No Offence writer Jimmy Dowdall and Warp Films chief executive Mark Herbert will be among the speakers at next month’s Prolific North Live event in Manchester, which is being produced in association with Broadcast.

They will deliver keynote speeches at the media, marketing and creative industries expo on 15-16 February, held at EventCity.

Appearing in the Broadcast and Visual Media Theatre, the two north of England-based creatives will provide visitors with insight into their work as part of a two-day programme of talks put together specifically for the TV industry.

Manchester-based Dowdall has worked extensively with Paul Abbott throughout his career, penning several episodes of Shameless, co-writing the feature film Twenty8K and, most recently, working on both series of Channel 4 police procedural No Offence.

At Prolific North Live, on 15 February, he will appear alongside AbbottVision executive producer Martin Carr to discuss how No Offence, which stars Joanna Scanlan as a no-nonsense copper, was written and produced.

Focus on drama

The following day, Bafta Award-winning Herbert, who founded Warp in 1999, will take time out from producing supernatural thriller feature film Ghost Stories to discuss his company’s catalogue of critically acclaimed TV and film work, including C4 series This Is England and Sky Atlantic heist drama The Last Panthers.

Also on the bill will be a dedicated session for TV freelancers covering training, networking and work-finding. This session will feature series producer Sima Ray, who has worked on Homes By The Sea and Junior Vets, and Nicky Ball, the national crew and facilities manager for Creative England.

A keynote presentation by ITV and a debate on the Future of Children’s TV will also take place during the event.

The Broadcast and Visual Media Theatre is being produced in association with Broadcast. Further speakers will be announced in the coming days.

Prolific North Live is hosted by Manchester-based publishing company Prolific North and is now in its second year. It will feature more than 100 exhibitors, with C4 and MediaCityUK digital hub firm The Landing as event partners.

More than 5,000 people are expected to attend.

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