Blast Films hires Mindhouse alum Barnaby Coughlin for factual and formats role

Sky Studios-backed UK unscripted production company Blast Films has named former Mindhouse executive Barnaby Coughlin as creative director for popular factual and formats.

Barnaby Coughlin

Coughlin, formerly head of popular factual at Mindhouse, will work alongside Tanya Winston, creative director of factual. Both will report to Danny Horan, Blast Films’ chief creative officer.

In the new role, he will oversee development and execution of original content across the company’s growing slate of UK and international projects.

While at Mindhouse, Coughlin executive produced and developed multiple projects including Prime Video biopic KSI: In Real Life; Channel 4’s Sex Actually with Alice Levine and returning podcast series Rylan: How To Be… from BBC Radio 4/BBC Sounds.

The news follows yesterday’s announcement that Disney+ has commissioned Blast Films to make The Rooneys, a new observational doc series following Coleen and Wayne Rooney.

Claire Bosworth, CEO of Blast Films, said: “We’re entering a dynamic era for factual storytelling, and we’re delighted to bring in a creative leader with the experience, ambition and originality to help shape the next generation of programming at Blast. Barnaby’s vision aligns perfectly with our values of authenticity, integrity and boldness, and I’m sure he’s going be a great asset to our team.”

Coughlin added: “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be joining Claire, Danny and all the inspiring people who make Blast the success it richly deserves. I am a big fan of their past series and can’t wait to help build on their existing portfolio and get started in this new role.”

Blast’s recent slate of docs includes Tsunami: Race Against Time, Jade: The Reality Star Who Changed Britain, 7/7: Homegrown Terror and Missing: Dead or Alive?