© 2017 Lily Jo
I started performing as a child in 1982, singing and dancing with Rod Hull & Emu on Emu's World (ITV) which later became Emu's All Live Pink Windmill Show (ITV). I stayed with the show for 5 years and my time as a Pink Windmill Kid would prove to be invaluable.
In the 90s I appeared in many TV shows including Poirot (ITV), 3 series of Spatz (ITV), the Saturday morning show Motormouth (ITV) and presented a daily show, The DJ Kat Show (Sky TV) for 3 years.
I then started hiding under tables and became a puppeteer, working on many kid's shows which included 3 series of Bug Alert (Channel 4), 2 series of Beachcomber Bay (Channel 5), the ITV series Timekeepers Of The Millennium and the Netflix/Jim Henson production of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.
In 2021, I was lucky to be asked to assist and play occasional characters on the second series of the reboot of Spitting Image for BritBox.
About Me
Television
Spitting Image | Avalon/BritBox | 2021
Puppeteer - Series 2
Directors: Adam Miller/Steve Bendelack/David Sant
Executive Producers: Jon Thoday/Roger Law/Joanna Beresford
Animal Farm | Marjan TV/Manoto | 2019
Puppeteer
Director: Jeff Naylor
Producer: Reza Yousefzadeh
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance | Netlix/The Jim Henson Company | 2018
Puppeteer - Assistant/Background
Producer/Director: Loius Leterrier
Executive Producer: Lisa Henson
Shabake Nim | Marjan TV/Manoto | 2017-19
Special Skills
Puppeteer
In 1996, I discovered a whole new way of performing... Puppeteering offered me a way to create and play many different characters while interacting with other actors on a very different level (you can get away with saying almost anything with a puppet!)
I developed a technique similar to patting your head a rubbing your tummy, as I found myself reading scripts and handling props, while watching multi camera shots and lip-syncing the puppet's mouth to my own voice.
Puppeteering is by no means an easy job. You spend most of the time hiding in the dark, staring at a monitor, in twisted positions with your hand stuck up heavy and uncomfortable creatures.
Four years later, I decided that I needed a change from sitting in a dark place and staring at a screen all day, so I got a job as a video editor...sitting in a dark place and staring at a screen all day!
Puppeteer for the Iranian version of Spitting Image
Director: Jeff Naylor
Producer: Ashkan Ghafari/Noushin Mehravaran
Executive Producer: Kayvan Abassi/Marjan Abassi
Virgin TV: Kids - Tiddlers TV | Vubiquity/Virgin Media | 2013-14
Puppeteer - Red
Director/Producer: Iain Farnsworth
Poltergeusts | Carlton TV/ITV | 1999
Actor: PC Darren McNugget
Director/Producer: Neville Green
Executive Producer: Michael Forte
Timekeepers of the Millennium | ITV | 1999
Puppeteer & Voice: Sprinx
Producer/Director: Graham C Williams
Series Producer: Ged Allen
Snudge & Wrench | Carlton Kids | 1999
Writer, Puppeteer & Voice: Snudge
Producer/Director: Richard Simkin
Executive Producer: Michael Forte
Supergrass Music Video | Hammer & Tongs | 1999
Puppeteer - 'Pumping On You Stereo'
Director: Gus Jennings
Production | Post production
When I first stepped into a TV studio as a child, I fell in love with the technical side. I spent many years developing my skills and working professionally as a Video Editor, Promo Producer and Cameraman and have a background in post production, using Final Cut Pro X, Final Cut Pro 7, Avid Media Composer, Photoshop and Motion. For me, this is where most of the magic happens.
In 2003, I started making promos (trailers) for film and TV shows and between 2007 - 2009, I won some awards for my work as a Promo Producer. I was chuffed to be nominated four times and win two Promax Gold and one Promax Silver awards.
Promax - Industry recognition for those engaged in the marketing of television and video content
In 2005, I also shared in a D&AD Graphite Pencil award for my contribution as Promotions Editor for Interactive TV Services. Working as part of a team, I was involved in launching 'Scamp' - the very first children's interactive TV service.
D&AD Graphite Pencil - For stand-out work that rises above the rest
Recently, my work has taken me into corporate programme making and online entertainment, producing, directing and filming on green screen and multi camera.
Sunnyside Up | Channel 5 | 1998
Puppeteer & Voice: Sunny the Dog
Producer/Director: David Crozier
Series Producer: Ged Allen
Dappledown Farm | Channel 5 | 1998-99
Puppeteer & Voice: Lucky Ducky, Fiona the Frog, Columbus the Cockerel
Director: David Crichton
Executive Producer: Catherine Kirkwood
Beachcomber Bay | Channel 5 | 1998-99
Puppeteer & Voice: Salty Dog, Colin the Cod, Mr Sludge, Captain Bob
Directors: Adrian Hedley, Richard Callanan
Executive Producer: Adrian Moore
Havakazoo | Channel 5 | 1996-2000
Puppeteer & Voice: Messy
Producer/Director: David Crozier
Executive Producers: Richard Morrs, Rosalind Farrimond
Professor Bubble | GMTV/ITV | 1996
Puppeteer & Voice: Beamer
Producer/Director: David Crozier
Executive Producer: Mark Wilson
The Parkies | ITV | 1996-97
Presenter/Actor/Puppeteer: Jimmy
Producer/Director: David Crozier
Jays' World | Meridian/ITV | 1996-97
Puppeteer & Voice: Morris
Director: Ingrid Duffell
Executive Producer: Richard Morrs
Bug Alert | GMTV/ITV & Channel 4 | 1996-97
Puppeteer & Voice: Plug Bug, Slopp
Director: Peter Eyre
Executive Producer: Catherine Robins
Boiled Egg & Soldiers | Sky | 1996
Actor: Cameron Kiljoy
Director: John FD Northover
Executive Producer: Gale Claydon
The DJ Kat Show | Sky | 1993​-96
Presenter
Directors: Nick Mallett, Michael Kerrigan, David Crozier, Patricia Mordecai,
John FD Northover, Adrian Hedley, Peter Eyre, Colin Cant, Nigel Douglas,
Alistair Clark, Annie Morris, Paul Cole, Conor McAnally, Andrew Morgan,
Jonathan Bullen
Executive Producer: Gale Claydon
Mike & Angelo | Thames TV/ITV | 1993
Actor: Raymond
Producer: Alan Horrox
Director: Neville Green
Wizadora | Meridian Broadcasting/ITV | 1992​-93
Actor: Tatty Bogle
Producer/Director: David Crozier
Executive Producer: Janie Grace
Megamania | Thames TV/ITV | 1992​
Presenter
Producer/Director: Melanie Eriksen
Executive Producer: Alan Horrox
Poirot (One, Two, Buckle My Shoe) | LWT/ITV | 1992​
Actor: Alfred Biggs
Producer: Brian Eastman
Director: Ross Devenish
Executive Producer: Nick Elliott
Destination X | The Children's Channel | 1990
Presenter
Producer/Director: Jimmy Nairn
Spatz | Thames TV/ITV | 1990-92​
Actor: Vince Powers
Producer: Kim Spackman
Directors: Baz Taylor/Stan Swan/Neville Green
Executive Producer: Alan Horrox
Motormouth (Spin Off) | TVS/ITV | 1988​
Actor: Jimmy Lane
Associate Producer: Ian Cross
Director: David Crozier
Series Producers: Janie Grace/Mike Edwards
Executive Producer: J Nigel Pickard
Playbus | Felgate Productions/BBC TV | 1988​
Presenter
Producer: Anne Reay
Director: Brian Jameson
Executive Producer: Cynthia Felgate
Emu's All Live Pink Windmill Show | Central TV/ITV | 1984-86​
Dancer/Singer/Presenter
Choreographer: Alan Harding
Musical Director: Colin Campbell
Producer/Director: Colin Clews
Emu's World | Central TV/ITV | 1982-84​
Dancer/Singer
Choreographer: Alan Harding
Musical Director: Colin Campbell
Producer/Director: Ron Francis/Colin Clews