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Martin Kempton - CV I joined the BBC as a cameraman, working mostly on dramas and comedies.  After a few years I decided to transfer to the lighting department.  Following a short spell as a vision operator (racks) and then some time as a lighting vision supervisor (console operator) I was promoted to lighting director in 1990. From the early nineties I built my LD experience on a wide range of shows including EastEnders and Top of the Pops.  Since then I have tried to work on as many different kinds of production as possible - including dramas, comedies and entertainment shows whenever the opportunity arises.  I find the experience gained in one genre can be surprisingly useful when working in another. Over the years I have spent many months on location for single-camera dramas and sitcom inserts. These have included big exterior night shoots and all kinds of interiors, large and small. Comedy is a particular favourite of mine.  I have lit more than twenty-five sitcoms and several sketch shows to date.  My aim is to give the impression to the viewer that the production has been shot on location rather than in a multi-camera studio.  The methods I employ are more closely related to film techniques than traditional television ones.  Hopefully this translates to a more cinematic look on screen.  I have been lucky enough to receive three RTS nominations for my work lighting various sitcoms. As a contrast to comedy and drama, I enjoy lighting music and entertainment shows.  I lit more than fifty Top of the Pops and in 2005 and 2006 was LD on a few editions of Hit me Baby One More Time and The X-Factor.  By contrast, a year or two ago I worked on a more traditional music special starring Aled Jones for which I received a Bafta Cymru Award.  Gameshows, panel games and chat shows form a significant part of my schedule too.  I was very surprised (and of course quite pleased) to receive a nomination for one of the first 'Knight of Illumination' awards in 2008 for lighting Al Murray's Happy Hour. I regularly use automated lights such as Vari-lites and Macs on entertainment programmes of all kinds and I do my best to keep up to date with the ever increasing range of lighting fixtures currently available.  These include the many new LED lamps and digital media servers such as Catalyst and Hippotiser.   I left the BBC and became freelance in the summer of 2002.  Since then I have continued to work at Television Centre but have also lit many programmes at a number of other studios including Teddington, The London Studios, Fountain, Riverside, BBC Elstree, Elstree Film studios, Capital, BBC Cardiff, Studio 1 Cardiff, 3sixtymedia Manchester, Ealing, Shepperton and Pinewood.  I have also gained some OB experience lighting televised shows in theatres and other locations. Companies I have worked for include 12 Yard, Avalon, Baby Cow, BBC Entertainment, Big Bear Films, Brown Eyed Boy, Carlton, DLT Entertainment, Fox TV Studios, Granada Entertainment, Hartswood Films, Hat Trick, ITV Productions, Objective, Olga, Pozzitive, Phil McIntyre Television, Presentable, Shazam, Syco, TalkbackTHAMES, Tiger Aspect, Unique and Zeppotron.      further information... I have been lucky enough to be nominated for three RTS Craft and Design Awards and in 2006 I won a Bafta Cymru Award.  The Bafta was for an Aled Jones Christmas special.  (I was especially pleased to win this award as English Bafta do not have a 'best lighting director' category.)  The most recent RTS nomination was in 2004 for lighting the final series of Coupling and in 2003 I received a nomination for lighting I'm Alan Partridge.  In 1996 I was given an RTS nomination for my work on the Christmas edition of One Foot in the Grave - the only studio programme to receive a lighting nomination that year.  In 2008 I received a nomination for a new lighting award - the 'Knight of Illumination'.  (Don't blame me - I didn't make the name up.)  It was for Al Murray's Happy Hour and was in the Television Light Entertainment category.  Since the nomination and judging was by lighting professionals I was particularly pleased to receive this accolade from my peers. I particularly enjoy working in High Definition.  I have currently lit five comedy series and several pilots and one-offs in multi-camera HD at Teddington, TV Centre, Pinewood and TLS.  I am now very much aware of the perils and pitfalls! In the early nineties I was on the board of  film DoPs and television Lighting Directors who were responsible for creating the Skillset NVQ lighting standards for the British film and TV industries.  This gave me an invaluable insight into the experience and methods of some of the UK's top cinematographers, gaffers and LDs. In September 2002 I attended the BBC's 'safe working with cameras and lights on productions' course.  I am thus the proud owner of a 'BBC Production Skills Passport.'  This is now compulsory for all freelancers working on BBC drama, entertainment and childrens programmes.  I have attended several other courses over the years including the BBC's interactive safety course, a 'rigging and trussing' course, a 'scaffolding appreciation course' (no, really) and courses on risk assessment. I live west of London - a few miles outside the M25 - which may help if your company is trying to put together a crew that is not London based, for funding or 'quota' purposes. I own a number of  Chimeras, Dedolights, Encapsulites, gobos, reflectors and other gear that I have bought over the past few years.  Much of this equipment is difficult, relatively expensive or impossible to hire but I am happy to provide it to the production at a nominal charge. My other great interest is the theatre.  Whilst in my teens I spent a season with the National Youth Theatre.  As a student I studied drama for four years at King Alfred's, Winchester.  Despite spending most of my time in the college theatre, I somehow managed to leave with a degree.  For the past few years I have had little time for non-tv work but over a long period I must have lit over 100 plays, musicals and other events. examples of television work in recent years... comedy: programme and transmission date directors / producers year recorded In My Country (BBC Entertainment for BBC1 at TVC) - transmittable Simon Nye sitcom pilot with Omid Djalili, recorded in HD.  Series probably to be recorded in the spring of 2009 Tony Dow / Jane Berthoud, Kenton Allen 2008 Touch Me - I'm Karen Taylor (Avalon for BBC3 at Teddington) sketch show series 2 - TX summer 2008 Ben Kellett / Richard Grocock 2008 Not Going Out (Avalon for BBC1 at Teddington) award-winning Lee Mack sitcom series 1 and 2 and Christmas special recorded in HD - TX Oct/Nov 2006, Sep/Oct 2007 Nick Wood, Alex Hardcastle / Alex Hardcastle, Charlie Hanson, Richard Allen-Turner 2006, 2007 Grownups (BBC Entertainment for BBC3 at TVC) - series 2 TX summer 2007.  Sadly not available for series 3 Ben Kellett / Stephen McCrum 2007 To The Manor Born (BBC Entertainment for BBC1 at Pinewood) Christmas Special in HD - TX December 2007 Gareth Gwenlan / Justin Davies, Gareth Gwenlan, Jon Plowman 2007 The Green Green Grass (Shazam for BBC1 at Teddington and Pinewood) three series and Christmas specials recorded in HD - TX Sep/Oct/Dec 2005, Sep/Oct/Dec 2006, Oct/Nov/Dec 2007 Dewi Humphries, Tony Dow / Julian Meers, Henry Klejdys, Gareth Gwenlan 2005, 2006, 2007 Little Britain (BBC Entertainment for BBC1 at TVC) two Christmas specials - TX December 2006 Geoff Posner 2006 The Catherine Tate Christmas Show (Tiger Aspect for BBC1 at TVC) TX December 2005 Christine Gernon / Geoffrey Perkins 2005 Carrie and Barry (Hartswood Films for BBC1 at Teddington) series 1 & 2 - TX Sep/Oct 2004, autumn 2005 Martin Dennis / Sue Vertue 2004, 2005 As Time Goes By (DLT Entertainment/Theatre of Comedy for BBC1 at Teddington and on location) two 45 min specials - TX Christmas 2005 Sydney Lotterby / John Bartlett, Don Taffner Jnr 2005 The Vicar of Dibley (Tiger Aspect for BBC1 at Shepperton) two specials - TX Christmas Day 2004/new year's day 2005 Martin Dennis / Richard Curtis 2004 Coupling (Hartswood Films for BBC2 at Teddington) series 4 - TX summer 2004  RTS Craft and Design Award nomination for multicamera lighting, 2004 Martin Dennis / Sue Vertue 2004 French and Saunders Actually (BBC Entertainment for BBC1 at TVC) TX Christmas 2003 Nick Wood / Jo Sargent, Jon Plowman 2003 Hardware (Thames for ITV1 at Teddington) series 1 & 2 - TX March/April 2003, Spring 2004 Ben Kellett / Margot Gavan Duffy 2003 2 Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps musical special (BBC Entertainment for BBC3 at Ealing Studios) - TX Christmas 2003 Gareth Carrivick / Stephen McCrum 2003 I'm Alan Partridge (Talkback for BBC2 at TVC) series 2 - TX Nov/Dec 2002  RTS Craft and Design Award nomination for multicamera lighting, 2003. Tristram Shapeero / Armando Iannucci 2002 Only Fools and Horses (BBC at TVC) the final three specials - TX Christmas day 2001, 2002 and 2003 Tony Dow / Gareth Gwenlan 2001, 2002 French and Saunders' Celebrity Christmas Puddings (BBC at TVC) TX Christmas Day 2002 Tristram Shapeero / Jon Rolph, Jon Plowman 2002 Victoria Wood's Sketch Show Story (BBC at TVC) TX Spring 2001 John Birkin / Danny Dignan 2001 Mirrorball (BBC at TVC) 'Ab-Fab' spin-off special - TX Christmas 2000 Adrian Edmonson / Jon Plowman 2000 Hippies (Talkback/BBC at TVC) sitcom series by Linehan and Mathews with Simon Pegg & Sally Phillips - TX Spring 2000 Martin Dennis / Geoffrey Perkins 1999 One Foot in the Grave (BBC at TVC) Christmas day specials, 1995 & 1996.  RTS Craft and Design Award nomination for lighting, 1996 Susan Belbin 1995, 1996 entertainment: programme and transmission date directors / producers year recorded Al Murray's Happy Hour (Avalon for ITV1 at The London Studios) series 1 & 2; TX Jan - March 2007, Jan - April 2008 'Knight of Illumination Award' nomination for television light entertainment lighting 2008. Peter Orton / Robyn O'Brien, Nick Symons, Richard Allen-Turner 2007, 2008 I Own Britain's Best Home - final (Talkback-Thames for Five on location) TX May 2008 Stephen Taylor-Woodrow / John Comerford, Alex Menzies 2008 Harry Hill's TV Burp (Avalon for ITV1 at Teddington) multi award-winning series 1-8 - TX Nov/Dec 2002, Nov/Dec 2003, Feb/March 2004, Oct/Nov 2004, Jan-March 2006, Christmas special 2006, Jan-April 2007, Christmas special 2007, Jan-April 2008 Peter Orton / Spencer Millman, Nick Symons, Richard Allen-Turner 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 Who Dares Wins (12 Yard for BBC1 at TVC) series 1 and 2 of Saturday night gameshow - TX Nov-Dec 2007, Sep-Oct 2008 Geri Dowd / Andrew Musson, David Young 2007, 2008 In It To Win It (12 Yard for BBC1 at TVC) gameshow series 1-8 - 2002 original design, 2003 series, 2004, 2005 & 2006 original design and some recordings, 2007 series.  TX spring/summer 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, winter 2006, autumn 2007, Jan 2008. Geri Dowd, Nigel Saunders / Kate Middleditch, Andrew Musson, David Young 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Eggheads (12 Yard for BBC1/BBC2  at TVC and Elstree film studios) panel game series 1-9 - TX autumn 2003, autumn 2004, spring 2005, autumn 2005, spring 2006, autumn 2006, spring 2007, autumn 2007, spring 2008 Suzanne Pearse / Eileen Herlihy, Rob Dean, Andy Culpin, David Young 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Another Audience With Al Murray (ITV Productions for ITV1 at The London Studios) TX October 2007 Peter Orton / Robyn O'Brien, Rachel Ashdown 2007 The Omid Djalili Show (BBC Entertainment for BBC1 at TVC) sketch and standup series - TX Nov-Dec 2007 Michael Cumming / Alex Walsh-Taylor, Kenton Allen 2007 The Ornate Johnsons' Edwardian Spectacular (BBC Entertainment for BBC4) sketch show OB in Wilton's Music Hall - TX May 2007 Gareth Carrivick / Pete Thornton, Michelle Farr 2007 Edinburgh and Beyond (Avalon for Paramount Comedy on location in Bloomsbury Theatre) Single show, then three six-part series with Al Murray and various stand-up comedians - TX Feb 2005, autumn 2005, summer 2006, autumn 2007 Dominic Brigstocke, Peter Orton / Carla McGilchrist, Nick Symons, Richard Allen-Turner 2005, 2006, 2007 I Blame the Spice Girls (Zeppotron/Endemol for Five at TVC) comedy quiz show with Liza Tarbuck, Frankie Boyle and Johnny Vegas - TX March 2007 Geri Dowd / Rachel Ablett, Sam Pinnell 2007 TV Heaven, Telly Hell (Objective for C4 at The London Studios) Two series of comedy chatshow with Sean Lock - TX March/April 2006, July/August 2007 Lissa Evans / David Taylor, Richard Wilson, Jim Pullin 2005, 2006 It Started With Swap Shop (Unique for BBC1 at TV Centre) 2 hour special with Noel Edmonds and guests Richard Valentine / Fiona Clark, Mike Brosnan, David Sankey 2006 Little Britain Night (BBC Entertainment for BBC3 at Studio 1, Cardiff) Chatshow with Rob Bryden and cast of Little Britain - TX Christmas 2005 Geoff Posner 2005 Aled Jones Christmas Special (Presentable for S4C at Studio 1, Cardiff) music special with Aled Jones and guests - TX Christmas 2005.  Bafta Cymru Award for 'best lighting director' 2005 Sian G Williams / Chris Stuart 2005 An Audience With Al Murray (Granada for ITV1 at The London Studios) TX March 2005 Peter Orton / Nick Symons, Mark Wells 2005 The Great British Spelling Test (Granada for ITV1 at The London Studios) live interactive quiz - TX October 2004 Sue McMahon / Sean Miller, Nicholas Steinberg 2004 An Audience With Harry Hill (Granada for ITV1 at The London Studios) TX Oct 2004 Peter Orton / Nick Symons, Mark Wells 2004 Distraction (Talkback for C4 at TVC) Jimmy Carr comedy gameshow series 1 & 2 - TX autumn 2003, spring 2004 Pati Marr, Barbara Wiltshire / Simon London, Ruth Wrigley 2003, 2004 The Great British Driving Test (Carlton for ITV1 at The London Studios) live interactive quiz - TX Jan 2004 Sue McMahon / Iestin Williams, Mark Wells 2004 Shooting Stars (BBC at TVC) series 3 & 4 - TX Summer/Autumn 2001, Winter  2002/3 Richard Valentine / Lisa Clark 2001, 2002 Top of the Pops (BBC at Elstree and TVC) more than 50 editions Chris Cowey, Ric Blaxill / several directors 1990 - 2002 Live and Kicking (BBC at TVC) 3 months each year of the best Saturday morning show ever! various directors / Angela Sharp, Chris Bellinger 1996 - 2000 DVDs: DVD (all recorded as live shows in theatres) director year recorded Al Murray - Live at The Palladium (Avalon) Peter Orton 2007 Russell Howard Live (Avalon) Peter Orton 2007 Lee Mack - Live (Avalon) Paul Wheeler 2006 Harry Hill in 'Hooves' (Avalon) Peter Orton 2005 drama: programme directors / producers year recorded EastEnders (BBC at Elstree and on location) many blocks of several months each year during early and mid-nineties.   Then a few blocks each year up to 1999.  Several specials including two Christmases more than 20 directors / several producers including Diana Kyle, Leonard Lewis, Jane Fallon, Corinne Hollingworth 1991 - 1999 Grange Hill (BBC at Elstree and on location) DoP for single camera - studio and location - 2 blocks Geoff Feld, Paul Annett / Diana Kyle 1998 Accused (BBC on location) DoP for 8 part location drama Indra Bhose, Rob Evans, Jo Johnson, Gwennan Sage / Diana Kyle 1996 The Boot Street Band (BBC at TVC) 2 series of children's comedy drama written by Andrew Davies.  Yes, that Andrew Davies John Smith / Angela Beeching 1993, 1994   for a full list of all work in the past five years click here For a formal CV that will print on a single A4 sheet click here This page is formatted to print on A4 paper.  Simply right-click anywhere and select 'print' contact: phone - 01628 674980 fax - 01628 4174980 mobile - 07721 550285 email - mkempton@btinternet.com   return to top of page please note: The images shown on this website are taken from television programmes for which I was lighting director. It has not been possible to obtain formal permission for the use of all of the images on this website. I apologise sincerely if this causes any problem. If you were involved with one of these productions and wish a picture to be removed, please contact me and I will be happy to oblige.