Satusfaction favourite, Ben Fogle heads to China for the first time in this epic travelogue which aims to explore one of the most powerful countries in the world from the inside, and give unprecedented insights into its history and rich culture.
Fogle explores its pivotal place in the modern world, as well as its ancient and recent history – how centuries of Imperial rule gave way to Communist revolution under Chairman Mao and the breakneck economic transformation as the state capitalist China of recent years has emerged.
This project was Mitch Bannon’s first presenter-led travelogue series, and being someone who loves travelling himself was really looking forward to getting his teeth into this. Mitch thought that this series had everything you could possibly want from a feel-good, fun travelogue, whilst also learning about parts of Chinese culture and giving a very interesting history lesson all in one.
This was Mitch’s first project with Blink Films, and he was really impressed at the clockwork level of organisation required to overcome the challenges that come with filming on location in China. Their collaboration with the local government and production companies provided them with exceptional access. Mitch learnt a lot from co-editing episode 2 but he also had a unique overview of the entire series by cutting a 120min reversion which gave him access to the entirety of the footage.
As for Huggy Lace, who co-edited episode 1, he shared with us that ‘it was fun to work on with a great insight into how a Chinese film studio is producing vertical dramas that are sweeping Tik Tok. They’re incredibly cheesy judging by what was shot!’
China with Ben Fogle premiered last night 6th April on Channel 5, catch parts 2 and 3 tonight 7th and tomorrow 8th April at 9pm.
Windfall Films collaborates with Hass Azzoug once more to bring you the follow up on the most infamous heist in recent history. Over 10 years after the fact, this one-off documentary reveals what happened to the crew of the 2015 Hatton Garden diamond heist, with interviews from insiders, including one of the members of the original crew.
This story has captured the interest and imagination of many filmmakers and Hass enjoyed the challenge of coming up with a creative new way to tell it, with fun twists and a new angle. His ongoing working relationship with the team at Windfall make him an asset for fast turnaround, collaborative projects such as this.
Watch it at 10pm on Channel 4, Wednesday 1st April.
Awards season has come around again and we’re delighted to announce that several projects that Satusfaction editors were lucky enough to work on are being honoured with nominations for BAFTA Television Awards.
Would I Lie to You? was nominated this year in the Entertainment category. Comedy editor Gavin Ames was involved in cutting this series and loved working with the team down at Pinewood, congrats to the production team at Zeppotron!
The very first series of Studio Ramsay’s new culinary series, Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars will take you around the world to discover what it takes to be the best in the restaurant business. It is therefore quite fitting that they would be nominated in the Factual Entertainment category. Well done to Badger Cooper who edited the Chicago episode.
The Undercover Police Scandal: Love & Lies Exposed is getting its second nomination this year, this time in the Factual Series category, and editor Charlie Webb couldn’t be prouder of his work on the series.
As for the Reality category, we have two contenders to cheer for but we don’t pick favourites between the most popular adapted gameshow Squid Game: The Challenge, edited by Tim Fielding, and the audience’s favourite betrayal game Celebrity Traitors, edited by James Sheldon.
We’d also like to make a very special shout out to Jennifer Asheitu Hampson who is nominated for a 2026 BAFTA Television Craft Awards with Samsung OLED in Editing: Factual category for her incredible work on Attack on London: Hunting the 7/7 Bombers.
Congratulations to all nominees, we’ll be sure to cheer for you all during the ceremony which will be hosted by Maisie Adam on Sunday 10th May.
Secrets Declassified with David Duchovny Nutopia/The History Channel
Dom Lester has worked for Nutopia in the past but this was his first role with them as Preditor and he was really looking forward to it! The series digs deeper than ever to reveal the darkest government secrets in modern history. Dom is working on episode 17 entitled ‘Spy Gadgets’ where Duchovny leads viewers through an examination of the highest intellect, from black ops and extreme experiments to bizarre weapons and top secret sites!
Dom told us that his episode was a lot of fun to work on, warning that some of the inventions are completely bonkers! He was amazed at the incredible creativity demonstrated by some of the scientists to come up with completely unexpected gadgets to best their adversaries in rival countries during WW2 and the Cold War, including the inventor of the Theremin… If you can come up with an instrument like that, imagine what else you can do!
Dom also remarked that it was the first series he worked on using generative AI to provide drama reconstructions which furnished impressive and incredibly accurate props and locations which may not have been accessible otherwise.
There’s no way to prepare for what you’ll uncover over the course of this series but there’s only one way to find out!
The series premiered Tues 17th March on The History Channel
Gavin loves to cut comedy, he has a wealth of experience in this genre and over the years has edited comedy series such as Vic and Bob’s Big Night Out, Would I Lie to You, Reluctant Traveler to name only a few!
He was delighted to be asked to edit the second series of Last One Laughing UK which is returning and once again bringing together a line up packed with some of the nation’s biggest comedy names. With his strong background in comedy, Gavin brings a sharp sense of timing and pacing to the edit, helping to shape the episode’s rhythm and highlight the moments where even the most seasoned comedians struggle to keep a straight face.
The premise remains simple: make the other contestants laugh while keeping a straight face yourself. Any comedian who laughs is out, and the last one standing without breaking into laughter takes the crown. With a room full of quick witted comics trying to break each other, the second season promises even more chaotic moments and creative attempts to get their rivals to crack.
Gavin said “It was a real pleasure to work on series 2, as series 1 was pretty much my favourite show that year. Such a genuinely fun show and a great bunch of people to work with”.
We’re really looking forward to this one, with a returning champion Bob Mortimer and a formidable line-up of comics, the new season of Last One Laughing UK looks set to deliver some much-needed laughs!
Last One Laughing UK is available on Amazon Prime from Thursday 19th March.
World War II, With Tom Hanks is a new 20-part docu series that explores the global conflict through the narration and executive production of the Hollywood actor, who has famously starred in some of the best dramas depicting these events and harbours a keen interest in this hallmark event of the 20th century.
For more than 80 years, World War II has remained one of the most devastating and consequential conflicts in human history. The series offers a sweeping retelling of the war, drawing on rarely seen archival material, immersive storytelling and insights from leading historians from around the world, including the UK. The series captures the full scope of the global conflict from the invasion of Poland in 1939 through to the dawn of the atomic age, spanning battlefields from the Battle of Stalingrad and Normandy Landings to campaigns across the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Pacific.
Satusfaction was pleased to provide Nutopia with a brilliant team of experienced documentary editors for this historical series: Dom Lester, Rupert Van Den Broek, Felix Black, Duncan Hill and Phil Bowman.
We chatted to Dom who said “I’m incredibly honoured to have worked on this show. The team were a joy to work with, but the footage never let you forget that this was an unfolding human tragedy.Trying to fit so much story into 20 episodes was no mean feat. I was constantly reminded that the outcome of this war was far from certain, and on both sides, people served with total commitment to their countries’ causes. In one episode I used 1940s footage of Piccadilly Circus, and one morning on my commute in, I walked through that shot. I stopped and tried to figure out what window the camera would have been filming from 80 years before. The history felt very close throughout, and some of the harrowing stories stay with you and leave you pondering about lives and tragedies that have faded out of living memory”.
Felix also shared some thoughts on the project “World War II with Tom Hanks truly bares the weight of the most catastrophically terrible of human histories. And it was an emotional privilege to help to illuminate such powerful stories, editing with both staggering and deeply horrific new archive footage. Most of all, knowing the tragic impact on my own family through those atrocities and the echoes that still resound for us all from WW2, this series is a vitally significant warning from the past. Editing from my studio in Berlin meant that the raw scars and proximity to horror reverberated throughout the cutting process. World War II with Tom Hanks reminds us that we are never too far from evil and must hope that the sacrifice of those before is never forgotten.”
World War II with Tom Hanks will premiere on Monday 25th May on Sky HISTORY and will be available to stream on The History Channel the following day.
Executive Producers are Peter Beard and Ben De Pear
Story Films for BBC Two
Editor: Graham Taylor( Episode 2, Offline and Finishing Editor)
Hostage: Story Films/ BBC Two
Hostage is shaping up to be one of the BBC’s most gripping factual releases this year. The three-part documentary series tells the extraordinary and deeply unsettling story of British photojournalist John Cantlie, whose reporting trip to Syria in 2012 turned into a prolonged and highly publicised hostage ordeal.
The series takes viewers back to the early days of the Syrian conflict, when freelance journalists were racing to document events on the ground. Through detailed storytelling and first-hand insight, it examines how John Cantlie and fellow reporters entered the war zone, the moment their situation spiralled into crisis, and the complex geopolitical backdrop that shaped what followed. Cantlie was kidnapped in Syria alongside his friend James Foley. Taken hostage by an infamous gang of British jihadis a video was released depicting Foley being horrifically executed. Cantlie’s family braced for bad news, however a very different video emerged online, which saw him reporting for IS as a journalist.
Episode two is edited by Graham Taylor,an accomplished, award-winning film editor known for his distinctive creative approach. Graham specialises in projects with a unique tone and voice, bringing progressive approaches to narrative and aesthetic. Reflecting on the project, Graham said it was “a privilege to work on the story, it’s one of the most amazing hostage stories ever!”
What sets the documentary apart is its focus not just on the captivity itself but on the wider reality of frontline journalism. It paints a sobering picture of the risks photographers and correspondents take in pursuit of the truth, and the human cost when those risks go wrong.
Hostage will premiere on Wednesday 4th March at 9pm on BBC Two, it airs weekly on BBC Two and will also be available to stream on BBC iPlayer shortly after broadcast.
Wall to Wall Media Productions for BBC Two and iPlayer
Editor: Duncan Hill 9pm on Wednesday 25th February.
L.S. Lowry: The Unheard Tapes. Wall to Wall Media Productions/ BBC Two and iPlayer
Fifty years after the death of L. S. Lowry, a remarkable new drama-documentary is set to bring audiences closer than ever to the man behind the matchstick figures. L.S. Lowry: The Unheard Tapes reveals a newly uncovered treasure of intimate audio recordings captured during the final four years of Lowry’s life. These were recorded in his home with young researcher Angela Barratt and are broadcasted for the first time in this documentary.
Duncan was really looking forward to cutting the drama elements to this documentary, particularly with Sir Ian McKellen playing Lowry. Beyond the individual story, the edit also supports the documentary’s aim to capture a changing Greater Manchester and the industrial landscapes that influenced Lowry’s work.
Commissioned by BBC Arts to mark the 50th anniversary of Lowry’s death, the film stands as a significant addition to the prestigious Arena catalogue. The Times gives it Critics Choice and says it’s ‘a moving depiction of a vanished world and a curiously fragile man’. L.S. Lowry: The Unheard Tapes airs on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer at 9pm on Wednesday 25th February.
This new six-part series follows chef Gordon Ramsay as he attempts to pull off one of the most ambitious projects of his career: opening multiple floors of foodie heaven at 22 Bishopsgate, one of the capital’s most prestigious addresses.
The series highlights a “behind-the-scenes” approach, capturing the high-stakes restaurant, construction, and menu planning, while also focusing on Gordon’s personal life with wife Tana and their six children. Jamie Williams edited episode 1 and was in charge of setting the style for the series, interweaving the high-pressure, perfectionist environment of Ramsay’s culinary empire with intimate, candid moments of family life.
We chatted to him about his experience on the series, he said it was refreshing to be able to provide a more authentic insight on Gordon as a person in contrast with the public persona he presents as a famous chef, and Gordon himself facilitated this process by being very open and honest with the crew throughout the filming of the series. From an editing perspective, the most interesting challenge was to give this series a loose doc feel, as opposed to the formatted studio style of other Studio Ramsay productions. The crew was supportive throughout which made it a very positive experience for him.
This sentiment was shared by Mark Pickles who took over the edit of episode 5. It was his first time working with Studio Ramsay and he was impressed with how smoothly they managed such a big production, with up to 4 edit teams working together at one time. It was a very collaborative experience; Mark stayed on the project to its completion and was able to showcase his editing skills on various episodes which helped them get over the line.
We are looking forward to seeing the series which will be streaming on Netflix from 18th February.
Starts 4th February and will be available on Channel4OnDemand.
In 2005, the world watched as one of the most famous figures in modern history stood trial. More than 2,000 journalists descended on Santa Maria, California, as Michael Jackson faced criminal charges in what became one of the most heavily reported legal cases ever. Michael Jackson: The Trial, a new four-part documentary series for Channel 4, revisits this extraordinary moment in forensic detail.
This was always going to be a challenging edit, there was a huge amount of archive to watch through as the series examines footage from the courtroom and the media reporting around it. It also features contributors who have never spoken publicly before. Franco edited episode 2 and had to weave together the events of the trial while offering a deeper insight into Jackson’s life as it unfolded under constant media scrutiny.
The series explores not only the courtroom proceedings but documents how the trial became a global spectacle, reflecting the intense relationship between Jackson and the press. Beyond the trial itself, the series asks wider questions about race, fame, journalistic ethics and the American justice system, offering a thoughtful re-examination of a case that continues to shape conversations around celebrity and media coverage today.
Franco really enjoyed the challenge of this edit, he’s an experienced editor with an already impressive slate of documentary credits. A passionate and confident storyteller, Franco brings a strong creative edge to each project he works on. We spoke to him about this one and he had some interesting insights;“I really enjoyed working on this project. It was quite a complicated series to get right in terms of narrative structure and balance. It also had a lot of legal pitfalls because the Michael Jackson estate is extremely litigious. Wonderhood were amazing the whole way through. They understood the demands on the edits and offered a lot of support and resources to get the series completed on time. The Execs were particularly good at pre-empting the legal problems so that we didn’t have to make drastic changes to the cuts late in the schedule. Wonderhood also have a good relationship with Channel 4, so there was good communication between them about the tone and direction of the series. The editorial teams for all the episodes were a great bunch too, so the whole thing felt very collaborative”.
Michael Jackson: The Trial begins Wednesday 4 February at 9pm on Channel 4.
Episode 1- 4th February
Episode 2- 5th February
Episode 3 -11th February
Episode 4 -12th February
The series will then be able to view Channel 4 On Demand.
