James Hale is an award-winning series producer and director with a successful track record in devising and producing music and history documentaries for UK broadcasters. His credits include BAFTA Cymru nominated Public Enemy: Prophets of Rage, David Bowie & the Story of Ziggy Stardust, Born to Be Wild: The Golden Age of American Rock, One Nation Under a Groove: The Story of Funk and BAFTA Cymru winning Music For Misfits: The Story of Indie. In radio he has made many features and documentaries for Radio 1, 2 and 4 winning a Sony Award for the Radio 4 series Who Sold the Soul? in 2014.

In 2015 he set up Lazerbeam Productions and has developed, produced and directed Roots Reggae Rebellion (BBC Four), Hidden Cardiff (BBC One Wales & BBC Two) and directed Hits, Hype and Hustle (BBC Four). He has produced and directed two series of Lazerbeam production Hidden Wales with Will Millard for BBC Two, BBC Four and BBC Wales.

Hidden Cardiff was nominated for two BAFTA Cymru awards, including best director in October 2018. Series one of Hidden Wales was nominated for three BAFTA Cymru awards in 2019, including Best Director, and in 2021 series two was nominated for Best Photography. 

Most recently, he series-directed BBC Two’s A Killing in Tiger Bay, the story of the Cardiff Five, one of Britain’s most notorious and astonishing miscarriages of justice. He also produced a BBC Radio Wales’ documentary Can Mushrooms Save the World? and another Hidden Wales TV show is currently in production.