Sophie Leonard

Before founding Samphire Films with David, I was Creative Director at multi-award-winning Minnow Films.  During my time at the company, its turnover grew fivefold and I executive produced over 200 hours of primetime, premium factual television, winning business across an ambitious slate – terrestrial domestic channels, global streaming services, American networks and cable.

I love telling great stories across all genres, whether it’s a pop culture phenomenon, a knotty crime caper, a landmark documentary, a stranger-than-fiction jaw-dropping yarn or a new factual format.  From constructed factual series like Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test (Fox), SAS: Who Dares Wins and Celebrity Who Dares Wins (C4), Stacey Dooley’s DNA Family Secrets (BBC), Ibiza Dreams (BBC), talent fronted singles like Katie Price: Harvey & Me (BBC), Children Who Kill with Susanna Reid (ITV), Sue Perkins and the Chimp Sanctuary (BBC), Tom Allen’s Big Gay Wedding (BBC), and premium limited series, one-off docs and feature docs for both linear channels and streamers including Mother Teresa: For the Love Of God (Sky Documentaries), Little Richard: King and Queen of Rock n Roll (BBC), Picasso: The Beauty and The Beast (BBC), Manhunt (C4), Valley and Canny Cops (BBC), The Yorkshire Job Centre (C4), The Case of Sally Challen (BBC), Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies and Scandal (#1 on Netflix) and Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action (#1 on Netflix).

My aim is always to make programmes that add to the national conversation, that have purpose, that entertain, that reach a broad audience.

Creative Director