Iain Thompson
agent: Camilla Chiverton - camilla@sternwild.com
Iain ‘Thompy’ Thompson is a renowned Showrunner and Director known for working with big name talent and launching some of TV’s best loved formats.
Thompy is a master of visual storytelling, combining cinematic flair with strong narrative structure. His most recent project, SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters for ITV, showcases this skill on a grand scale. The show blends adrenaline-fuelled entertainment with deeply emotional, life-affirming moments and breathtaking natural history cinematography. The series will premiere to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Spielberg’s Jaws.
Thompy has a distinct flair for crafting intelligent, emotionally resonant content that never loses its sense of entertainment. He excels at shaping compelling stories with warmth, humour and authenticity — an approach that has defined his work across multiple genres.
A highly versatile director, he has made talent-led documentary projects including Cold Chain Mission with Ewan McGregor, Paris Hilton’s BFF as well as one-off specials featuring stars such as Michael Buble, Neil Diamond and Jack Black.
He has shaped some of ITV Entertainment’s most iconic formats, including I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! Love Island and Last Laugh in Vegas.
His adventurous spirit has seen him take a host of famous faces to some of the world’s most challenging environments—from producing and directing a concert in Afghanistan with Gary Barlow using only military personnel (Gary Barlow: Journey to Afghanistan), to filming a documentary in an active conflict zone with Tom Hiddleston.
A standout achievement in his career is DNA Journey for ITV, the hit returnable series that he co-developed with Ant and Dec. As both Executive Producer and Director, Thompy helped turn the show into a flagship format combining personal discovery with emotional storytelling.
Thompy has also helped deliver landmark shows that have a social impact, such as Soccer Aid, Red Nose Day and Stand Up to Cancer. In recognition of his work, he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by UNICEF. Richard Curtis has referred to his work in this field as “game-changing.”