a private pool, but Chiswick isn't too bad.

Great start to the week

2009-05-05T07:20:00.000-07:00

Delighted to welcome new experts Matthew Jackson (estate agent/riverside properties), Nicolas Aujula (Astrologer) and Neil Mullarkey (improv genius and comedy lifecaoch). And good to see that more researchers and producers from Objective Productions, Epiphany Productions and Dragonfly TV have registered to search the site.

And the winner is ...

2009-04-28T01:42:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Juliet Hutton-Squire, designer goldsmith and winner of a year's free membership on findaTVexpert.com.

WIN A YEAR’S FREE MEMBERSHIP

2009-04-16T04:55:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the start of a second successful year in business, www.findatvexpert.com is giving experts who want to be considered for TV&Media opportunities the chance to win a year’s free membership worth £100.

”Britain’s Got Experts and I want to help promote them to TV researchers, development producers and commissioners who are hungry for ideas, inspiration and the next ‘big thing’,” says Claire Richmond, ex TV producer and founder of findaTVexpert.com.

Everyone with the skills, training and qualifications to prove they’re an expert in their field of business can enter the competition, from architects to zoologists and all the experts in between - handymen & historians; wildlife, survival & adventure experts; sportsmen, business men & tradesmen; dentists & designers; scientists, sociologists, etc – because you never know what the industry will be looking for next.

So if you think you could be the next Hairy Biker, Kim or Aggie, Handy Andy, Jamie Oliver, David Attenborough, Jo Frost, Tanya Bryon, Lawrence Llewellyn Bowen, etc, here’s what you have to do for your chance to win a year’s free membership on www.findaTVexpert.com.

Email the following to info@findatvexpert.com by 6.00pm on Monday, 27th of April, 2009:
1. A paragraph of no more than 100 words explaining who you are, what you do and why you’d be a great TV Expert.
2. A current photo and contact number (daytime & evening).
3. A copy of your CV (or similar) outlining your employment history and the training/qualifications that prove you’re an expert in your field of business.

The competition opens on Friday, 17th of April and closes at 6.00pm on Monday, 27th April 2009. Completed entries will go into a draw and one winner will be picked at random and announced here and on the findaTVexpert twitter page on Tuesday, 28th April 2009 – the start of findaTVexpert’s second year in business.

”If you’re an expert and you want to get on the industry’s radar, this is the competition for you,” says Richmond. “In the 12 months since findaTVexpert launched last year, experts with a wide range of skills have been found and booked for TV&Media interviews, screentests and appearances including Doctors of Clinical Psychology, Pharmacists, Personal Finance experts, Property Developers, Debt Doctors, Fashion Stylists, Stockbrokers, Career Strategists, Scientists, Historians, Online Shopping Experts, Horticulturalists, etc – and you could be next,” added Richmond.

Terms and conditions apply:
1. The competition opens on Friday, 17th April and closes at 6.00pm on Monday, 27th April 2009. Entries received after that time will not be considered.
2. To be eligible you must be an expert in your field of business with the skills, training and qualifications to prove it; over 18 and a UK resident. And you must not have any previous criminal convictions.
3. Proof of age and eligibility may be required.
4. By entering this competition you agree to comply with these terms and conditions and you agree that your entry may published in all media, adapted, in whole or in part at the Promoter’s sole discretion.
5. All eligible entries must be received via email and contain a paragraph of no more than 100 words explaining who you are, what you do and why you’d be a great TV Expert; a current photo & contact number and a CV (or similar) outlining your employment history and the training/qualifications that prove you’re an expert in your field of business.
6. All eligible entries will be entered into a draw on the 27th of April 2009 after the closing time. One winner will be picked at random and announced on the 28th of April on the findaTVexpert twitter page (http://twitter.com/findatvexpert) and the findaTVexpert blog
7. findaTVexpert bears no responsibility for entries which don’t make it into the draw because they’ve been blocked or identified as junk email, spam, etc.
8. findaTVexpert will not acknowledge receipt of any entry that is sent in.
9. Entries that fail to meet the eligibility criteria or otherwise fail to meet these terms and conditions will not be entered into the draw.
10. The prize is a year’s free membership on findaTVexpert.com, which gives experts the chance to create a searchable Profile & CV and be promoted to the TV industry.
11. The winner will have until the 15th of May to register their details on www.findaTVexpert.com. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the prize and findaTVexpert reserves the right to award the prize to the next eligible entry picked at random.
12. There is no alternative prize or cash equivalent and the prize is non-changeable and non-transferable.
13. The winner may be required to participate in publicity relating to the competition.

Britain's Got Experts - the results

2009-04-14T10:57:00.000-07:00

Broadcast is going to publish my 'article' in this week's issue, which is great news. Ok, so it's not the two page spread I was hoping for, but since they only asked me for 400 words that was never going to be the case anyway. My thoughts are going in as a Letter on the Comment page - but all publicity is good publicity, right? I'm being featured and more members of the media will register as a result, which will benefit the experts. I just know it!

Britain's Got Experts

2009-04-14T03:40:00.000-07:00

I've just sent Broadcast magazine my promised 400 words re Britain's Got Experts. I don't know what will happen next - if anything - but I said I'd do it, so I did. Dream outcome? I get featured in Broadcast, more members of the industry register on findaTVexpert and more experts get contacted and booked for interviews, screentests, etc. In other words, we all win!

Britain's Got (deluded) Talent - but is that a bad thing?

2009-04-13T03:16:00.001-07:00

I absolutely loved the start of Britain's Got Talent on Saturday - what a great show. But I can't decide whether to admire the deluded talent or question their state of mind. Articles in newspapers and glossy magazines are always encouraging us to 'give it a go', 'break out of our comfort zones' and 'go after our dreams'. President Obama is a big fan of the 'Yes We Can' club and Nike believes we should 'Just Do It'.

But should we? Really? Even when all the odds are against us? Even when we want to break the record held for the number of Ferrero Rocher chocolates eaten in a minute knowing we can't manage more than 5? (The record's 7, by the way.) Or when we want to be the next Fred Astaire even though we can't lift our feet off the ground?

I wouldn't have the courage to do what some of the talent did on Saturday (and would like to think my friends and family would prevent me from getting anywhere near an audition) but here's to all the people out there who throw caution to the wind and go ahead regardless. Because they enjoy it and as a viewer, so do we!

The pond is getting smaller

2009-04-07T03:05:00.000-07:00

Great to see that a casting director from RDF USA (a TV production company) has registered to search findaTVexpert.com. That's great news for the experts - and for the business.

Congrats to experts Nick McGregor & Richard Fenton

2009-04-06T07:03:00.000-07:00

I've just heard that two of the experts on findaTVexpert.com - Nick McGregor & Richard Fenton - are going to do some filming for C4's Property Ladder. That's great news for me, for them - and for the business!

The Moment of Truth!

2009-04-01T04:44:00.000-07:00

All the marketing & business books I've read highlight the importance of finding out what your customers think of your service, what they'd like to see more of, etc. So I've just sent out a survey to the TV&Media industry to find out what I'm doing right and how I can improve findaTVexpert in year two. I'll be surveying the experts next!

Congratulations to findaTVexpert's Nyokabi Musila

2009-03-30T02:46:00.000-07:00

Dr Musila was found on findaTVexpert and approached by a Mail on Sunday journalist regarding a feature on alternative medicine. To read article in yesterday's paper, click here.

Spring might not be in the air, but I've got a spring in my step!

2009-03-26T08:35:00.001-07:00

I'm feeling very chuffed today as I've finally had a breakthrough with Broadcast magazine. I've spoken to 3 different journalists over the last couple of months but to no avail. Today, however, I spoke to journalist no. 4 and he's asked me to write 400 words on one of the angles we discussed. This is very exciting because if I can get some coverage in Broadcast that will increase awareness of findaTVexpert among programme makers, which will benefit all the experts on the site. I'll keep you posted.

The best thing about running findaTVexpert

2009-03-20T02:47:00.000-07:00

No.1: Being able to spend the hour I'd normally spend commuting into work on a crowded, stressful tube doing some early morning pruning instead. What a perfect start to the day.

Congratulations to findaTVexpert's Nyokabi Musila

2009-03-19T03:20:00.000-07:00

Just heard that that Holistic Pharmacist Nyokabi was found on findaTVexpert and asked to contribute to an article on herbal tinctures in the Mail On Sunday. That's great news.

New TV Experts, New Members of the Media

2009-03-18T11:28:00.001-07:00

Sent out my weekly update to the industry featuring new experts today - barristers, food, property, etiquette experts, etc - and it's great to see that new members of the media have registered to search the site: a reporter from the Mail on Sunday, a producer from Nine Lives Media and an Asst Producer from Crackit Productions. Oh, and a features writer from Cosmpolitan registerd earlier this week as well. All great news for the experts. To see the update, use this link and click on today's date.

Press Release: Get rid of your wallet & energy vampires on the 20th of March says findaTVexpert.com

2009-03-16T03:55:00.000-07:00

The official end of Winter on the 20/21 March (and the release of a mock horror film) encourages us to spring into action and get rid of the vampires that are draining our life, our finances and our wellbeing. Luckily there’s no need for crucifixes, stakes or cloves of garlic, just some practical advice from the experts on findaTVexpert.com.

Energy Vampires
Rid your life of energy vampires: people or things that get you down. List all the things you’re putting up with - from the shoe mayhem at the bottom of the wardrobe to selfish friends - and work out how to fix them.
Carole Ann Rice, findaTVexpert’s Lifecoach & Journalist

Beware the Wallet Vampires that are feeding off your finances
Supermarkets spend a small fortune studying ways to get more money out of us. But you can save up to £520 a year by simply making a shopping list to help you avoid those impulsive & unnecessary purchases.
Richard Fenton, findaTVexpert’s Debt Doctor

Check your bank statements for unknown Standing Orders or redundant Direct Debits.
Tom Craig, findaTVexpert’s Organised Crime and Identity Fraud Expert

Make a diary note 5 weeks before your car & home insurance is due and shop around for the best deal.
Jackie Dunn, findaTVexpert’s IFA & Financial Life Coach

Tackle the Mental Vampires head on
There is a small module in your brain called the reticular activating system (RAS). Your RAS scans information from your surroundings and compares it to what you’re giving a lot of attention to. It assumes anything you’re thinking about a lot is stuff you want more of. That’s why if you get up in the morning in a bad mood it’s easy to attract situations and people that make it worse, because the more think about it, the more your RAS draws that to you. So change the way you think. Focus on what you want and believe you can get it.
Jessica Robbins, findaTVexpert’s Transformational Coach

Once you’ve decided what you want, eliminate the phrase ‘I can’t’ from your vocabulary and find an ‘accountability partner’. Making that commitment and being held accountable will help you focus on the outcome.
Cheryl Goldenberg, findaTVexpert’s Transition Coach

This is especially important in tough economic times. We need to be around people, both professionally and personally, who have a positive sense of self and purpose. So identify 5 things you can be proud of - things people can admire either personally or professionally - and remind yourself of them on a daily basis.
Sean Brickell, findaTVexpert’s Confidence Coach

”The vampire analogy is just a bit of fun, but the truth is there are people, places and things all around us that sap our energy, our lives and our finances”, says findaTVexpert founder Claire Richmond. “Luckily they’re very easy to get rid of”, adds Richmond.

Ends
For more information:
Claire Richmond
Claire@findatvexpert.com
020 8742 2541

Friday 13th is turning out to be a very lucky day!

2009-03-13T05:45:00.000-07:00

Just had another call from a production company wanting to speak to one of the experts. It would be to appear in a major prime time show. Beside myself with excitement on the expert's behalf.

Fingers Crossed!

2009-03-13T05:32:00.000-07:00

An Exec Producer from Talkback Thames wants to meet one of the experts featured in my weekly update to the industry, which is great news. I've also forwarded details of other experts from findaTVexpert who might be relevant. Fingers crossed!