About Gus Beattie - Director @ Gusman Productions

After starting out as an aspiring comedy writer penning sketches for shows such as BBC Scotland's “Only An Excuse?” and developing a sitcom with the BBC, Gus Beattie’s comedy producer break came in April 2003 when he was appointed Executive Producer for Radio at Scotland’s top independent comedy producer The Comedy Unit, the 6th biggest supplier of comedy content in the UK. 

For 13 years he was responsible for creating and producing award-winning content for BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Radio 5 Live as well as working across TV development and production.   In TV he co-created BBC Scotland’s Gaelic comedy showcase “Comadaidh Oir” (Comedy Gold) and was also Assistant Producer for BBC Scotland’s football chat show “Offside” with Tam Cowan from 2004 to 2007.

It was his work on the network with Radio 4 which brought him the most success and helped cement his reputation for UK-wide comedy production with shows such as “Fags, Mags & Bags” written by Sanjeev Kohli and Donald Mcleary, and sketch group showcase “Sketchorama”, which created a high profile broadcast platform for UK sketch acts.  He also got the team behind Channel 4’s “Absolutely” sketch show to reunite for Radio 4 to award-winning success.  In his time at The Comedy Unit he worked with talent such as Ford Kiernan, Karen Dunbar, Kayvan Novak, Greg Hemphill, Morwenna Banks, Greg McHugh, Alistair McGowan, Gordon Kennedy, Susan Calman, Kevin Bridges, Frankie Boyle, Gavin Mitchell, Jonathan Watson, Jack Docherty, Moray Hunter, Miles Jupp, and AL Kennedy.

With a long standing reputation as someone who is successful in the art of winning commissions, aligned with good working relationships with top comedy talent & key BBC commissioners, Gusman Productions has hit the ground running with several commissions for Radio Scotland including the critically acclaimed 'Lost Letters', and exciting projects in the pipeline for Radio 4 & BBC Scotland as well as in the commercial sector.  Along with the core approach of acquiring BBC Radio business for scripted comedy that could potentially transfer to TV or online, Gusman Productions will also look for digital opportunities in short form content for key broadcasters and also in the emerging market for branded comedy content in the commercial space. Gusman Productions aim to take this experience and knowledge to the next level with content creation not only for Radio but Online & TV as well.

KEY SERVICES:  

BBC Radio production,freelance BBC Radio comedy producer, podcast & audiobook producer, executive producer (compliance role for Radio 4 productions), online production, script editing, live comedy event management, script/sketch masterclasses and training, TV assistant producer, improv workshops. 

AWARD ACHIEVEMENTS.  WON:     

• BBC Audio Drama Award 2014 Best Scripted Comedy Studio Audience for Sketchorama: Absolutely Special BBC Radio 4.
• Writers’ Guild Award 2008 Best Scripted Comedy for Fags, Mags & Bags series 1 BBC Radio 4.
• Best Comedy/Entertainment Producer Audio Production Awards 2016

AWARD ACHIEVEMENTS.  NOMINATED:

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• Celtic Media Awards 2018 - Best Radio Comedy Fags, Mags & Bags & The Absolutely Radio Show
• Celtic Media Awards 2018 - Best Documentary 'Lost Letters'.
• Celtic Media Awards 2017 - Best Radio Comedy Fags, Mags & Bags & Lewis Macleod's Wired News
• Celtic Media Awards 2016 - Best Radio Comedy The Absolutely Radio Show & Sketchorama.
• The Radio Production Awards – Best Comedy/Entertainment Producer 2011, 2013, 2014 & 2015 & Best Nations & Regions Producer 2015
• Sony Radio Academy Awards Best Comedy 2008 Fags, Mags & Bags. 
• Writers’ Guild Awards 2011 & 2013 for Fags, Mags & Bags.
• BBC Audio Drama Awards 2015 Best Scripted Comedy for Sketchorama BBC Radio 4.
• BBC Audio Drama Awards 2015 Best use of Sound for Legend of the Holyrood Vampires BBC Radio Scotland.
• BBC Audio Drama Awards 2017 Best Scripted Comedy for Lewis Macleod's Wired News BBC Radio Scotland.
• BBC Audio Drama Awards 2018 Best Sketch Show for The Absolutely Radio Show BBC Radio 4

His start in the creative industries was at top local radio station Central FM based in Stirling as a commercial producer and presenter.   This experience was key to his development as it exposed him to the commercial sector and is not a “BBC-lifer”, so developed an understanding of the creative needs of advertisers and sponsors.

He also started out as a comedy writer with a number of broadcast writing credits:

COMEDY WRITING CREDITS

• Single White Idiot.  Non-broadcast sitcom pilot - BBC Scotland
• Only An Excuse?    Sketch material.   BBC Scotland
• Keep Taking The Nandrolone. Sketch material.   BBC Radio 5 Live
• Freddie Flintoff Ate My Ashes.  Sketch material.     BBC Radio 5 Live
• The Unsporting Review 2008.  Sketch material.     BBC Radio 5 Live
• The Karen Dunbar Show. Sketch material.     BBC One Scotland.
• Lewis Macleod’s Wired News.  Sketch material.  BBC Radio Scotland
• Watson’s Wind Up.  Sketch material.    BBC Radio Scotland