Page title Name
Tom Cholmondeley
Producer/Director, Director
United Kingdom

Tom's Biography

  • BAFTA nominated and RTS award-winning producer/director.
  • From MIKHAIL GORBACHEV to PAUL MERTON - VISUAL DYNAMITE
  • Huge experience with BBC2, BBC4, CHANNEL 4, FIVE and NAT GEO.
  • Stylish, innovative and visually imaginative.
  • Experienced in politics, current affairs, science and comedy.
  • Critically acclaimed specialist factual directing
  • BBC trained from Newsnight to Horizon
  • Talented at weaving complex narratives
  • Adaptable to budgets from macro to micro
  • Calm with presenters both new and highly experienced
  • Fast yet organised, calm under pressure
  • Wide location experience shooting in USA, Russia and Europe
  • Skilled at winning difficult access
  • Hard working, tenacious and fastidious
  • Trained scientist with many years in the BBC Science department
  • Proficient self-shooter on DSR 570, Sony Z1 and my own Z7.

Credits

David Suchet on Sid Field - Last of the Music Hall Heroes - Mentorn Media , United Kingdom
2010 - Producer/Director
BBC4 60 minutes
David Suchet explores the amazing lost story of comedian Sid Field.

In wartime Sid was one of Briton's most popular comics with fans including General Eisenhower, Laurence Olivier and Bob Hope. But, today he is almost unknown.
This is one of David Suchet's first presenting roles and combines his acting brilliance with interviews with Eric Sykes, Paul Merton and Nicholas Parsons.
Tx late 2010

Chemistry - A Volatile History - BBC Science , United Kingdom
2010 - Producer/Director
18 March 2010 - BBC4 - 60 minutes
- Episode 3 - The Power of the Elements

2010 BAFTA Nominated (Specialist Factual)

Jim Al-Khalili delves into the untold history of the chemical elements and how they have changed our world.

Chemistry as you've never seen it before with a visual feast with explosions, fire and high-speed camera work.
Reviewers say -

"Jim Al Khalili's previous films were merely warm ups for this fascinating three-parter." The Times

"A treble period of chemistry is a daunting prospect for many...but Prof Jim Al- Khalili's three part series proves surprisingly effervescent." Sunday Times

"A gripping three part chemistry class" - The Guardian

"[the] always engaging Jim Al- Khalili" - Saturday Telegraph

[Kim Shillinglaw said] One of her proudest moments came recently when Chemistry: A Volatile History, a BBC4 show fronted by Jim Al-Khalili, a science professor, pulled a six-figure audience and outperformed every other show outside of the terrestrial channels, even beating an ITV2 programme about Katie Price.

Worlds of Fantasy - Blast Films for BBC4 , United Kingdom
2008 - Director
The Epic Imagination tx 5th March 2008 - A BBC2/4 series stepping into the mysterious wild world of fantasy literature from Middle Earth to Gormenghast.
"It's barnstorming stuff - this is how it's done..."
Time Out
"BBC4 at its best - this is just beautiful television."
The Scotsman

PAUL MERTON'S SILENT CLOWNS - BBC (Bristol) , United Kingdom
2007 - Producer/Director
WINNER of RTS regional Awards 2007 - Best Network Documentary Series
Finalist in TELEVISUAL Awards 2007 - Best Documentary Series
Finalist in BROADCAST Awards 2007 - Best Documentary Series

"This was an exemplary hour which unpicked Keaton's genius without dismantling it, which explained without fuss and which enthused without causing embarrassment."
Daily Telegraph

"I wasn't particularly looking forward to the first edition of Paul Merton's Silent Clowns. By the end of the show I was blown away."
Charlie Brooker - The Guardian

"Merton managed to slip extraordinary facts into his narration in a way that was simultaneously scholarly, passionate, inspiring and funny and he's convinced me I ought to watch the entire series..."
Victor Lewis-Smith - Evening Standard

The most popular factual programme in the history of BBC4


- - Vera , United Kingdom
2007 - Development Producer
I worked on a range of current affairs and original documentary ideas.

Paul Merton's Silent Clowns - Charlie Chaplin - BBC (Bristol) , United Kingdom
2006 - Producer/Director
In a visual exciting programme we track Charlie Chaplin's life from Lambeth to The Ritz. We draw Paul's passion for his subject out through interviews with Chaplin fans like comedian Sanjeev Bhaskar and mime artist Marcel Marceau. The programme's backbone is a three camera as-live masterclass with Paul Merton in front of a audience of 250 people.

Time Shift - Machine Men - BBC (Bristol) , United Kingdom
2006 - Producer/Director
To coincide with the 40th anniversary of Doctor Who's Cybermen this programme shows the rollercoaster fortunes of robots, androids and cyborgs in fact and fantasy. Narrated by Daisy Donovan.

Big Ideas That Changed the World - Mentorn Barraclough Carey , United Kingdom
2005 - Producer/Director
PRESENTED BY MIKHAIL GORBACHEV

A unique programme for FIVE with former President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev presenting his own history of communism.
I interviewed Gorbachev as well as self-shooting most of the visuals on location around Moscow with a PD170. It was a very tight budget and tight deadline. I had less than two weeks to produce a script in Russian based on Gorbachev's beliefs on communism and set-up the interview and filming in Moscow.
"It's a thrilling, not-to-be-missed opportunity to listen to Gorbachev at length. There's real emotion as he recalls how events affected him and his family."
Radio Times

"Wonderful, wonderful stuff."
Alkarim Jivani - BBC Radio 4 - Front Row

"With Gorbachev's commentary matched seamlessly to archive film and pictures, this was the model of what an illustrated lecture should look and sound like."
Andrew Billen - New Statesman

"It was fascinating to hear Gorbachev's memoir.As a glimpse into Gorbachev's private turmoil during the death throes of Soviet Communism it was intriguing. And often poignant:.."
Joe Joseph - The Times

"Mikhail Gorbachev speaks candidly and emotionally [in an] evocative and enlightening programme."
Guardian

"a fascinating programme"
James Walton- Daily Telegraph

"Truly gripping stuff"
Sunday Independent

1 x 45 tx 31st May 2005

The Riddle of Einstein's Brain - Icon Films for Channel 4/ National Geographic , United Kingdom
2004 - Producer/Director
Two scientists set out to hunt down the scientific relic of the 20th century - Albert Einstein's brain.
Can the remains of Einstein's brain give up secrets to his genius?
A wild road-movie, a battle of brain science and a bizarre detective story.It included complex drama reconstruction and had real visual dynamism.

"Definitely one to watch...This film is possibly the most unusual programme of the many produced to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Einstein's theory of special relativity " Focus Magazine

"A cracker," The Times

"Very interesting and very more-ish and a surprisingly entertaining documentary," Daily Telegraph

1 x 50 tx 17th Jan 2005

Diagnosing Darwin - Icon Films for National Geographic , United Kingdom
2003 - Director
Hunting the cause of Charles Darwin's terrible 30-year illness by forensic testing of his organic remains over a century after his death.
Finalist at the Living Europe Science and Nature Film Festival Dec 2003

Presented by Dr Rob McCall 1 x 50

Loyalty - - , United Kingdom
2002 - Writer
Writing own novel

Secrets of the Palace - Dual Purpose Productions for Channel 4 , United Kingdom
2002 - Assistant Producer
An in-depth analysis of the true costs and benefits of the British Monarchy

Secrets of the Solar System - BBC Science Department , United Kingdom
2001 - Producer/Director
6 x 10
Untold stories on astronomy narrated by Tom Baker

Moments of Genius - BBC , United Kingdom
2000 - Producer/Director
3 x 10 minutes
Three wild scientific tales presented by Dr Luca Turin

Constant Craving - BBC , United Kingdom
2000 - Assistant Producer
The science of addiction.
Producer Andrew Thompson
Winner of 2001 GlaxoSmithKline Science Writers' Award
- Best Science Documentary

Horizon - BBC , United Kingdom
1999 - Assistant Producer
- Sudden Death
One man¿s spurious cot death theory let a woman get away with multiple murder.
Winner of 1999 Royal Television Society Best Documentary Strand

Science at War - BBC , United Kingdom
1998 - Assistant Producer
"Full Spectrum Dominance" - Examining America¿s military scientists¿ aim - to win any war, anywhere

Horizon - BBC , United Kingdom
1998 - Assistant Producer
Gulf War Jigsaw ¿ The secrets behind Gulf War Syndrome

Horizon - BBC , United Kingdom
1997 - Researcher
Dawn of the Clone Age- Exclusive access to the team who cloned Dolly
Nominated for 1998 Glaxo-Welcome Science Writers¿ Award
Nominated for 1998 Royal Television Society - Best Science Documentary

BBC Newsnight - BBC , United Kingdom
1997 - Researcher
Election coverage from January to May

Arming the Admirals - Martyn Gregory FIlms for Channel 4 Dispatches , United Kingdom
1996 - Researcher
Nominated for RTS Best Foreign Documentary

Employment History

See my attached CV for a full list of my work and television history across 12 years.

Education

University of Reading
Pathobiology (study of disease)
BSc.Hons 2:2


Highbury College, Portsmouth
National Council for Training of Journalists

A Level - Zoology (B) Chemistry (C) and Physics (C)

10 O and AO levels

Industry Qualifications

National Council for the Training of Journalists (Highbury College)
90 wpm shorthand. Media law

Technical Equipment

Self Shooting experience
I have had several hours of my own self-shot DV camerawork broadcast on national terrestrial television.

I am a confident and experienced cameraman with many types of DV camera from PD150/170 to Z1 through to DSR570.

AVID experience
I am a proficient editor to rough cut stage of a film with experience mainly on Adobe Premiere and AVID and recently Final Cut Pro.

Affiliations

BECTU
Directors UK
Association of British Science Writers

Referees

HANNAH WYATT|
Exec Producer, David Suchet on Sid Field - last of the music hall heroes
hwyatt@mentorn.tv
0207 258 6700


KATE BROOME
Series Producer, BBC Paul Merton's Silent Clowns
Kate.broome@bbc.co.uk
0117 973 2211

MICHAEL POOLE,
Exec Producer BBC Paul Merton's Silent Clowns and Timeshift
michael.poole@bbc.co.uk
0117 973 2211


Industry Awards

Latest Awards

PAUL MERTON'S SILENT CLOWNS
Royal Television Society West of England Award -
Best Network Documentary 2006

Finalist in the Broadcast Magazine Awards 2007
Best Documentary Series - based on my Buster Keaton film.

Finalist in the Televisual Magazine Awards 2007
Best Documentary Series - based on my Busker Keaton film

DIAGNOSING DARWIN
Finalist at the Living Europe Science and Nature Film Festival Dec 2003

CONSTANT CRAVING - BBC2

Association of British Science Writers Award  - Best Science TV Programme 2001
US PRISM AWARD 2001 - Best TV Documentary

HORIZON
Royal Television Society Best Documentary Strand - 1999

Nominations
HORIZON - Gulf War Jigsaw
1998 Glaxo-Welcome - Best Science Documentary

On Her Majestys Secret Service
(Undercover investigation of MI6)
Royal Television Society
Channel 4 Dispatches
Best Foreign Documentary

Skills

BBC2/4 The Worlds of Fantasy
"It's barnstorming stuff - this is how it's done..."
Time Out

"The Worlds of Fantasy is BBC4 at its best - this is just beautiful television."
The Scotsman

BBC2/4 Paul Mertons Silent Clowns
The most popular factual programme in the history of BBC4

"This was an exemplary hour which unpicked Keatons genius without dismantling it, which explained without fuss and which enthused without causing embarrassment."
Daily Telegraph

"I wasn't particularly looking forward to the first edition of Paul Mertons Silent Clowns?By the end of the show I was blown away."
Charlie Brooker - The Guardian

"Merton managed to slip extraordinary facts into his narration in a way that was simultaneously scholarly, passionate, inspiring and funny and hes convinced me I ought to watch the entire series..."
Victor Lewis-Smith - Evening Standard

Big Ideas that Changed the World - Five
Presented by Mikhail Gorbachev


"It's a thrilling, not-to-be-missed opportunity to listen to Gorbachev at length. There's real emotion as he recalls how events affected him and his family."
Radio Times

"Wonderful, wonderful stuff."
Alkarim Jivani - BBC Radio 4 - Front Row

"With Gorbachev's commentary matched seamlessly to archive film and pictures, this was the model of what an illustrated lecture should look and sound like."
Andrew Billen - New Statesman

"It was fascinating to hear Gorbachev's memoir.As a glimpse into Gorbachev's private turmoil during the death throes of Soviet Communism it was intriguing. And often poignant:.."
Joe Joseph - The Times

"Mikhail Gorbachev speaks candidly and emotionally [in an] evocative and enlightening programme."
Guardian

"[The] stories are moving and chilling"
Mark Lawson - The Guardian

"a fascinating programme"
James Walton- Daily Telegraph

"Gripping stuff"
Sunday Independent


The Riddle of Einsteins Brain Channel 4
"This film is possibly the most unusual programme of the many produced to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Einsteins theory of special relativity " Focus Magazine

"A cracker," The Times

"Very interesting and very more-ish and a surprisingly entertaining documentary," Daily Telegraph


Science politics comedy documentary long-form authored presenter high-profile current affairs investigative award-winning RTS biology fantasy arts political historical history drama reconstruction self-shot

Additional Information

Industries

  • Corporate, 
  • Film, 
  • TV

Programme Types

  • Arts, 
  • Biography, 
  • Comedy, 
  • Corporate, 
  • Current Affairs, 
  • Development, 
  • Documentary, 
  • Drama Reconstruction, 
  • Dramatised Documentary, 
  • Education, 
  • Health, 
  • Historical Documentary, 
  • Investigative, 
  • Music, 
  • Natural History, 
  • News, 
  • Observational Documentary, 
  • Science, 
  • Science Fiction, 
  • Social Action, 
  • Travel

Organizations

  • BECTU

Specialisms

  • Africa, 
  • Archaeology, 
  • Arts, 
  • Biology, 
  • Business, 
  • Cinema/Film, 
  • Comedy, 
  • Corporate Films, 
  • Current Affairs, 
  • Digi Beta, 
  • Diving, 
  • Drama, 
  • Drugs, 
  • Ecology, 
  • Education, 
  • Environment, 
  • Final Cut Pro, 
  • Finance, 
  • Genetics, 
  • Geography, 
  • Health, 
  • Heritage, 
  • History, 
  • Human Rights, 
  • International Affairs, 
  • Journalism, 
  • Literature, 
  • Location Filming, 
  • Medicine, 
  • Middle East, 
  • Mountaineering, 
  • Music, 
  • News & Current Affairs, 
  • Parenting, 
  • People Finding, 
  • Philosophy, 
  • Politics, 
  • Popular Culture, 
  • Programme Development, 
  • Science, 
  • Social Anthropology, 
  • Social Issues, 
  • South Africa, 
  • Technology, 
  • Travel, 
  • Undercover Investigation, 
  • Wildlife, 
  • Writing, 
  • Zoology

Languages

  • Spanish

Permits

  • USA

Licenses

  • Basic Driving (PLG), 
  • PADI Diving licence