About

Liberty Bell produces programmes primarily for UK broadcasters, predominantly for network terrestrial and cable/satellite markets. To date we have made programmes for BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four, ITV1, ITV2, Channel 4, More 4, Five, Sky Arts and Discovery.

We also sell programmes and formats in the growing world market, via Avalon Distribution.

Key Staff

Liberty Bell’s founder is Stuart Prebble. Stuart’s career as a programme maker spans a range from BBC news and documentaries through music and factual entertainment, to ITV’s World in Action of which he was first a Producer and then Editor. He went on to become Head of Factual programmes at Granada, and was appointed as ITV’s first Controller of Factual Programmes, - with responsibility for all news, current affairs, documentaries, features, daytime, arts and religion on the channel.

Stuart began his career as a BBC Graduate Journalist Trainee, and was an on and off-screen journalist for BBC News before moving to Granada. He produced 25 episodes of the award-winning World in Action series before being promoted to Editor. He was editor of World in Action when the series successfully campaigned for the acquittal and release of the Birmingham 6. The series was nominated for a BAFTA in his second year as editor.

As the first Controller of Network Factual programmes at ITV, Stuart launched the Network First series, which won the RTS award for Best Factual Series and was nominated by BAFTA in the same category. His programme commissions covered a range extending from news specials to Hollywood Women, from the South Bank Show to The Windsors.

Stuart was the founding CEO of Granada Sky Broadcasting, which launched a range of new TV channels on satellite and cable, and was valued at £100m within two years of launch. He was also Managing Director of Channels and New Media for Granada Media PLC, and CEO of ITV Digital which went into liquidation in 2002. He was appointed CEO of ITV where he was responsible to shareholders for Europe’s most successful commercial TV channel. He developed several new TV channels, including ITV2, which is now the third most-watched TV channel in UK multi-channel homes.

Stuart was one of the founders of Liberty Bell Productions. Publications include Grumpy Old Men, the Official Handbook; Grumpy Old Men, The Secret Diary; Grumpy Old Christmas and Grumpy Old Workers.

Judith Holder has already had a distinguished career in factual entertainment, having produced a string of highly popular peak-time programmes, including The Sound of Music Children Special, The Walton's and Miss World. She was also responsible for sending Joanna Lumley to a desert island (Girl Friday) Lenny Henry to the Amazon and Billy Connolly to the Artic. Judith was Executive Producer of Liberty Bell's production for BBC1 daytime, Stars Reunited and series producer of Victoria Wood's Big Fat Documentary. However she has found her perfect metier in producing Grumpy Old Women series which has now completed its third series for Liberty Bell, writing the accompanying books and co-writing (with Jenni Éclair) the highly-successful stage show. Judith has also produced a number of series for Liberty Bell including Its Grim Up North, Grumpy Old Women at Christmas, Grumpy Old Holidays, The Grumpy Guides to...., and Grumpy Old New Year for BBC2.

James Hunt was formerly Producer, Editor and Executive Producer of This Morning. James has been responsible for more than 3,000 hours of live television, and led This Morning to the RTS team of the year award and 2 National TV awards. During his time on This Morning he launched new talent such as Trinny and Susannah and Gary Rhodes. He gave a first TV chance to Robert Winston and Andrew Morton. He helped devise Loose Women and created Better Homes, Better Gardens and Antiques Auction for the same broadcaster. He was Controller of Daytime and Lifestyle for Granada and Director of Programming for Granada Sky Broadcasting. He was Series Producer on a BBC1 show for Liberty Bell called Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time, and Exec Producer of The Big Dig for BBC2 daytime. James was Executive Producer on the prestigious National Trust; National Treasures series for Artsworld which has been shot entirely on HD, and is currently producing The Book Show for Artsworld. On The Book Show Liberty Bell has continued its reputation of good studio casting and guest chemistry with our programmes featuring Booker winners Salman Rushdie and John Banville, Julian Barnes, John Mortimer, Lynne Truss and Chris Ryan.

Eamon T O Connor is an award winning producer/director; with more than 20 years experience making programmes for the British and International market. In 15 years with Granada Television's World in Action he produced more than 60 programmes, including a series of investigations about the Birmingham Six. In 1997 a two-part investigation into Shell in Nigeria won the Prince Albert Prize at Monaco. He has also worked for flagship current affairs series in Canada and Ireland. In 2002 while working for Granada USA and the New York Times he was awarded the Du Pont Golden Baton for a PBS Frontline programme on Islamic Terrorism. In 2003 an investigation into the attack on the World Trade Centre was nominated for an Emmy. He joined Liberty Bell in 2003, and has already made programmes for Five, Channel 4, ITV and the BBC. He has produced 'Why is there so much rubbish on TV?' for Channel 4, he produced and directed the documentary - 'Will I still love my mum?' for Channel 4, as well as the BBC4 documentary - Drama Documentaries - Imagining the Truth. Eamon has also series produced the successful “Don't Get me Started” for Five and “Am I Normal?” - a major documentary series for BBC2.

Judy Lewis (Senior Production Manager). Judy joined Liberty Bell in January 2003 after working at companies such as the BBC, Tiger Aspect, Scream Films. Judy works across a range of our programmes which have included: Heroes for Six Minutes, Grumpy Old Men Series 1, 2 and 3, GOM - Christmas Special, What I Wish I'd Known When I Was 20, For the Benefit of Mr Parris, World's Greatest Conspiracy Theories, What Makes Alastair Campbell Run? and Alastair Campbell Interviews, Will I Still Love My Mum?, Drama Documentaries - Imagining the truth, Don't get me Started series 1 and 2, Why We went to War, The Alastair Campbell Diaries, Portillo On Thatcher: The Lady's Not For Spurning and Am I Normal? for BBC2.

David Buckley is a former Commercial Manager, Production Manager and Programme Manager at Granada. Looked after the Production Management of This Morning, World in Action, Better Homes and Better Gardens, The Tonite Show with Richard and Judy and Granada Satellite channels. David has done several TV consultancy roles in the media over the last 4 years and was part of the consortium for the launch of Riverside Television Studios in 2002. Key member of the RTS Technology Award winning team and National Training Award winning team for Granada Sky Broadcasting in 98.