About Us
Meet The Team: May 2007
Each month we ask the DS team a different question. For MAY, the question is... What did you want to be when you were growing up and why?
Neil Wilkes
Editor contact
As editor of Digital Spy and spinoff Big Brother site DS:BB, Neil is responsible for overseeing all content on the network, including planning, production and publishing. Neil also handles staff management and the site's creative development, working on new ideas and projects.
> Click here for Neil's weekly column 'Tube Talk'
"Well I wanted to be an astronomer. Patrick Moore is my hero. In fact I still have a life-size poster of him, with xylophone, on my bedroom wall."
James Welsh
Systems Administrator
As Digital Spy's systems administrator, James manages a network of 24 servers, numerous content management systems, and the site's coding and design. In addition to his technical responsibilities, James oversees Digital Spy's international news coverage.
"A meteorologist at The Weather Channel. I still indulge my aspiration with the help of a radar image and the Tube Talk In Video green screen."
Alan Jay
Business Director contact
Alan handles many of Digital Spy's business operations, including liason with our advertising sales team and co-ordination of expenditure. With a keen interest in home entertainment, Alan also produces inside reports on upcoming hardware releases.
"~I'll tell you that when I've grown up."
Daniel Saney
Deputy Editor
As deputy editor of the site, Dan is responsible for commissioning, producing and subediting news and feature content on the site on a daily basis. Dan also acts as editor of the movies section, producing reviews, news and maintaining the film development database.
"I always wanted to be a writer, preferably fiction. I now live my dream vicariously."
Kris Green
Soaps Editor / Competitions Co-ordinator
Kris is responsible for all output in the most popular section of the site, including provision of news, spoilers and interviews.
"My dream was was always to become a barrister like Kavanagh QC and the such. Failing that, DCI Frost was a big role model. I'm not really sure why. Maybe it was the wig?"
Joanne Oatts
Media Correspondent
Joining Digital Spy in September 2006 from Brand Republic, Joanne assumes responsibility for content in the media area of the site, including news reports and the 'Weekend Spy' media features on Sundays.
> Click here for Weekend Spy
"I can remember wanting to be physiotherapist when I was 14, then settled on journalism when I was about 15. Don't know what happened then, as it was not I'd worked in advertising for many years, dabbled in acting and performing a bit, that I finally got round to it!"
Nick Levine
Entertainment Reporter
Nick joined Digital Spy in February 2007 as entertainment reporter, focusing primarily on showbiz news but also covering music and movie reviews. Nick quickly became known in the office for his love of Bunny Biscuits, stripey jumpers and colleagues' hairstyles.
"I always wanted to work in a sweet shop. One day, one day..."
Daniel Kilkelly
Reporter
Having been with DS for five years, Daniel is one of Digital Spy's longest-serving reporters and produces news content at weekends.
"Writer. I still want to be one! When I was very young, a candy floss maker!"
Dale Lloyd
Web Developer
Dale serves as primary moderator for the Digital Spy forums, handling on-board issues, support tickets and registration requests. He also works with James on all matters technical, from PHP coding to site imagery.
" . "
Miriam Zendle
Music Reporter
Miriam joined Digital Spy in October 2005 as a reporter for the entertainment zone. After the launch of music coverage in early 2006, Miriam transferred to chief reporter in this area, with responsibility for reviews, gig reports and interviews. Other assignments have seen Miriam cover the 2006 All*Star Cup and the Europe Music Awards in Copenhagen.
"I wanted to be a ballet dancer when I was little, because I was quite good at it and I love to perform. After that fell by the wayside, I settled on wanting to be in the police force for a variety of reasons - it's still a backup if journalism goes horribly wrong! Acting is also another discarded ambition - I'm a good actress, but I don't like seeing images of myself and I get too nervous on stage for it to be a realistic career path."
Ben Rawson-Jones
Cult Spy Editor
Ben joined DS in September 2006 and now works primarily in the cult section, producing show spoilers, reviews, news and recaps, in addition to the weekly Cult Spy feature. Ben also moonlights in the movies section with weekly reviews for the 'DS At The Movies' column.
"My career aspirations fluctuated wildly depending on my age and hormones. I originally wanted to be a paleontologist when I was about six, then a professional cricketer a few years later, followed by yearnings of a salaried position as Pamela Anderson's love slave. In my late teens I decided to be a film director, but lacked the money to buy my way into the industry (as most do). I'm currently harbouring ambitions of being a scriptwriter for large and small screen. Will probably end up in the gutter looking up at the stars, or alternatively flipping burgers."
> Click here for Cult Spy
Dave West
Reporter
Dave joined us in October 2005 as a reporter for the entertainment zone, with output focused primarily on news in the areas of showbiz and music.
"I remember wanting to be a postman for some time. No idea why, so I can only guess it was Postman Pat."
Dave Cribb
Reporter
Dave Cribb serves as a reporter in the entertainment zone of the site, with particular emphasis on music news.
"My ambitions changed weekly depending on what was happening, but mostly revolved around the usual boyhood dreams ie. playing for United when I was a kid, and being in a famous band when I was a teenager."
Matt Houghton
Reporter
Matt recently returned to his role as reporter for DS following a stint working with a local charity in East Africa.
"Pretty sure I wanted to be a Teenage Mutant Hero Turtle. But then I realised I was never going to be tall enough."
Dek Hogan
Resident Critic
Dek has been with Digital Spy for five years and serves as our resident critic for all things television. As well as a weekly TV Diary, Dek also publishes regular columns on DS:BB and the X Factor section of the site.
> Click here for Dek's weekly column 'TV Diary'
"I wanted to be James Bond. Now I'd rather be Q."
Darren Shelley
Lineups Guru
Darren is responsible for maintaining the huge volumes of data in the channel lineups section of the media zone and also covers Scottish soap River City for the soaps section.
April 2007
March 2007
Editor contact
As editor of Digital Spy and spinoff Big Brother site DS:BB, Neil is responsible for overseeing all content on the network, including planning, production and publishing. Neil also handles staff management and the site's creative development, working on new ideas and projects.
> Click here for Neil's weekly column 'Tube Talk'
"Well I wanted to be an astronomer. Patrick Moore is my hero. In fact I still have a life-size poster of him, with xylophone, on my bedroom wall."
Systems Administrator
As Digital Spy's systems administrator, James manages a network of 24 servers, numerous content management systems, and the site's coding and design. In addition to his technical responsibilities, James oversees Digital Spy's international news coverage.
"A meteorologist at The Weather Channel. I still indulge my aspiration with the help of a radar image and the Tube Talk In Video green screen."
Business Director contact
Alan handles many of Digital Spy's business operations, including liason with our advertising sales team and co-ordination of expenditure. With a keen interest in home entertainment, Alan also produces inside reports on upcoming hardware releases.
"~I'll tell you that when I've grown up."
Deputy Editor
As deputy editor of the site, Dan is responsible for commissioning, producing and subediting news and feature content on the site on a daily basis. Dan also acts as editor of the movies section, producing reviews, news and maintaining the film development database.
"I always wanted to be a writer, preferably fiction. I now live my dream vicariously."
Soaps Editor / Competitions Co-ordinator
Kris is responsible for all output in the most popular section of the site, including provision of news, spoilers and interviews.
"My dream was was always to become a barrister like Kavanagh QC and the such. Failing that, DCI Frost was a big role model. I'm not really sure why. Maybe it was the wig?"
Media Correspondent
Joining Digital Spy in September 2006 from Brand Republic, Joanne assumes responsibility for content in the media area of the site, including news reports and the 'Weekend Spy' media features on Sundays.
> Click here for Weekend Spy
"I can remember wanting to be physiotherapist when I was 14, then settled on journalism when I was about 15. Don't know what happened then, as it was not I'd worked in advertising for many years, dabbled in acting and performing a bit, that I finally got round to it!"
Entertainment Reporter
Nick joined Digital Spy in February 2007 as entertainment reporter, focusing primarily on showbiz news but also covering music and movie reviews. Nick quickly became known in the office for his love of Bunny Biscuits, stripey jumpers and colleagues' hairstyles.
"I always wanted to work in a sweet shop. One day, one day..."
Reporter
Having been with DS for five years, Daniel is one of Digital Spy's longest-serving reporters and produces news content at weekends.
"Writer. I still want to be one! When I was very young, a candy floss maker!"
Web Developer
Dale serves as primary moderator for the Digital Spy forums, handling on-board issues, support tickets and registration requests. He also works with James on all matters technical, from PHP coding to site imagery.
" . "
Music Reporter
Miriam joined Digital Spy in October 2005 as a reporter for the entertainment zone. After the launch of music coverage in early 2006, Miriam transferred to chief reporter in this area, with responsibility for reviews, gig reports and interviews. Other assignments have seen Miriam cover the 2006 All*Star Cup and the Europe Music Awards in Copenhagen.
"I wanted to be a ballet dancer when I was little, because I was quite good at it and I love to perform. After that fell by the wayside, I settled on wanting to be in the police force for a variety of reasons - it's still a backup if journalism goes horribly wrong! Acting is also another discarded ambition - I'm a good actress, but I don't like seeing images of myself and I get too nervous on stage for it to be a realistic career path."
Ben Rawson-Jones
Cult Spy Editor
Ben joined DS in September 2006 and now works primarily in the cult section, producing show spoilers, reviews, news and recaps, in addition to the weekly Cult Spy feature. Ben also moonlights in the movies section with weekly reviews for the 'DS At The Movies' column.
"My career aspirations fluctuated wildly depending on my age and hormones. I originally wanted to be a paleontologist when I was about six, then a professional cricketer a few years later, followed by yearnings of a salaried position as Pamela Anderson's love slave. In my late teens I decided to be a film director, but lacked the money to buy my way into the industry (as most do). I'm currently harbouring ambitions of being a scriptwriter for large and small screen. Will probably end up in the gutter looking up at the stars, or alternatively flipping burgers."
> Click here for Cult Spy
Dave West
Reporter
Dave joined us in October 2005 as a reporter for the entertainment zone, with output focused primarily on news in the areas of showbiz and music.
"I remember wanting to be a postman for some time. No idea why, so I can only guess it was Postman Pat."
Dave Cribb
Reporter
Dave Cribb serves as a reporter in the entertainment zone of the site, with particular emphasis on music news.
"My ambitions changed weekly depending on what was happening, but mostly revolved around the usual boyhood dreams ie. playing for United when I was a kid, and being in a famous band when I was a teenager."
Reporter
Matt recently returned to his role as reporter for DS following a stint working with a local charity in East Africa.
"Pretty sure I wanted to be a Teenage Mutant Hero Turtle. But then I realised I was never going to be tall enough."
Dek Hogan
Resident Critic
Dek has been with Digital Spy for five years and serves as our resident critic for all things television. As well as a weekly TV Diary, Dek also publishes regular columns on DS:BB and the X Factor section of the site.
> Click here for Dek's weekly column 'TV Diary'
"I wanted to be James Bond. Now I'd rather be Q."
Lineups Guru
Darren is responsible for maintaining the huge volumes of data in the channel lineups section of the media zone and also covers Scottish soap River City for the soaps section.
April 2007
March 2007
