Hot Shots 2025: Ayrton McGurgan

“As a neurodivergent freelancer from the regions, I often have to advocate for myself in an industry that isn’t always built with people like me in mind,” says County Antrim-based Ayrton McGurgan.

Starting as a runner on indie films and TV dramas in rural Northern Ireland, McGurgan made the leap to factual and helped broaden the audience of two BBC formats – casting Mastermind’s youngest-ever champion and The Repair Shop regular Rebecca Bissonnet.

He produced about a third of the stories featured in series nine and 10 of the Ricochet show, demonstrating his sharp eye for a newsworthy item, from Roald Dahl’s cottage gate to a handwritten recipe book containing Bletchley Park’s codebreaking secrets.

“Ayrton has a warmth and relaxed attitude when conducting casting interviews, which belies the meticulous rigour of his questioning,” says series producer Paula Fasht. “His story notes provided the backbone for both filming and the edit. Ayrton is endlessly adaptable and has an ability to spin multiple plates.”

He is now working on Virgin Media One’s upcoming access-driven paramedic series First Timers On The Frontline.

Meanwhile, McGurgan has founded The Casting Crew, a platform to champion and connect under-represented talent with more than 30,000 followers and tailored networks.