He has worked as a series editor for the BBC, Channel Four and Sky Sports and as a news executive and producer/director for ITV, specialising in news, current affairs, factual, documentary, sport and children’s programmes. He has worked for all Britain’s terrestrial channels – the BBC, ITV, C4 and Five- and established Britain’s first cable sports channel called Sports Wire.

Before launching Gumtree Media Ltd in 2005, Alan worked in the independent sector for Chrysalis Television, one of the industry’s leading production companies. At Chrysalis he was part of the team that won the prized Formula One contract and went on to be a producer in ITV’s first season covering the sport.

He set up Chrysalis North, based in Sheffield, where he was responsible for skills series with England legends Michael Owen and Darren Gough, Channel Four’s Italian Football coverage, and hard-hitting films about Vinnie Jones, Child Killers and Hells Angels.

His programmes have won a Royal Television Society Award and been nominated for a Bafta.