About

CanCan Productions is an Independent production company set up by Rebecca Papworth.

We are based in Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, a stone’s throw from Leeds and Manchester, giving us access to great views and different voices.


News

We are pleased to be the recipients of BBC drama small indie fund.

We have a comedy coming out in 2024... more details to come soon.

Steph’s Packed lunch is delighted to be working with Leeds Trinity University in the Autumn series of SPL.


People

Rebecca Papworth, MD

Rebecca is a Creative Producer and Executive, with twenty years experience at senior level.

She established Hat Trick North, launched The Salford Sitcom Showcase and was Executive Producer at BBC Comedy North; overseeing three series of Citizen Khan for BBC1, developing Sunny D for BBC3, Barbara Nice for Radio 2 and Home from Home for BBC1. She has also spent time as a Commissioning Executive for BBC Nations and Regions, with credits including award-winning shows Rab C Nesbitt, Gavin & Stacey, The Royle Family and A Matter of Loaf and Death. She was the first woman to produce Have I Got News For You, series produced award-winning I Love the 80’s, created Fame, Set & Match and developed Johnny & Inel for CBBC.

Sarah Buckenham, Production Executive

Sarah Buckenham has extensive production management experience having worked in the industry for over 20 years.

She has worked across a wide range of genres including: Live, studio, factual, factual entertainment, childrens, comedy, scripted, events, digital branded content & commercials and has managed programmes for all UK broadcasters both terrestrial and non-terrestrial as well as various event projects for private clients & companies. Sarah was Director of Production at Princess Productions for over 10 years. Since then, she has been Managing Director at Gobstopper Television and consulted as Head of Production at News UK in the launch of the Talk TV channel with Piers Morgan. Currently Sarah oversees the Steph’s Packed Lunch show in Leeds as Production Executive and works alongside Rebecca at CanCan Productions helping oversee the company’s growth strategy. When Sarah isn’t working in television she teaches yoga and is currently studying for a diploma in wine.

Susan Cooke

Legal and Business affairs

Susan originally qualified into the intellectual property department of City law firm Nicholson Graham and Jones (now K&L Gates), before moving into Channel 4’s Business Affairs department. There, she worked across several genres, including Entertainment, T4, Music and Arts, Channel 4’s, and also working across some of Channel 4’s digital, merchandising and main sponsorship deals. From Channel 4, Susan moved into the independent production sector, working for At It Productions and then as Lion Television’s Director of Legal and Business Affairs for twelve years where she gained direct experience on a wide variety of high profile programming, ranging from popular and award winning shows such as Horrible Histories and Homes under the Hammer, to blue chip international documentaries such as Secrets of China’s Forbidden City and The Hunt for the Arctic Ghost Ship.

Mark Rogers

Legal and Business affairs

After qualifying with West End law firm Olswang, Mark started his media career in Channel 4’s Business Affairs Department where he had responsibility for the commercial aspects for the Channel’s factual, factual entertainment and digital output, including arts, daytime, features and documentaries. Among many programmes he had responsibility for were "Channel 4 News", "Big Brother", "Time Team" and "Cutting Edge". Mark left Channel 4 to join RDF Media (now Banijay UK) in the role of Chief Commercial Officer responsible for all the commercial aspects of the production output of Banijay as well as its distribution activities. Mark has dealt with all major broadcasters in the UK and many overseas.

Dominique Molloy

Dominique is Head of Production, with twenty plus years working in television and film.

With vast experience in the industry across genres including drama, comedy and children’s television. Having moved up through the ranks, she understands the value and requirements of the roles that she oversees and has worked on a variety of BAFTA award winning productions including The Mrs Merton Show, The Royle Family, Cold Feet (original series), Eric and Ernie and The 4 O’Clock Club. Dominique was also part of the teams that created BAFTA (2016) nominated productions Sleeping Lions and So Awkward. She is a people person with a “hands on” approach who enjoys seeing a story come to life from development through to on-screen.

Justine Potter

Head of Drama Development

Justine has been developing, producing and exceeding in drama and comedy for TV and audio across the UK broadcasting landscape. She’s worked with some of the UK’s best loved writers including Jimmy McGovern and Val McDermid as well as launching the writing careers of so many new TV and Audio writers who are now well known across the industry; talent including Anthony Schumacher, Helen Black, Maxine Peake and many many more. Before moving to Can Can in 2020 she worked with UK companies including Sister Pictures, LA Productions, Red, BBC and Savvy Productions At Can Can Justine continues to find and break the best new diverse and often northern talent to launch their earlier careers as well as work with some of the UK’s favourite writing talents. She heads up the development team and is producing / exec’ing on new comedy and dramas for Can Can.

Thea Burrows

Development Producer

At 26, Thea established a Cannes Lions winning branded content production company which was recognised in Creative England’s Top 50 most creative and disruptive screen companies. In 2020 Thea decided to combine her passion for developing film and TV drama with the valuable skills honed through 16 years of connecting with audiences through cinematic brand storytelling. Since then, she has produced an award-winning feature film, Wait For Me and numerous narrative short films and has received funding to develop projects from BFI, XR Stories, Screen Yorkshire and Bradford City of Culture. She excels at giving creatives the freedom to do their best work and spotting and developing new writers and material. Passionate about shooting in her beloved North and encouraging more female creative talent, Thea is a BAFTA Connect member and trustee at the Independent Cinema Office.