Liberty Bell’s founder is Stuart Prebble (Creative Director). Stuart’s career as a programme maker spans a range from BBC news and documentaries through music and factual entertainment, to ITV’s World in Action of which he was first a Producer and then Editor. He went on to become Head of Factual programmes at
Stuart began his career as a BBC Graduate Journalist Trainee, and was an on and off-screen journalist for BBC News before moving to
As the first Controller of Network Factual programmes at ITV, Stuart launched the Network First series, which won the RTS award for Best Factual Series and was nominated by BAFTA in the same category. His programme commissions covered a range extending from news specials to Hollywood Women, from the South Bank Show to The Windsors.
Stuart was the founding CEO of Granada Sky Broadcasting, which launched a range of new TV channels on satellite and cable, and was valued at £100m within two years of launch. He was also Managing Director of Channels and New Media for Granada Media PLC, and CEO of ITV Digital which went into liquidation in 2002. He was appointed CEO of ITV where he was responsible to shareholders for
Stuart was one of the founders of Liberty Bell Productions. Publications include Grumpy Old Men, the Official Handbook; Grumpy Old Men, The Secret Diary; Grumpy Old Christmas and Grumpy Old Workers.
Dianne Nelmes (Managing Director) joined Liberty Bell in October 2008 after a long and award winning career with Granada Television and ITV, where she was Controller of Factual Programming and subsequently Director of Daytime and Lifestyle Programming. Her appointment returned Dianne to her factual programming roots and renewed a long, professional relationship with Creative Director Stuart Prebble and Director of Production David Buckley with whom she has worked throughout her career.
Dianne is one of Britain’s leading lifestyle television creators. She launched award winning THIS MORNING; STARS IN THEIR EYES and YOU’VE BEEN FRAMED and was the first Controller of Daytime television at ITV where she revamped the schedule and created LOOSE WOMEN. She launched Jeremy Kyle’s hugely successful television career after hearing him on Capital Radio.
Dianne began her television career with the BBC in Newcastle upon Tyne where she was a journalist and on-screen reporter. She moved to Granada Television in Manchester where she was a news editor and subsequently a journalist on World in Action, ITV’s award winning investigative series. Dianne was eventually appointed executive producer of World in Action–the first and only woman to hold the post.
Dianne became Controller of Factual Programmes at Granada Television and Director of Programmes at Granada Sky Broadcasting where she led the launch of five satellite lifestyle channels, including Men and Motors.
Dianne left Granada to become the Controller of Documentaries and Features at ITV where she commissioned the award winning KELLY AND HER SISTERS –a major exposé of child poverty in Britain. She was also responsible for award winning LAD’S ARMY.
Dianne returned to ITV Productions as Director of Lifestyle Programming where she restored failing ratings to THIS MORNING AND LOOSE WOMEN—winning both series new awards.
Dianne is a Visiting Professor at Newcastle University; a fellow of the Royal Television Society; and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
David Buckley David is a former Commercial Manager, Production Manager and Programme Manager at