Mindhouse names Coughlin Head of Popular Factual
October 7, 2021
Mindhouse Productions, the brainchild of film-makers, Louis Theroux, Arron Fellows and Nancy Strang, has appointed Barnaby Coughlin as its new Head of Popular Factual.
Coughlin, formerly Head of Factual Entertainment at Label 1, has been brought in to expand the popular factual and factual entertainment division.
Reporting directly to Mindhouse founders Louis Theroux, Arron Fellows and Nancy Strang, Coughlin will be responsible for developing a slate of popular documentaries, formats and talent led content. He will also co-executive produce the recently announced Amazon 90-minute documentary following YouTube sensation KSI, which has begun filming and will be released in 2022 .
At Label 1, Coughlin worked on a variety of projects including documentary series Sixteen: Class of 2021, and hit dating format Five Guys A Week both for Channel 4; as well as Inside Chelsea and Monkman and Seagull for BBC Two.
Previously Coughlin had worked at Twenty Twenty where he was executive producer on the BAFTA/Grierson winning First Dates and First Dates Hotel. Prior to that he worked on a number of high-profile documentary series including BBC Two’s Posh People: Inside Tatler, The Sound Of Musicals as well as Channel 4 formats The Audience and Seven Days.
Coughlin came up the ranks directing and running early series of The Apprentice, Popstars: The Rivals, Big Brother and Mary Queen of Charity Shops. Coughlin also has extensive experience working for US networks most notably on the first series of format Undercover Boss.
Mindhouse was founded by Fellows, Strang and Theroux to tackle thought-provoking and complex subjects in intelligent and entertaining ways. It has recently had success with the Grierson-nominated Gods of Snooker for BBC Two, which looked at the golden age of snooker in the ‘80s, as well as producing Theroux’s recent projects for the BBC including Shooting Joe Exotic, the four-part series Life On The Edge and the award-winning hit podcast Grounded With Louis Theroux. Other recent series include the four-parter The Bambers: Murder At The Farm for Sky Crime about the case of Jeremy Bamber, and Sex Actually with Alice Levine, a three-part documentary series for Channel 4.
Coming up, Mindhouse are producing Louis Theroux: Forbidden America, a three-part series for BBC Two and a new single for BBC One featuring health and fitness guru, Joe Wicks. In addition, they have a variety of projects in production that have yet to be announced including a feature-length documentary and a three-part series for a premium US platform.
Co-Founder and Director of Development, Nancy Strang, said: “Barnaby is an outstanding talent with great vision and a brilliant instinct for what makes entertaining television. He’ll be a crucial addition to Mindhouse and we’re excited that he’s joining us at such a pivotal time.”
Co-founder and Creative Director, Arron Fellows said: “Barnaby has a proven track-record of producing documentaries and factual-entertainment programmes with authenticity and humour and we can’t wait for him to join the team. We’re passionate about telling compelling stories in a variety of different ways and we’re excited to be working alongside him as we grow as a company.
Barnaby Coughlin said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Mindhouse at this exciting time and bringing all the wit, humour and curiosity already apparent in their existing shows to the factual entertainment space. Mindhouse has quickly gained a reputation for creativity and excellence and I’m looking forward to being part of such a high calibre and award-winning team.”
Coughlin takes up his new job effective immediately.