BRANDED ENTERTAINMENT

Thompy is renowned for creating powerful appeal films that move audiences and inspire action — from shaping Soccer Aid for UNICEF appeals that helped raise over £120 million, to award-winning work for Stand Up To Cancer, executive producing Red Nose Day appeals and spearheading Text Santa campaigns — connecting people to causes with honesty, heart and lasting impact.

Thompy was a key part of the core creative team, helping devise and deliver the award-winning fundraising appeal. The team filmed supporting content across multiple Commonwealth regions and produced the live moment of giving at the emotional climax of the Opening Ceremony. The campaign was described by Richard Curtis as a “game changer” in televised fundraising.

Thompy created and led UNICEF’s #HappyBlueYear campaign, a bold and initiative that transformed New Year optimism into real-world impact. The campaign invited audiences to donate £3 to support children affected by conflict, combining mass social participation with iconic moments such as Big Ben and Edinburgh Castle lighting up in UNICEF blue to drive huge public engagement.

Thompy worked closely with Richard Curtis and the Comic Relief team to help establish Red Nose Day USA on NBC, bringing the UK’s iconic fundraising format to a new audience. He directed high-profile films with Jack Black in Uganda, Ed Sheeran in Liberia and Michelle Rodriguez in Peru, combining celebrity access with powerful storytelling to drive meaningful engagement and fundraising.

Thompy accompanied Julia Roberts to Kenya to create films for Red Nose Day USA on NBC, including a Running Wild with Bear Grylls special, which follows Julia and Bear as they deliver life-saving vaccines to a remote village, crossing extreme terrain — including rope bridges over crocodile-infested rivers. 

Thompy’s long-form broadcast documentaries are a powerful tool in storytelling, creating deep emotional connections between audiences and subjects. Working with talent including James Nesbitt, Ewan McGregor and Tom Hiddleston, his films blend cinematic craft with authenticity and purpose — demonstrating how long-form content can engage, move and connect viewers in ways few other formats can.

At the 2025 Edinburgh TV Awards, DNA Journey with Ancestry won the inaugural Best Branded Entertainment award, marking a significant moment for the genre. The award recognised the series’ innovative long-form storytelling and meaningful brand integration, highlighting how brands can help drive engaging, popular factual television. 

Executive produced and directed by Thompy, Discovering Robbie Lyle is a fresh new documentary format. Fully funded by Ancestry for YouTube. The film follows Robbie Lyle’s journey to Jamaica as he uncovers his family history and the identity of an enslaved ancestor, demonstrating how branded entertainment can deliver meaningful, culturally resonant storytelling in a fresh digital format.

Thompy’s experience and expertise in branded entertainment have made him a trusted consultant in the space, advising brands and broadcasters on creating meaningful, story-led content. Through panel appearances and podcasts, he shares his insight and champions best practice in branded entertainment — helping brands connect with audiences through authentic, compelling storytelling.