Wildflame expands factual offer with Nick Shearman hire

Former BBC commissioning editor Nick Shearman has joined Cardiff-based indie Wildflame Productions to expand the indie’s factual offering in the UK and international markets.

As a former BBC commissioning editor, Shearman’s credits include The London Markets, Bruce Parry’s Arctic and Nature’s Microworlds.

He has also worked at UK indies including Tiger Aspect, RDF and Keo, and as a freelance executive he produced the first series of The Supervet (Blast! Films/C4), John Bishop’s Australia (Lola/BBC1) and The Billion-Pound Hotel (Rize/C4).

Wildflame was launched almost three years ago as the UK production arm of Flame Media Group. Last March, it acquired Welsh indie as part of a move to pick up international co-productions.

Flame Media also operates a large production arm in Australia that specialises in food programming, and a factual distribution business, Flame Distribution.

Shearman said: “The Flame Group’s international business strategy combined with their commitment to new talent means there is real scope for growth both within Wales and well beyond.”

Paul Islwyn Thomas, Wildflame’s CEO, said: “Nick is an outstanding executive producer with commissioning experience at the highest level in the BBC and as a senior figure within the UK indie sector.”

Wildflame’s slate includes the upcoming BBC One Wales/BBC Two living history series The 1900 Island, where four families go back 100 years to try to make a living in a fishing community at the start of the 20th Century.