Hot Shots 2026: Archie Smith

Archie Smith has become a lynchpin of Ranga Bee’s development team since joining the company as a freelance runner just three years ago.

Initially working on Romesh Ranganathan’s Parents Evening, Archie distinguished himself through the quality of his ideas, his initiative, and his innate understanding of unscripted television.

Now a senior development researcher, Archie helps to create and shape new formats from their earliest stages through to greenlight. He earned his first development credit on major new TLC comedy panel show Unacceptable after helping to get the commission over the line by creating and testing ideas for new rounds, researching potential content for guest comedians, and helping to design the final pitch deck.

Prior to this, he got stuck into art history for CBBC’s Go Get Arty, sourcing related props, testing games and other elements, and providing the team with notes during recording.

“What makes Archie stand out is the maturity of his thinking,” says Ranga Bee head of entertainment Shereen Docherty. “He has brilliant instincts for comedy, a strong understanding of what makes formats commercially exciting, and an ability to improve ideas through thoughtful, constructive input far beyond what you would normally expect at his level.

“Archie’s also incredibly reliable, proactive, and collaborative - the sort of person every team hopes to have. Whether he’s helping shape a new format, refining pitch materials, or supporting the wider team under pressure, Archie approaches everything with intelligence, care, and enthusiasm. I believe he has all the qualities to become a major creative force in television.”