James Reed: all about business29 Des 2025

59. From rejection to £100m deals: The Netflix pitch that changed British TV | Andy Harries OBE

Building a career in television is one thing, but what does it really take to produce global hits like The Crown and Outlander while building and scaling a production empire?

In this episode of 'All About Business,' James speaks with Andy Harries, co-founder and CEO of Left Bank Pictures. Together they discuss Andy's 50-year journey from a promotion scriptwriter at Granada Television, to launching his own company, selling it to Sony, and navigating the streaming revolution.

Andy explains how being rejected at 26 became the fuel for his ambition, how his early documentary work took him around the world, and what he learned directing cultural icons including the Sex Pistols, Malcolm McLaren, and Truman Capote. The conversation dives into the business of creativity, including the high stakes Netflix pitch that led to a 100 million pound deal for The Crown, what global streamers look for when backing premium drama, and how British television has scaled to a global audience.

Andy also reflects on his transition into an executive chairman role, mentoring the next generation of talent, and why protecting British creativity and a strong BBC matters more than ever.

Timestamps

02:26 Journey through Granada

06:02 Transition to comedy and drama

09:34 The Queen and Prime Suspect

12:47 Founding Left Bank Pictures

39:35 Reaching out to Ken Braner

50:17 The Crown and Netflix partnership

01:04:35 Transitioning roles and future projects

Follow James Reed on LinkedIn

Find out more about Left Bank Picture and Andy Harris

All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more HERE

This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(90)

85. "We were £1.5M in debt": The turnaround strategy that could save your business | Zoe Paskin

Financial crises can hit any business- especially in today's economy. Selling might feel like the only option. But is it?What should founders do when things look bleak? How do you rebuild momentum, an...

29 Jun 51min

84. How to grow your business without losing control | David Palmer

Scaling a business seems like the obvious goal. But what if growth without the right strategy leads to losing control?In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with David Palmer, founder of ...

22 Jun 59min

83. Are you selling too early? The succession model most founders have never heard of | Victoria Stapleton

Thirty years of building a business without a board, without investors, and without ever wanting to sell, and it just keeps growing, there’s something to learn from that.In this episode of All About B...

15 Jun 58min

82. Start now. The sign your business idea is ready to build | Sahar Hashemi OBE

Most people think successful entrepreneurs spot brilliant ideas.Sahar Hashemi believes the opposite.In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with Sahar Hashemi, entrepreneur, author, and fo...

8 Jun 56min

81. How Gousto is taking on the ultra-processed food industry | Timo Boldt

60% of the UK diet is ultra-processed. And the food industry is manufacturing your addiction. So why is this public health crisis continuing in plain sight, and what it would actually take to change i...

1 Jun 53min

80. How a £5,000 workshop became a global luxury brand | Tom Faulkner

What does it take to build a luxury brand by accident and keep it thriving for 30 years without ever taking outside investment?In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with Tom Faulkner, aw...

25 Mai 1h 8min

79. What businesses should learn from museums about innovation | Elizabeth McKay

How can a major museum be run with the same entrepreneurial mindset as a high-growth business?In today's episode, James Reed speaks with Elizabeth McKay, Director and CEO of the London Transport Museu...

18 Mai 58min

78. The crisis facing UK retail and food businesses | Sarah Bradbury

Why are millions of jobs going unfilled in one of the UK’s biggest industries, while so many young people are struggling to find work?In this episode of all about business, James Reed speaks with Sara...

11 Mai 48min