Jessica Symons is Managing Director of Ivy House Productions

The former Head of Children’s at Channel 5, Jessica was responsible for the channel’s acclaimed Milkshake! preschool strand, and under her leadership, Milkshake! achieved its highest viewing figures on record, including its best ever share of children’s viewing in 2015.

During Jessica’s 10 years at the channel she developed, commissioned and acquired hundreds of hours of children’s programmes, as well as producing, writing and directing many in-house shows. She created a number of successful live musical events, launched the popular monthly Milkshake! Magazine and also developed innovative digital products including the Milkshake! VOD app on Youview.

Jessica has a degree in drama from Middlesex University and an MA in television production from Falmouth College of Art where she gained a distinction and a scholarship to produce a documentary in India.  Before joining Channel 5, Jessica worked in theatre management, as a script supervisor on feature films and in television production. She has also worked in education teaching drama and English.

Nick Wilson is Creative Advisor at Ivy House Productions.

He is one of the world’s most experienced children’s TV executives.  He began his work in Children’s Television at the BBC in 1974, first directing and producing Playschool, then creating Chock a Block and Bric a Brac for the See Saw strand before producing and directing Saturday Superstore. From 1984 -88 Nick was Editor of Children’s Programmes at TVam where he created the Wide Awake Club and Wacaday. Nick also worked as Editor of Children’s and Youth Programmes at Granada Television supervising early series of Children’s Ward and Josie Smith. He commissioned and excecutive produced Keith Allen and Danny Peacock’s highly innovative Children’s Comedy; Jackson Pace.

He was a founding partner in the independent production company, Clear Idea Television, responsible for devising and producing programmes for clients including TVAM, Granada Television, Central Television, BSkyB, Nickelodeon and the BBC.  In this role, he managed the production of up to 300 hours of broadcast television a year. From 1992 -1994, Nick held the post of Director of Programmes at The Children’s Channel and was responsible for acquisition, production and scheduling of the channel’s output.

Nick joined Channel 5 in 1996 as Controller of Children’s Programmes, and here he created and developed the highly successful preschool brand Milkshake! as well as the older children’s strand; Shake. At Channel 5, Nick commissioned a number of high profile children’s programmes including Peppa Pig, Noddy in Toyland, The Mr Men Show, Fifi and the Flowertots, Roary the Racing Car and Little Princess.

Nick set up on his own as a Children’s Media Consultant, Writer, and Producer in 2010 and  in the past 6 years has Executive Produced, developed, scripted-edited and written numerous children’s series, and is currently Executive Producer and Script Editor on Pip Ahoy, Winnie and Wilbur and Milkshake Monkey; Script Editor on Italian/Japanese co production Mofy, Executive Producer on Our Family for CBeebies, Co Head Writer on Shane the Chef and Script Editor on Series 2 of Toby’s Traveling Circus.

Kelly Rose recently production managed Milkshake! Festive Fun for Ivy House Productions, which will be broadcast on Channel 5 in December 2016.

Kelly Rose has production managed a number of programmes and live events for Milkshake! and for the Channel 5 Creative Department as well as production managing promotional videos, and big brand commercials.

A former children’s performer and presenter,  Kelly Rose starred in ‘A Milkshake! Adventure’ and also performed in ‘Milkshake! Come out to Play’ as well as ‘Bop, Rock and Bop!’ At Glastonbury Festival.

Kelly Rose worked as Company Manager for ‘Milkshake! Live’ and has extensive experience in children’s television production including researching, coordinating, and gallery PA duties for both studio recordings and live broadcasts.

Kelly Rose has a BA in Musical Theatre from The Arts Educational School, and is a trained  and experienced dancer and singer.

Beth started her career in Television as a presenter on Channel 5’s Milkshake!

She enjoyed 7 1/2 years as one of the main presenting team, performing in numerous theatre tours, presenting several series of BAFTA nominated ‘The Milkshake show’, Animal families, Milkshake Bop Box and providing voices for various animations.

Beth moved into Production in 2010, as Associate producer at Milkshake! before moving to Factory Create, as Production Manager on CBBC’s Strange Hill High.

She is currently production manager on Channel 5’s Winnie and Wilbur.

Happy Tent Tales is Beth’s first project for Ivy House Productions.

Beth has a BA Hons degrees in Dance studies from University of Surey, Roehampton, and is a proud Mum to two small and enthusiastic television fans.