Ayrton McGurgan
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Image 1: Ayrton is smiling towards the camera. He has short black hair, wears glasses and a brown checked overshirt over a dark green T-shirt, and is photographed against a dark background.
Image 2: Ayrton is standing in front of a wall with colourful triangular bunting, smiling at the camera while holding a BAFTA award. He is wearing glasses and a rust-coloured knitted jumper.
About Ayrton
Ethnicity: White Irish
Pronouns: He/Him
Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland
Ayrton is a Producer based in Belfast, working across unscripted TV, fact ent and access-led docs, who has always loved stories. Before TV, he was writing songs, fascinated by the lives and experiences of the people around him, and storytelling has always been the thread running through everything he's done.
He originally thought he'd end up behind the camera, but it didn't take long to realise that what interested him most wasn't the shot, but the person standing in front of it.
These days, his bread and butter is finding real people with extraordinary stories and helping them tell those stories with confidence, care and authenticity. He doesn't look for people chasing fame; he's most interested in people who have lived, built or overcome something, or simply have a perspective that deserves to be heard.
He genuinely believes everyone has a story worth telling if you're willing to listen, which is what drives him most. He doesn't think TV should simply fill an hour; it should leave people feeling something. The best programmes stay with us long after the credits roll because they're rooted in real people telling honest stories. That's the kind of TV he wants to make.
Over the past seven years he's had the privilege of working on productions including The Repair Shop (BBC One), First Timers on the Frontline (Virgin Media One), Mastermind (BBC Two) and Home of the Year (RTÉ One). He's worked across casting, contributor development, story producing, welfare and access, helping shape contributor journeys from first contact through to transmission.
Alongside his freelance work, he founded The Casting Crew during lockdown as a way of helping productions connect with contributors more easily. What began as a simple casting resource has grown into a community of more than 30,000 members, championing regional voices and opening doors for people who might never have thought TV was for them.
As a neurodivergent creative, he brings curiosity, empathy and a different way of looking at the world to every production. He cares deeply about the people he works with. Building trust, creating a positive experience and making contributors feel heard has always mattered just as much to him as making great TV. He's known for his eye for story, his contributor care and being the person who keeps calm when the pressure is on.
He's a Broadcast Hot Shot 2025 and an Edinburgh TV Festival Ones to Watch 2024, but the things he's proudest of are the contributors who tell him they enjoyed the process, the productions that invite him back, and the stories that continue to resonate with audiences long after they've been broadcast.
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Image 1: Ayrton is standing beside a brick wall with the sea and distant mountains behind him, smiling towards the camera. He is wearing a green overshirt over a white T-shirt, with sunglasses hanging from the neckline.
Image 2: Ayrton is standing outdoors on a gravel area with trees and a bench in the background. He is holding his large dog, Willow, in his arms. Ayrton is wearing a dark checked suit and smiling towards Willow, who is looking up at him wearing an emerald green bow.
Recent Work
Casting Producer - The Repair Shop On The Road (BBC One)
Producer - First Timers On The Frontline (Virgin Media One)
Casting Producer - Various Funded Developments Pilots (Channel 4)
Casting AP - Funded Development Pilot (ITV)
Casting AP - Ireland’s Smartest (RTÉ One)
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Image 1: Ayrton is standing on an outdoor path beside a white building wearing a bright pink racing suit and a white racing helmet with the visor raised. He has his arms folded and is facing the camera.
Image 2: Ayrton is standing beside a traditional red London telephone box talking on a mobile phone. He is wearing sunglasses, a blue denim jacket over a white T-shirt, checked trousers and black trainers.
