User:Badangela/draft article on oliver clark

Oliver Clark (born 3 May 1974) is a British film maker. His work has included numerous TV projects, most notably Coast, 4 series with the Hairy Bikers and the hardy perennial Gardeners’ World. He is now working with artists, musicians and theatre-makers on both broadcast and non-broadcast media projects.

Early life and education Clark was born in Crouch End in North London, educated at Fortismere School and at the University of Birmingham where he studied Civil Engineering.

Television After graduation Clark returned to London. He worked on a number of TV projects including stints on the Really Useful Show with Esther McVey. He also briefly shared an office with Heather Mills. At the same time he (along with university friend Leon Campbell) presented on Nickelodeon UK.

After leaving Nickelodeon Clark moved back to Birmingham to work at the BBC’s Pebble Mill Studios. He worked on numerous shows including Real Rooms, Style Challenge and on Sophie Grigson’s first shows for the BBC (Sophie’s Herbs 1999, and Sophie’s Sunshine Food, 2000)

Clark’s directorial debut came on the second series of That Gay Show (2001) presented by a number of people including Kristian Digby and Scott Capurro. Following that he directed a number of high profile BBC factual series including The Flying Gardener and Gardeners’ World.

In 2005 Clark was selected as lead director for the BBC’s new factual series Coast, presented by Nicholas Crane, Neil Oliver, Alice Roberts, Miranda Kresovnikov and Mark Horton. After directing the pilot episode, Clark went on to make two shows in the first series (Episode 1 Dover to Exmouth & Episode 10, Berwick to Whitby) and one each in the second and third series.

After the success on Coast Clark went on to direct the Hairy Bikers on their first in house BBC series (The Hairy Bakers), before becoming their series producer for both Mums Know Best (series 1 & 2) and Bakeation.

In addition to his work for the BBC Clark has also worked on Channel 5’s The Gadget Show.

Film/Other Media While making TV with the BBC and Channel 5 Clark was also making short films with a number of artists including Michael Wolters and Marcus Dross. The films include Kathryn und Peter Durchqueren die Antarktis (2003), Das Ende des Golfstroms (2006) and Sing Sing (2008).

Clark is now working on a number of different projects, including film work for Birmingham based theatre group Stan’s Cafe and pop/folk group Big Tent and the Gypsy Lantern, development of a musical feature film and teaching at the Birmingham Conservatoire