Hot Shots 2025: Honor Douglas

After joining ITV’s Champions: Full Gallop team as a runner for a one-day shoot on Boxing Day, Honor Douglas turned down a secure job as an agent’s assistant to take a 10-week runner contract and was promoted to junior researcher within three months, working on two YouTube projects with Marks & Spencer.

She has now firmly established herself as one of the most important members of the Champions team over two series, taking on responsibilities typically offered to far more experienced APs or producers.

Executive producer Tom Willis notes that in the first series, Douglas secured access that ultimately shaped the series after overhearing that formidable Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins was proving hard to pin down.

“Convincing Willie to give us access to his home and to wear a radio mic during the Cheltenham Gold Cup, where others far more experienced had tried and failed, was a standout example of how Honor takes on responsibility beyond her years,” Willis says.

Douglas scheduled more than 100 location shoots for series two, often leaping into action when race events were confirmed just 48 hours in advance.

She has also been a junior researcher on CBBC series Brilliant Bikers and worked on a feature film and doc for Ventureland, both of which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.