Jimmy Mulville knows what it takes to produce high quality creative comedy television. How does he handle the day-to-day of being an executive? Mulville says having a sense of humour helps. Be able to laugh at yourself and try new things with grace and understanding massively aids business cohesion and creativity.
Jimmy Mulville is a BAFTA award winning producer and the Co-Founder of Hat Trick Productions. He is responsible for some of television’s most punchline packed programmes such as Derry Girls, Father Ted, Whose Line is it Anyway?, and Have I got News for You. In addition to his life as an executive, Mulville has spent time in front of the camera and on the comedy stage. If there is one thing Jimmy understands, it’s how to use humour to bring people together.
“The great thing about comedy is it connects you to people.”
Mulville knows that humour has a way of bringing the best out of people. From political figures to comedy greats, his programmes have been a stage for some of the nation’s most popular performers. Mulville knows that good leadership and laughter go hand in hand. When you lead with lightness, creative minds feel comfortable collaborating.
Mulville knows that comedy does more than connect people. It helps everyone get through difficult times. When Mulville helps produce a show filled with humour, he tries to give hope to audiences everywhere.
“We survive by using humour more than by invoking the tragic aspect of our lives.”
You can find out lots more about the astonishing slate of hit TV programmes Hat Trick Productions produces here: https://www.hattrick.co.uk
You can find out more about Jimmy’s social enterprise/charity Classics For All here: http://classicsforall.org.uk
It was established to help in restoring classics to state schools. Barriers include a shortage of qualified teachers, a crowded curriculum and the enduring myth that classics is only for a privileged few. It aims to raise the aspirations and build the cultural capital of young people from all backgrounds by teaching them about the ancient world.
Jimmy was one of the founders of Hat Trick Productions in 1986 and since then has seen it grow into one of the country’s leading producers of comedy, drama and entertainment, regularly bringing to the screen distinctive and hugely popular series, including ‘Derry Girls’, ‘Father Ted’, ‘Outnumbered’, ‘Drop Dead Gorgeous’, ‘Fonejacker’, ‘Room 101’, ‘The Kumars at No 42’, ‘Drop The Dead Donkey’, ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’ ‘Mastermind’ and ‘Worst Week of My Life’ and of course, ‘Have I Got News For You’ which Jimmy created in 1990.
In the US Hat Trick launched ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway’ in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the very first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer.
In 1999 he received the BAFTA Award for Outstanding Creative Contribution to Television. Jimmy is a Fellow of the Royal Television Society and recently received an honorary doctorate from the University of Liverpool. Before moving to television in 1982, he produced for BBC Radio, where he developed and produced the award-winning Radio Active.
For almost 30 years Jimmy has been working with some of the best writers, producers, performers and crew – not to mention a superb back-up team – who in turn attract the best on-screen talent. Hat Trick remains at the forefront of the creation of new television. Some of the biggest and brightest names in British television began their careers and continue to build them under the Hat Trick brand.
Jimmy is the final guest for series three and we could not be prouder of the podcast so far. Our audience has grown massively and that is thanks to everyone who takes the time to learn more about business, humour, and life with us here at The Humourology Podcast.
Our summer is filled with tons of amazing international guests that will provide a worldly view on laughter and leadership in series 4 of The Humourology Podcast.
The Humourology Book is coming in September and promises to provide all of the poignant and though-provoking business points inspired by the first three series of The Humourology Podcast.
See you September.
Warmest,
Paul x
