Podcast Summary

Podcast: James Reed: All About Business
Episode 59: From Rejection to £100m Deals: The Netflix Pitch That Changed British TV | Andy Harries
Date: December 29, 2025
Host: James Reed CBE
Guest: Andy Harries, Co-founder & Executive Chairman, Left Bank Pictures

Episode Overview

This episode features Andy Harries, a pivotal figure in British television and co-founder of Left Bank Pictures, the production house behind hits like The Crown and Outlander. Harries shares his journey from early career setbacks to masterminding globally successful TV ventures—culminating in the Netflix deal that transformed British television. The conversation spans the craft of storytelling, creative business-building, the balance of art and ambition, industry lessons, and the future of global entertainment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Early Career and Rejection (00:00–05:22)

• Granada Beginnings: Andy Harries recounts his start as a promotions scriptwriter at Granada in Manchester at age 21, having first been a newspaper journalist.
• Turning Point—Facing Rejection: At 26, Harries is rejected repeatedly for a producer role. A manager tells him, "I was not producing material and that I was never going to be made a producer by Granada… I should do another trade altogether." (04:01)
  • Impact: Rather than deter him, this stinging feedback fuels Harries’ drive to prove doubters wrong:
    • "It was like jet engine fuel inside me to think, all right, I'm gonna—I’m sure." (04:58)
• Embracing Change: The launch of Channel 4 led to a boom in independent production, giving Harries critical opportunities.

Documentary Years and Essential Experiences (05:22–13:58)

• Extensive travel and documentary work taught Harries the art of storytelling, networking, and improvising under pressure.
• He reflects on the lost footage from era-defining documentaries—such as his work with Malcolm McLaren and the Sex Pistols—regretting the lack of archives.

Transition from Documentary to Drama and Comedy (13:58–19:55)

• Entry via Comedy: After documentaries, Harries is drawn into comedy through a documentary on Lenny Henry, sparking a fascination with comedy’s immediacy and societal resonance.
  • Memorable story: Lenny Henry’s adaptation of his act for an American audience, highlighting comedy’s cultural specificity and the adaptability required to succeed internationally. (16:51–18:36)
• Eventually, this passion leads Harries to head up comedy at Granada, producing successes like The Royle Family and Cold Feet.

The Creative Partnership with Peter Morgan (19:55–24:07)

• Harries describes his enduring and fruitful relationship with writer Peter Morgan (creator of The Crown and others)—"We've been very good for each other. We've done fantastic stuff together." (19:55)
• Shared endeavors include The Queen (film) and The Audience (play), setting the stage for The Crown.

The Breakthrough: The Queen and the Leap to Entrepreneurship (24:07–37:14)

• Making of The Queen: Inspired by the societal impact of Princess Diana’s death, Harries produces The Queen, starring Helen Mirren.
• Entrepreneurial Leap: Buoyed by The Queen's global success, Harries leaves ITV to found Left Bank Pictures at age 50, motivated not by money but by creative independence.
  • "The freedom to do the sort of shows I wanted to do without being restrained..." (32:41)
• Naming the Company: "It was a shower moment... It's called Left Bank because I lean left... 'Bank' suggests reliability." (34:27–35:14)

Left Bank's Early Years and Breakout Hits (37:14–48:20)

• Initial Projects: Includes Wallander (with Kenneth Branagh) and Strike Back, a show Harries sold to Sky before reading the book it was based on, signaling his gut instinct and risk tolerance.
  • "My job to read the book? No..." (42:55)
• Financial Milestones: Left Bank starts lean, then grows rapidly. The BBC buys a 25% stake early on, then Sony acquires the company.
  • BBC invests £1m; four years later earns £10m return (48:26).

The Netflix Deal and The Crown (49:19–61:44)

• Genesis: After the play The Audience, Peter Morgan and Harries conceive The Crown as a high-budget, cinematic TV series spanning six seasons.
• Pitching in Hollywood: After rejection from conventional broadcasters unwilling to fund a £100m budget, Netflix buys the series outright in the room, with legendary minimal interference.
  • "Ted said, 'This is fantastic. We want this…'" (57:26)
  • "Peter said, 'I don't want any notes.' Ted said, 'That's fine, Peter. No notes.'" (57:43–58:14)
• Transformative Impact: The Crown marks Netflix’s global expansion and redefines British TV’s ambitions and reach.
  • Budgets rise from £5m to £10m per episode.
• Cultural Aftermath: The Crown (and earlier The Queen) actually boost public sentiment towards the UK monarchy.

Leadership, Creative Vision, and Future Directions (63:49–72:57)

• Succession Planning: Harries signals a transition from CEO to Executive Chairman, aiming to mentor and focus on passion projects while maintaining creative influence at Left Bank.
  • "Knowing when to get off the train is as important as knowing when to get on the train..." (65:17)
• Current and Upcoming Projects: Includes BBC adaptation of James Graham’s Dear England, and ambition to tell more distinctly British stories.
• Views on the BBC and Industry: Harries is a staunch advocate for the BBC as an incubator for national culture and emerging talent.

Personal Drive and Motivation (70:09–72:57)

• Staying Energized: Harries credits a strict fitness regimen as key to his ongoing motivation and creativity.
  • "I get up at 6, 6:30 every day and then I train…" (70:42)
• What’s Next: Aspires to a mix of mentoring, selective producing, and a balance of professional and personal passions in the years to come.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Rejection as Fuel:

  • "It was like jet engine fuel inside me to think, all right, I'm gonna—I’m sure." (04:58, Andy Harries)

• On Creative Opportunity:

  • "I just wanted to be unleashed. I think the entrepreneurial spirit of it wanted—oh, you know, God damn it, why don’t just do it?" (34:06, Andy Harries)

• On Pitching The Crown:

  • "Ted said, 'This is fantastic. We want this…' …Peter said, 'I don't want any notes.' Ted said, 'That's fine, Peter. No notes.'" (57:26–58:14, Andy Harries & Peter Morgan with Ted Sarandos)

• On Industry Change:

  • "In the 50 years I've been working in television, from those humble days of, you know, writing trailers for Granada Television through to kind of having global television shows drop—unbelievable." (60:19, Andy Harries)

• On Knowing When to Move On:

  • "Knowing when to get off the train is as important as knowing when to get on the train..." (65:17, Andy Harries)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Origin Story & Early Setbacks: 00:00–05:22
• Documentary Years & Travel: 05:22–13:58
• Comedy/Drama Transition: 13:58–19:55
• Partnerships—Peter Morgan: 19:55–24:07
• Breakthrough with The Queen & Entrepreneurship: 24:07–37:14
• Left Bank Pictures’ Formation & Growth: 37:14–48:20
• Netflix Pitch & Creation of The Crown: 49:19–61:44
• Financial Scale & Global TV Impact: 53:52–61:44
• Leadership & the Future: 63:49–72:57
• Personal Motivation: 70:09–72:57

Takeaways for Business and Creative Leaders

• Embrace Rejection as Motivation: Early setbacks can be powerful motivators for future achievement.
• Take Calculated Risks: Significant breakthroughs often require bold, even unconventional, pitches and business decisions.
• Value Partnerships: Long-term creative relationships and collaborative trust—like that with Peter Morgan—are invaluable.
• Know When to Step Up (and Down): Leadership is about timing, succession, and passing the baton at the right moment.
• Champion Local and Authentic Storytelling: Stories rooted in local culture can have powerful global resonance.
• Maintain Energy & Curiosity: Personal drive, fitness, and open-minded ambition are crucial for longevity in a competitive industry.

This episode provides an in-depth roadmap of building a creative business legacy—bringing together resilience, entrepreneurial spirits, and the courage to present bold ideas on the world stage.