We are delighted to announce that we have appointed Ella Watts, executive producer, voice director and podcast expert to join our team in Gateshead to develop our audio content and output.

Following the success of our first podcast “The Newcastle Witches Podcast” in 2022 and our hit BBC Radio 4 sitcom “Tom and Lauren are Going OOT!” released last year, we want to continue developing original content and storytelling on radio and podcasting.

Audio is a big part of our business plans and we want to bring more audio productions, whether they are original or branded podcasts, radio shows or audio books, to our studios here in Gateshead. Hiring an executive producer is key to growing and expanding our offering in the audio space and Ella brings with her a proven track record in producing scripted comedy and drama. With an understanding of scripted audio storytelling, strong editorial skills and an in-depth understanding of the audio commissioning landscape, we are delighted to welcome Ella to the team.

Previously Ella worked as a podcast producer at BBC Studios, moving onto Six to Start, the company behind award-winning gaming app Zombies, Run! She then became Head of Production, leading on the company’s Marvel Move project in partnership with Marvel Comics.

As co-creator of BBC Sounds’ Doctor Who: Redacted, director and producer of Crowd Network’s Eliza: A Robot Story, and writer and director of Camlann: An Audio Drama, Ella has the credentials to support audio production growth in the region.

"I'm so thrilled to be working with Candle and Bell. It's a great feeling to get to work beside two women as experienced and skilled as Maria and Zahra, who are championing marginalised voices in the media industry and making great stories at the same time. This is exactly where I want to be and what I want to be doing." Ella Watts.