Who are we?

ALAN GRINDLEY – Managing Director (Founder)

Alan’s distinguished career as an independent television producer has spanned over 25 years. He is known for a raft of celebrity life-style documentary series and profiles including; Life in the Fast Lane, at the Monaco Grand Prix; The Big Game, profiling Roger Daltry of the Who, big game fishing in the Bahamas; Street Life, a fashion-rock series based in London; The Heat is On, with Nick Mason; Canadian Crossing, a seven part series with Canadian DJ David ‘Kid’ Jensen ; Hitting Across the Line, cricketer Sir Viv Richards’s official life story and many more including a number of rock videos with two No.1 chart hits.

In 1992, Alan founded and became the Managing Director of Town TV – with cable stations in Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Wiltshire. Town TV was one of the first cable TV networks in the UK. These pioneering initiatives for local TV were hugely popular with their audiences. However, cable as a distribution channel was in its infancy and penetration levels were not as they are today. The stations closed in 1997 as a result of Contel’s sale to NTL. The experience has not deterred Alan and the new technological environment has served to re-ignite his passion for this new tier of television.

ROB SHAW - Studio Director

Rob has 11 years experience in broadcast and corporate filming. BBC and ITV trained, Rob was a programme maker at ITV for 8 years working on programmes such as The Cook Report, Pulling Power and Revved Up.
Since founding Media Dog Rob has produced adverts, training materials and web video for corporate clients including Halfords, Barnardos and The Sun newspaper.

DES TONG - Music & Sound Director

Des Tong’s experience as a musician has taken him all over the world playing and recording with major artistes. He was bass player with Manchester band Sad Café.

In the studio, Des worked as a freelance producer for Radio 1 & 2 on such diverse programmes as Andy Kershaw’s Indie Rock Show, Folk Club and Radio 2 Big Band Special. He was Musical Director for Granada TV’s “Weekend”, and also produced for YTV, Central, and ILR station Signal Radio.

As a commercial record producer Des had success with the No7 hit for Damian, “The Time Warp” earning a silver disc for sales in excess of 250,000.

From 1994 – 1997 Des was Head of Music for Centregold plc with a brief to introduce quality music to computer games using his Music Industry background.

In 1997 he helped establish AudioMotion as a facilities house for TV, Film, Video, Animation and Computer Games providing music, sound design and voice-overs.

In 2004 Des set up Underarm Productions with singer Cissy Stone as a production & management company developing young talent.

Still actively involved in live entertainment, he also has a regular spot on Aston FM as Captain Tongo in “Sod It Grow Your Own”. A humorous look at allotment gardening.


GARY JAMES – Programme Director

Gary was born and bred in Birmingham and started working as an actor in the late seventies. After numerous stage and TV performances, he moved into the world of radio and after short stints with BRMB and Radio Birmingham, began presenting overnights on Kix 96 in Coventry. Gary then moved to Tenerife where he presented the Breakfast Show on British station, Oasis FM. He was only supposed to be there for a year, but stayed for five.

On his return to the UK he joined AA Roadwatch in London working as a travel reporter in the morning, before driving to Basingstoke, where he presented the evening show on Kestrel FM. Gary has also presented shows on many Midlands based ILR stations and Classic Gold (working with Tony Blackburn and Paul Burnett).

Gary now presents the Breakfast Show on Birmingham's new local commercial station 89.1 Aston FM.

On the television side, Gary has presented a number of programmes including:

Where Are They Now? - Canal +
Rock and Soul. - Canal +
Make My Man Over. - Independent Production
A Job For Life. - BBC (Birmingham)
Christmas In The City. - Iris TV
Behind the Artist. - Iris TV.
He is currently working on a number of projects for Central Vision TV.

Gary also works as a freelance writer, reporter and researcher. He is well known in the city and a leading member of the Birmingham Press Club.

LIN GLOVER - Launch Director

Lin is a creative and inspirational Company Director with a flair for innovation and delivering results – especially in the broadcasting, entertainment and marketing fields. With over 25 years experience in the commercial broadcasting industry, initially as a regulator with the Independent Broadcasting Authority, Lin is acknowledged in her field as a programming and audience research specialist and for her ability to bring creative projects to fruition.

Since 1988, Lin has been an independent media consultant specialising in the winning of licences for new radio stations. Clients include Daily Mail and General Trust, GWR (now GCAP Group) and Celador Productions.

In addition, her innovative flair crosses over into marketing and the creation and execution of sponsorship and promotions opportunities linked with entertainment events, concerts and radio promotions. Clients include Cadbury Schweppes, Channel 4, and Kellogg’s. Lin is also Director of her own consultancy Lin Glover Associates and The Affiliators Ltd – a company that specialises in the creation and programme management of affinity credit cards linked with music and entertainment.

DAVID ‘KID’ JENSEN - Presenter

David began broadcasting to the UK via Radio Luxembourg in 1968 after a couple of years in local Canadian radio. He acquired the nickname "Kid" because he was the youngest radio presenter in Europe at the time. He left Luxembourg in 1975 for Radio Trent in Nottingham.

In 1976, he went to Radio 1, followed by a move to Capital Radio in 1984. During this time he hosted the Nescafe Network Chart Show for 10 years to the entire UK Independent Radio Network. In 1998 he accepted an offer to go to London based Heart 106.2, before moving back to Capital in 2002, this time for the Capital Gold Network. He continues to broadcast on Capital Gold, Monday - Saturday from 10AM - 1PM.

He has won 5 Sony Radio Awards as well as New Spotlight DJ of the year (1972 and 1973), Melody Maker DJ of the year (1983), Variety Magazine for Radio Personality 1980, British Radio and Television Industry award for Best Radio Programme1986, Maple Leaf Award for Canadian Contribution to Broadcasting 2002.  Radio is only half the story, and “The Kid” is known to a generation from his time on the small screen. He has presented dozens of networked, syndicated and local TV shows, from Children's to News and Current Affairs. In 1980, he took a 2 year break from the BBC to go to work in Atlanta as a news "anchor" for Ted Turner on the Superstation. His work on CNN led to an Emmy nomination for the documentary series "Nice People".

TV series in the UK include "Pop Quest" - Yorkshire, "45"- Granada, "Razzmatazz"- Tyne Tees, he presented the first 3 annual Brit Awards (known as the British Rock and Pop Awards)- BBC 1, "Central Weekend"-Central, "Top of the Pops"-BBC 1, and voices the most widely syndicated TV show in the world, the weekly: "Gillette World Sport".

Ed James

For the past 7 years, Ed James has been waking up the Midlands on the regions biggest and most listened to Breakfast show. Heart Breakfast is on air every weekday morning from 6-10 with showbiz gossip, celebrity interviews, banter, music and a big slice of real life from Birmingham and the West Midlands.

When not on the radio Ed can often be seen on ITV interviewing celebs that have stopped off in Birmingham either to do a gig or plug something! His TV work led to him being named Royal Television Society Midlands Presenter of the year in 2007.

In addition to hosting various live events in the city Ed is also very active in the business community in Birmingham sitting on the board of Birmingham Press Club and on the council for PACE (Publicity association of Central England).

Apart from work he loves spending time with his partner and 3 children.

In his spare time Ed sleeps!

Jacques de Suze - Consultant

Jacques de Suze is a leading international television consultant who has been involved in launching channels and innovative formats in the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. He has worked for major networks and media corporations and advised the US State Department on Public Diplomacy initiatives. Most recently de Suze co-founded Media Consultants Collaborative LLP, a global media consulting partnership whose current clients include Hello!TV and Hola!TV in the UK and the Americas, UK broadcaster FIVE, DVL.TV (LUXE.TV) in Luxembourg and various local broadcasters in the US and Latin America.

Jacques was Senior Director of Development for CHUM International launching its original channel and program formats (Citytv, MuchMusic & Hollywood Star!) around the world.

He has worked on numerous international station projects and is widely recognized for his role in creating award winning, high rating newscasts and factual programs in cities as diverse as London, Manchester, Bogotá, Barcelona, Beirut, Prague, Berlin, Lyon, San Juan, Sao Paulo and Casablanca. His relationship with CHUM includes the development of the well-known independent station, Citytv, and its news programs.

LLEWELA BAILEY – Presenter

Llewela Bailey is one of the most familiar faces with ITV Central and in the Midlands. Brought up in Worcester, her career in television began twenty years ago when as a reporter, she moved from BBC radio to Central TV's Nottingham studios. After a stint as a news producer Llewela moved to Birmingham and joined the company's main presentation team in 1990, working alongside co-presenter Bob Warman on its flagship programme ‘Central Tonight’.

She has also fronted the same show in the East Midlands, making her the only pan-regional presenter in ITV. Llewela recently left Central to pursue other career strands, including film work and media training.

ALEXIS GROWER – Media Lawyer- Magrath LLP Solicitors

Alexis is a specialist in all aspects of music industry and TV contracts, as well as film matters, book publishing contracts and sports work.  He is well regarded in the industry, regularly undertaking lectures about copyright, and confidentiality. Passionate about the current music scene, Alexis has represented numerous well known artistes including Robert Plant, Ocean Colour Scene, Alison Moyet, Paul Young and Motorhead.

CMLG - Media Lawyers

CMLG is a specialist group of Media and Entertainment Law Barristers set up by Cornwall Street Chambers of Birmingham.
The central aim of Cornwall Street Chambers’ Media Law Group [CMLG] is to provide specialist advice and representation to the entertainment industry.
Practicing from the Commercial, Legal and Civic heart of the Midlands, CMLG are on hand for all manner of specialist advice and guidance.
The group thrives on decades of experience in both the music industry and the legal world allowing them to bring a great deal of empathy to those seeking legal advice.
 CMLG are committed to the prosperity of the Midlands Media Sector and to all its talent. 

Bruce Drummond, the head of CMLG said –

“CMLG are delighted to welcome City TV Birmingham as clients and to have become part of their team of professional advisors.
We feel this project is dynamic and exciting and will have a significant impact in raising the profile of Birmingham as the second city.”