Our team

Derek set up Wild Mercury in 2017, after eleven years as an Executive Producer at Kudos.

After a few years working in theatre, Derek joined the BBC as a script editor. As producer his first credits included Peter Bowker’s dramas THE KING AND US, as part of the series WAITING FOR THE WHISTLE (BBC3), and FLESH AND BLOOD (BAFTA nominated and RTS and Prix Europa winning) and Sally Wainwright’s SPARKHOUSE (both Red Productions for BBC1).

He was a producer at Granada from 2001-2005, where he developed and produced the multi award-winning serial SEX TRAFFIC written by Abi Morgan and directed by David Yates, for Channel 4. The drama won eight BAFTA Awards including Best Drama Serial as well as the Royal Television Society Award, Broadcast, Prix Italia and many other international awards.

Derek joined Kudos in 2005. He was Executive Producer on two seasons of the acclaimed Golden Globe® Award nominated and Emmy winning THE HOUR (BBC2/BBC America) written by Abi Morgan; two seasons of Harriet Braun’s cult hit LIP SERVICE (BBC3); the award-winning mini- series OCCUPATION (BBC1), written by Peter Bowker and directed by Nick Murphy, which won the BAFTA, FIPA, Prix Europa and Broadcasting Press Guild Awards for Best Miniseries; Abi Morgan’s TSUNAMI: THE AFTERMATH for BBC2 and HBO; and the comedy series PLUS ONE for Channel 4. In 2014 he was executive producer on Peter Bowker’s three part mini-series FROM THERE TO HERE (BBC1), and from 2015 Executive Producer on three seasons of HUMANS for Channel 4 and AMC, which became Channel 4’s highest rated original drama in 23 years. He also developed and Executive Produced CAPITAL, a 3 part mini-series, adapted by Peter Bowker for BBC1 from John Lanchester’s novel, which in 2016 won the International Emmy Award in New York for Best Mini Series.

Wild Mercury’s first two dramas are TROY: FALL OF A CITY, and HUMANS SERIES 3, both in association with Kudos. Current projects include THE RIG, for Amazon UK, and THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT for BBC One.

After starting her career in-house at Kudos Film & TV, Frances worked as a freelance Script Editor on shows including THE PRISONER (AMC/ITV), M.I. HIGH (CBBC), COMING UP (C4) and NEW TRICK (BBC1).

She was a Development Producer at Wall to Wall for several years, working across a slate of projects including THE SCANDALOUS LADY W for BBC2, before becoming Head of Development for Big Light Productions in 2017.

Frances’ production credits also include SPOTLESS (Canal+), CRIMINAL (Netflix) and DOMINA (Sky Italia), on which she worked as Associate Producer for Fifty Fathoms. She joined Wild Mercury as Head of Development in February 2021.

After graduating Goldsmiths University with a degree in Music, Jess worked as a Researcher on a documentary for Channel 4. She then worked as a Development Coordinator and Production Coordinator for Left Bank Pictures before joining Wild Mercury in 2021 as a Script Editor, working on THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT (BBC ONE) and THE RIG S2 (AMAZON). Jess is currently a Development Executive for Wild Mercury, working closely with the team to build a slate of bold and exciting projects.

Jessica joined Wild Mercury Productions in August 2018 after being a runner at Kudos for two months. She has a degree in Criminology from Nottingham Trent University.

Before working at Wild Mercury, Jessica was the venue supervisor for Bush Hall Music. This is where she realised her love for working in the creative industry. Jess is currently Production Assistant for Wild Mercury and Assistant to Managing Director, Derek Wax.