Meet the Team
Our multi award winning team
Presenter Academy has a diverse team of award-winning presenters, directors, producers and casting agents, all working together to deliver first class training and ready to pass on their expertise so you can succeed.
Brian Naylor
DIRECTOR AND FOUNDERBrian has worked in the tv industry for almost 30 years having presented on Factual, Shopping, Travel, Business and Educational TV as well as directing and producing various TV and Radio programmes.
Founder of the world famous TV Training Academy (Pinewood Studios, London and Fox Studios Sydney, Australia). Brian is also one of the founding directors of River Radio and has recently been featured as the TV Presenting Guru on BBC 1.
Helen Sheppard
BAFTA winning TV Director & ProducerHelen Sheppard has directed and produced programmes for the BBC, CBBC, ITV, Channel 4, S4C Amazon and Netflix. Her work has included comedy, documentary, education, puppetry, skins and animation both on location and in multicamera studios.
A BAFTA winner in 2019 for her CBBC programme ‘Get Well Soon Hospital’ which she produced.
She also has won 3 RTS awards and has had a further seven BAFTA nominations.
Karen Wichalls-Plunkett
OWNER AND SENIOR AGENT AT PMPKaren Witchalls-Plunkett is the owner and senior Agent at PMP Presenter Agency and has years of experience in the entertainment industry.
Before setting up PMP Karen was a presenter/broadcast journalist with an impressive CV – which includes presenting credits in both the broadcast and corporate sectors internationally, high profile VOs and news report production – Karen is now widely considered to be an invaluable production asset.
Gemma-Leigh
Award-winning TV & Radio PresenterGemma-Leigh presents across a wide range of formats, specialising in celebrity interviews and light entertainment. She’s interviewed Russell Brand, Ross Kemp, Tom Kerridge, Tim Brooke Taylor, Donavan, Atul Kochhar, Mike Read and many more.
She’s also a current, award- winning producer and presenter on Marlow FM and has silver award at the national CRA’s for Best Female Presenter in both 2019 & 2020.
Colin Napthine
AWARD-WINNING TV DIRECTOR AND PRODUCERColin spent sixteen years working for the BBC, now a freelance Producer/Director his credits include Countryfile, The London Programme, Life of Grime, Horizon, 24 Hours in A&E, Timewatch and many more. Winner of 2 RTS Awards including ‘Best Series Director’.