Wrexham
Academy
of Screen
Acting
Industry Talk
In Depth Industry Talk and Q&A with Simon Maloney, Bafta Winning Producer, This City Is Ours, Time, I May Destroy You and Peaky Blinders.
British
Television's
Dark
Drama
Architect
Simon Maloney stands as one of the most recognised and accomplished producers in contemporary British television, a craftsman whose career bridges the gritty realism of soap operas and the high-stakes intensity of prestige drama.
We were fortunate enough to listen to a masterclass at the Centre for the Creative Industries at Wrexham University on how tomorrow’s actors and industry professionals can successfully navigate the choppy waters of making it in television today.
Beginnings
Welcomed to the stage by Dean Fagan and Ruby Snape who will already be familiar to Visit Wrexham readers as two of the key figures in local rising star Minera Studios, they are also the primary instructors behind Wrexham Academy of Screen Acting (WASA) who kindly invited us along for the evening.
From his humble beginnings, Simon started off his career as a runner on Hollyoaks in 1998. Today, he leads and has worked on complex productions like Peaky Blinders and This City is Ours. Maloney has mastered the art of translating raw creative vision into polished, emotionally resonant storytelling.
Delivering powerful anecdotes - one straight after the other - Maloney insisted he never wants to work in front of the camera, only behind it – but from what heard and learned – his skills most definitely would lend themselves to a filmed podcast series for students and young professionals in the sector, such was his passion and learned experience. This was reinforced with him sharing that he delivered something similar to a school leaving audience only that morning. Giving back is clearly a personal motivator as well to him at this seasoned stage in his career. Throughout the talk he reminded the actors in the audience to ‘be kind’ to your team around you.
Philosophy
Maloney’s philosophy is rooted in pragmatism and emotional intelligence. “My job as a producer is to commit the money,” he asserts, describing his role as the central conduit between broadcasters like the BBC, production entities like Left Bank Pictures, and the creative teams executing the vision.
He views the producer as the head of every department, responsible for aligning the disparate elements of casting, design, and logistics into a cohesive whole. This holistic oversight was never more critical than during his tenure on Peaky Blinders Series 3, where he managed a staggering million-pound-plus-per-hour budget and logged 57 flights in a single year to oversee filming across various different projects.
Supporting
And
Casting
His collaboration with director Philip Barantini and actor-writer Stephen Graham on the harrowing series Adolescence exemplifies his ability to facilitate ambitious technical feats without sacrificing narrative depth.
Maloney’s role was to create a “safe environment” where actors could take risks. “You have to create wings around them,” he explains. “Let them know: ‘I’ve got you, you’re okay.’”
This supportive atmosphere was crucial for extracting the raw, visceral performances that defined the show’s critical success.
Casting remains one of Maloney’s most intuitive yet rigorous processes. While he leans heavily on trusted casting directors, he maintains a vivid internal vision of the characters. “I cast in my head as I go along,” he admits, noting that while he often envisions “big hitters” like Stephen Graham or Sean Bean, the right actor isn’t always the obvious choice. He prioritises in-person meetings over self-tapes, believing that an actor’s responsiveness and unscripted moments reveal their true potential. “A good take is noticing something the second time you didn’t see on the first,” he says, emphasising the importance of nuance and adaptability.
Maloney's
Journey.
From Good
To Great.
Maloney’s journey from first assistant director to BAFTA-winning producer informs his hands-on approach. Having worked on iconic series like Luther, he understands the grind of production from the ground up. This background allows him to demystify the process for directors and actors alike, fostering a collaborative spirit where everyone shares in the eventual pride of the broadcast.
Remains
Grounded
Despite his success with passion projects like I May Destroy You and Time, Maloney remains grounded in the realities of the industry. “I can’t indulge in passion projects too much,” he confesses. “I still have to work to pay the bills.” Represented by Ricky Robinson of UTA, he navigates the complex deal-making landscape with a focus on career progression and sustainability.
Human
Connection
Above All
Else
Today, Maloney continues to champion high-end scripted content while nurturing new talent in the North of England and increasingly now closer to home here in North East Wales. His career is a testament to the power of drive, oversight, and an unwavering commitment to the emotional truth of a story.
For Simon Maloney, producing is not just about logistics; it is about ensuring that every frame on the screen puts the human connection right at the heart of the story.