After working as a freelance journalist working mostly for the musc press I did a post grad in journalism at the London College of Printing on the same course as Channel 4 presenter Anna Richardson. She was trying to get into TV and I got my first break when she tipped me off that Wall to Wall were looking for a music researcher for a 'what's on in London guide called Big City. After several interviews where they put me through my paces I got a job as a junior researcher on a six week probation period. Luckily after six weeks I was promoted to researcher!

I’ve been a researcher, assistant producer, live show producer, producer/director and a series producer. I've worked on entertainment and factual entertainment series for the BBC, Channel 4, ITV1 and five and also digital channels too Sky and Bravo. I was a series editor on the Big Breakfast overseeing the daily live entertainment features until the programme came off air.

I’ve made programmes for 16 different independent production companies including the BBC, Wall to Wall, Diverse and ITV, on 14 different productions including live studio, pre recorded and location.

I started working in development in 2003 at RDF Television. I was tasked with looking after the paid development for Rock School, an idea which came out of the development department. I wrote the treatment, suggested ideas and found the talent and also booked Gene Simmons for Rock School. I pitched it with Stephen Lambert to Andrew Newman, commissioning editor for entertainment at Channel 4 who commissioned it. It ran for two series and has had other spin offs including Rap School.

I also wrote the treatment for and formatted Brand New You (five) and devised Who’s Had What Done (ITV) and The Tim Lovejoy Show (Sky One) while at RDF before I joined Fox World UK, working on and developing entertainment shows and lottery pilots.

“Elsa Sharp is a tenacious people-finder and also a prodigious ideas person, she brought a flow of new ideas to meetings and was able to format her own and other peoples’ ideas”.
Teresa Watkins,Creative Director, Development, RDF TELEVISION

During a stint at Celador Productions I re-formatted Turn Back Your Body Clock which was commissioned by Channel 4 features. I executive produced in development World of Compulsive Hoarders a documentary which was commissioned by Channel 4 from Zig Zag Productions.

"Elsa worked as head of talent helping me crew up a range of factual entertainment series and single documentaries as well as working across development. She wrote and pitched ideas in meetings with all broadcasters and also oversaw the development of specific projects including World of Compulsive Hoarders which was commissioned by Channel 4. Elsa is very well connected, full of ideas and great to have around."
Jes Wilkins, Head of Factual Entertainment, Zig Zag Productions

While a series producer at BBC Entertainment I formatted and developed the first run of David Young (he of Weakest Link fame) format Come Fly With Me, which ran for two series on BBC 3, and the second series of hidden camera gameshow CCTV which was also devised by David Young and his team. I series produced and formatted The Yes/No Gameshow with Mast Media at Prospect Pictures for Bravo, a format which has sold around the world.

I write and develop my own ideas formats which include two factual entertainment series and a sitcom which are being pitched through various companies including Fever Media.

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