Channel 4 Paralympics
Preparing Rose Ayling-Ellis to present live sport on national television, and helping deliver a moment that made British television history.
Broadcast / Live Coverage
Overview
The brief was unlike anything that had been done before. Rose Ayling-Ellis was preparing to present live sport on national television as a deaf presenter, something many people believed would be impossible, or at the very least highly improbable.
Over four months, Angus worked closely with the team to build a process that would make live presenting achievable in one of television’s most demanding environments. The challenge was not just helping Rose feel confident on screen. It was designing a way for her to work within a live broadcast system built around earpieces, talkback and constantly changing instructions.
The result was a carefully planned approach that combined studio preparation, technical problem-solving and repeated rehearsal, helping Rose feel more comfortable, more prepared and more in control ahead of live coverage.
How Angus supported the team
Over four months, Angus worked closely with the team to build a process that would make live presenting achievable in one of television's most demanding environments.
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Settling into the studio
The first step was helping Rose get comfortable in the studio itself. Before live presenting could become realistic, she needed to understand how the environment worked, what would be expected of her, and how the mechanics of live television would affect her role.
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Building the live setup
From there, the work became much more technical. A setup had to be created that allowed Rose to communicate naturally with guests and her co-presenter, while also receiving clear instructions from the gallery in real time. Interpreters were positioned carefully within her eyeline, and the process was tested repeatedly to make sure the system could work under live pressure.
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Introducing the Flashboard
An important part of that solution was the introduction of the Flashboard, which allowed key instructions to be sent directly to Rose on an iPad. Combined with rehearsal and careful planning, it became a vital part of helping her feel settled and ready in the studio.
Outcome
What made the project remarkable was not just the scale of the challenge, but the fact that it worked so well in such a high-pressure environment. Rose brought determination, warmth and natural presence to the role, and the preparation around her helped create a setup that made live presentation possible.
The Channel 4 Paralympics became a powerful example of what thoughtful broadcast preparation can achieve. It was a moment of genuine television history, and one that showed what can happen when the right people, planning and belief come together.
Rose Ayling-Ellis MBE
Channel 4 Presenter
Angus immediately understood the pressure of the situation and gave practical, clear guidance that made a real difference to how I approached it.