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About

Blackthorn Productions produce a number of radio and television programmes for the BBC.

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The Team

Our team have a plethora of expertise across TV and Radio to bring you the best quality productions.

• Karl Walker

  Karl is the managing director of Blackthorn Productions. Since leaving the staff of the BBC Karl looks after a busy portfolio of specialist music and speech programmes commissioned by BBC Northern Ireland. Karl, a passionate enthusiast of the bagpipes, produces the Pipes and Drums radio series, with Tommy Millar, and is executive producer of Blackthorn's Ulster Scot's output, namely Kist o Wurds on radio and the popular Santer television series. Karl is also a much sought after "sound man" and has recorded and produced a diverse range of genres and musical styles.

• Dr Joe McKee

  Dr Joe McKee has produced and presented band programmes for the BBC for many years. Since leaving the BBC, Joe was appointed Director of music at Methodist College in Belfast and then Head of Music service for the Belfast Education and Library Board. A graduate of both Queens University and Trinity College, Joe has served on the Central Advisory Panel of the Arts council for Northern Ireland and is a trustee of the Grand Opera House in Belfast. In 2006 Joe was awarded the OBE for services to Music in the new years honours list.

• Chris Spurr

  After a brief flirtation with the theatre Chris embraced "the wireless" and over 30 years produced arts-related topics for Radio Ulster and Radios 2,3 and 4.

  Chris has made a long time study of Scot's songs and ballads and first made programmes on Ulster's links with Scotland since the early 80s. He developed and initiated "A Kist o Wurds" which has been running on Radio Ulster since 2002.

  Since leaving the BBC Chris continues to cover the ever developing Ulster Scots story for Blackthorn Productions, and is a member of the Ulster History circle, on whose committee he is privileged to serve his third term as chairman.

• Rev Dr Robert Tosh

  Up until March 2013 Bert was responsible for all BBC Northern Ireland's religious output. Ordained in 1973 as a Presbyterian minister, Bert served in congregations in Belfast, Londonderry and Donegal. He joined the BBC as a religious broadcasting producer in 1984 and subsequently became a Senior Producer and was responsible for all network and local religious programmes. Bert has also spent some time as acting senior producer Classical Music.

  He obtained a PHD from Queen's for a thesis on Irish Presbyterian worship and recently the Presbyterian Theological Faculty (Ireland) awarded him an honorary DD.

  Since retiring Bert has been producing the weekly Morning Service programme with Blackthorn Productions along with regular items for Radio4.

• Elizabeth Rice

  Elizabeth has worked as a print journalist, press officer, public relations executive and researcher. Elizabeth was a staff producer with the BBC in Northern Ireland for almost 30 years - ending as a senior producer and staff mentor. She has worked in both radio and television and also with the Natural History Unit in Bristol for Radio 4. Since leaving the BBC Elizabeth has worked with Blackthorn Productions as a radio producer and also produced items for RTE radio.

• Etta Halliday

  With a background in education Etta has been working primarily in radio for the last 30 years. Etta has produced many programmes for the Radio4, World Service and Radio Ulster. Her production credits include current affairs, religion, consumer and schools programmes. Etta also presented the Sunday Sequence show on Radio Ulster for 7 years.

  Recent work with Blackthorn has included documentaries on the source of the Ulster Scots language and the 400th anniversary of the building of Derry's walls.

• Andy Mattison

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Radio

We are proud to produce the following radio productions:

• Pipes and Drums

  Tommy Millar showcases the best in the local piping scene.

• Strike up the Band

  Presented by Dr Joe McKee.

• A Kist o Wurds

  Weekly Ulster Scots magazine programme with Anne Morrison Smyth, Liam Logan and Wilson Burgess.

• Van Morrison Night

  Live concert and in conversation with Ralph McLean.

• Morning Service

  Weekly live church service broadcast on Sunday mornings.

  We also produce the occasional daily service for BBC Radio 4, and Choral Evensong for BBC Radio 3.

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TV

We are proud to coproduce with Barking Films the following series for television:

• Santer

  Ulster Scots magazine series presented by Anne Morrison Smyth and Mark Wilson.

• Santer Session

  Fred Morrison brings together the best of the musicians featured in the Santer series in one fabulous concert.

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Facilities

At Blackthorn we only use top specification equipment for our audio and video productions to give you the best possible results. For the tech savvy here is what to expect from us:

• OB 1 96 Channel Digidesign Profile Desk
• Protools HD
• IP and ISDN Codecs

• OB 2 24 channel Soundcraft Digital Desk
• Protools
• Satellite Uplink
• IP and ISDN Codecs

We are also happy to offer the following services and equipment:

• Carry in Facilities
• Microphone Splitters
• Extensive Microphone Selection

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Contact