Leigh McGrath
Associate Script Producer: 2005-2007
Script Producer: 2007
Leigh undertook a film studies degree at Griffith University and graduated in 1994, where he directed the third year student film A Change of Date, which told the story of a computer programmer who dabbled in online dating. Upon completion of his course, Leigh landed his first television writing gig when he joined the script team on the channel Nine drama series Pacific Drive, which was filmed on the Gold Coast. After the series wrapped up, Leigh relocated to Sydney and was a Story Editor on the teen drama series Breakers, which starred Ada Nicodemou (who he’d work with again during his time at Home & Away).
In 1999, Leigh was asked by Jason Daniel at Fremantle Media in London to relocate to Stockholm, Sweden and head up the writing team on the hit Swedish serial drama series Skilda Varldar (Separate Worlds). This was followed by successful stints as Story Editor on other Fremantle dramas series in Italy, Hungary and Finland. In 2003, Leigh relocated to London and joined the script team of the long running police drama series The Bill.
In 2005, Leigh returned to Australian television, landing a gig as associate script producer on Home and Away, alongside Dan Bennett. For two years, Leigh worked with a tight knit team, guiding the series through its highest rating period in the show’s history. Following Dan’s departure late in 2006, Leigh took over as script producer.
Following his departure from Summer Bay, Leigh worked as a freelance writer on Out of the Blue, an Australian/British co-production, before heading back to the UK and landing a job at the BBC. His BBC credits include the Emmy Award winning ‘The Lost Christmas’ starring Eddie Izzard, the BAFTA winning ‘Roy’ for Jam Media, ‘MI High’ for Kudos, ‘Me & My Monsters’ for Jim Henson Productions and ‘Combat Kids’ for Lime Pictures.
In 2010, Leigh returned to Melbourne and once again joined Daniel Bennett on Winners & Losers for the Seven Network. Leigh then headed to Queensland to join the team at Hoodlum Entertainment in 2011 as the Head of Television. Over seven years in the role, Leigh oversaw the company’s entire drama slate. He produced the crime thriller Secrets & Lies, which starred Martin Henderson (Virgin River) for Network Ten. The series was later adapted by ABC network in the US, and starred Ryan Phillipe and Juliette Lewis. He also produced The Strange Calls for the ABC, Vikings: Athelstan’s Journal and Texas Rising: The Lost Soldier for the US History Channel, and produced the feature film Australia Day, starring Bryan Brown.
While at Hoodlum, Leigh co-created, wrote and executive-produced Tidelands, the first Netflix original series to be commissioned in Australia. He also co-created, wrote and produced the hit ABC series Harrow, which was the first international drama production for Disney-owned ABC Studios International; as well as Five Bedrooms for Paramount Plus. The hit series has since been renewed for a fourth season.
In 2020, Leigh joined forces with Stephen Irwin to launch their own production company: Moving Floor Entertainment. The production house boasts ‘a one-stop-shop that can carry a production from the first pitch to the final sound mix’ with ‘a large and growing slate of content, with the ambition to create international content in Australia, and build a diverse body of local show-running talent.
Other Credits
Pacific Drive
Storyliner (1994)
Breakers
Story Editor (1999)
Skilda världar (Worlds Apart, Sweden)
Story Editor (1999-2000)
The Bill
Story Editor (2003)
Image with thanks to Leigh McGrath