Ep 42: Director of On-Screen Talent, Micky Van Praagh - Who Casts TV's Biggest Stars?

From Love Island, I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and Celebrity Sabotage to University Challenge and even Countdown, have you ever wondered who decides which presenters, judges and celebrities make it onto our screens? Ashley Golder sits down with Micky Van Praagh, Director of On-Screen Talent at Lifted Entertainment - a role that even her closest friends struggle to define. Micky demystifies the hidden world of TV talent, revealing how major entertainment shows are cast, how talent deals are negotiated, and why building trust with presenters, celebrities and agents is every bit as important as finding the right person for the job. From nurturing emerging talent to handling difficult conversations and assembling casts that millions of viewers will watch, this is a fascinating look at one of television's least understood roles. In This Episode: What a Director of On-Screen Talent actually does How major entertainment shows are cast Negotiating talent deals and contracts Building ensemble casts for shows like I'm A Celebrity Working with agents, managers and production teams Finding and developing the next generation of TV talent Handling difficult conversations and managing expectations Casting controversial personalities and balancing public reaction Why trust and relationships are essential in television The reality of working behind the scenes on some of the UK's biggest shows This Episode is Sponsored by: RIMMS - https://www.rimms.tv Linkline - https://linklinecrew.com 📸 Follow TV Makers on Instagram: @tvmakerspod 📧 Get in touch: podcast@tvmakers.co.uk 🎧 Enjoying the podcast? Follow or subscribe to TV Makers so new episodes automatically land in your feed. If you've enjoyed this conversation, please consider leaving a rating or review - it really helps more people discover the show. The full TV Makers back catalogue is available wherever you listen to your podcasts. Recorded by Ashley Golder - https://ashleygolder.tv/ Instagram @tvmakerspod Email: Podcast@tvmakers.co.uk Artwork by Benjamin Leon - Instagram: @benleondraws Website: www.benleondraws.com