Rough House was founded in 1998 by a group of BBC journalists whose varied careers have spanned television, radio, newspapers, online and magazines.
The strength of the Rough House team is our experience in all aspects of the mainstream media, social media and communications: we have worked in news, current affairs, investigative journalism, business, documentaries, sport and on coverage of prestigious state occasions.
Between us we have trained thousands of people across the world, from top company executives to leading academics, written thousands of articles for newspapers, magazines and websites, and produced hundreds of films, both for broadcast and corporate clients.
Meet the Rough House team:
Ann Wright
Ann has more than 25 years’ experience working with the media – from both sides of the fence.
She draws on her experience as a print journalist and TV producer working on high profile and prestigious BBC programmes to create effective strategies and courses to raise her clients’ profile and influence, and to protect their reputation in a crisis.
Graham Fitzgerald
Graham is an experienced TV & digital news producer who has reported for national newspapers and produced news & current affairs programmes for the BBC, ITV, and Sky News. The co-founder of Rough House Media, he has designed & delivered courses for clients including Nokia, the RAF Benevolent Fund and the Civil Aviation Authority.
Paul Curran
Paul has more than 22 years’ experience as a journalist for the BBC and has interviewed Prime Ministers, chief executives and celebrities.
He has delivered media and crisis communications training for clients including Institutional Investor, Illumina, Bowel Cancer UK and the International Red Cross.
He is an experienced video producer and leads our smartphone video courses.
Sarah Morris-Beale
Sarah has 25 years’ experience as a print and broadcast journalist. She has worked for BBC in London, Brussels and Washington, and at Channel Four News.
As a PR executive, she focused on the charitable sector, working for the Churches Conservation Trust and Why Me.
Clients she has media trained include Nestle, Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Institutional Investor.
Sue Carruthers
Sue has over 20 years’ experience in training and coaching. She specialises in working with individuals and small groups on presentation, interpersonal and communication skills, and coaching presenters who need to deliver engagingly to large audience. She helps clients build their know-how and self-belief using an approach that is both pragmatic and sensitive.
Simon Brooke
Simon has 25 years' experience in communications training and development.
He writes and edits for national newspapers and specialist publications on subjects ranging from management to the environment and the internet.
Clients he has media trained include the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy and Cambridge Assessment.
Rob Curling
Rob has fronted numerous television programmes for the BBC and Sky, and as a commentator he has covered events such as the Olympics, Wimbledon, The Open and the Six Nations.
He hosts the UKs No 1 aviation podcast, Top Landing Gear.
Rob has media trained clients including St Andrews University, Nokia, Finnair and the Kennel Club.
Sarah Deech
Sarah is an experienced TV reporter and producer, having worked for BBC Television and Radio in the UK and abroad.
While in Washington, she covered two US elections and series produced the international documentary strand Our World.
She has media trained clients including the International Chamber of Shipping, Euromoney and Institutional Investor.
Martine Croxall
Martine is a TV presenter with the BBC News Channel and has covered major news stories from the aftermath of 9/11 to the coronavirus pandemic.
She chairs discussions for organisations such as the European Parliament, and coaches in presentation and communications skills.
Martine is also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
Errol Murray
Errol is a multi-media journalist with over 20 years behind the camera.
He has been at the forefront of ground-breaking advances in the media, spending 10 years at the BBC as a video journalist and four as a social media trainer at the BBC Academy.
Among others has media trained Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Bolton CVS.
Graeme Bowd
Graeme worked as a reporter for the Daily Mail and the Daily Express both in Northern Ireland and the Middle East. He then spent over 15 years at ITV, appearing in hundreds of live broadcasts.
He has media trained clients ranging from NATO and Kenyan Airways to the Animal Health Trust.
He is also part of the Rough House video production team.
Sumit Bose
Sumit has worked in print, radio and TV, specialising in science, the environment and energy. He has reported for the Independent, the Times, New Scientist, the BBC, ITV and Sky, and fronted the award-winning current affairs strand Inside Out.
In 2010 Sumit co-founded Energy Live News, an innovative online service for the UK business sector.
Sean Klein
As a BBC producer, Sean Klein worked on some of the biggest stories worldwide, from the Asian tsunami to US presidential elections.
He spent 10 years as Brussels Bureau Chief, giving him a thorough knowledge of EU institutions and policies.
Sean is multi-lingual and now provides media strategy, media training and event moderation.
Andy Ivy
Andy has more than 30 years’ experience as an editor and presenter in radio, television and digital media.
At Sky News he produced live TV programmes before launching a national radio service.
He is a news presenter at LBC and Share Radio, and has media trained a wide variety of public and private sector organisations.
Paul Brennan
Paul has more than 25 years’ experience as a journalist and presenter. Starting in newspapers, he has worked across radio and TV for the BBC, ITV, Channel 5, and Reuters. He is a media trainer and presentation coach and produces corporate videos and web content, working for clients in the private, public and third sector.