Vicky Thomas is an experienced director for television drama based in Manchester with over 30 years of industry experience. A highly visual and creative director, Vicky has a proven track record telling stories in the most moving and exciting way possible and is particularly passionate about character led stories. Since 2014, Vicky has directed over 65+ hours of broadcast drama, including directing on Waterloo Road (Rope Ladder Fiction/BBC1) and Crown Court (ITV). Vicky is also a returning director for ITV’s prime-time dramas Coronation Street and Emmerdale and has been trusted with some of the series major dramatic episodes.
Vicky’s thrilling Emmerdale double episode Limo crash is one of the soaps most memorable stunts, leading to the deaths of several villagers. Known for her keen eye for character and complex emotions, Vicky drew out raw and powerful performances from her actors all while balancing tense action on the thin ice of the lake. Away from the adrenaline of big stunts, Vicky also directed the highly praised hour-long Coronation Street special episode Paul and Billy’s Happy Day, devoted entirely to a day in the life of MND sufferer Paul Foreman from his perspective. The episode dealt with the deterioration of Paul’s condition and features heartbreaking scenes as Paul and husband Billy come to terms with the fact that they have limited time left. This episode was part of the storyline that led to Peter Ash (Paul) winning the National Television Award for Best Serial Drama Performance 2024. Vicky has also directed for continuing dramas River City (BBC Scotland) and Hollyoaks (Lime Pictures/C4).
Vicky moved into directing scripted drama in 2014 having previously cut her teeth in the world of factual television and entertainment, directing and producing numerous projects for ITV and the BBC throughout the 90’s, 00’s and 2010’s.
| Television (broadcast – scripted drama): | |
|---|---|
| Waterloo Road | Rope Ladder Fiction / BBC1 Director for the prime-time drama set in a Manchester comprehensive school 2 x 60’ episodes |
| Crown Court | ITV Studios / ITV Director and Producer for the two-part miniseries with Judge Rob Rinder presiding, resurrecting the iconic courtroom drama of the seventies and eighties 2 x 30’ episodes (Director and Producer) |
| Emmerdale | ITV Studios / ITV1 Director for the prime-time continuing drama 75+ x 30’ episodes |
| Coronation Street | ITV Studios / ITV1 Director for the long running ITV1 continuing drama 45+ x 30’ episodes |
| Hollyoaks | Lime Pictures / Channel 4 Director on the popular Channel 4 continuing drama 15 x 30’ episodes |
| River City | BBC Studios / BBC Scotland Director for Scottish continuing-drama series 2x 30’ episodes |
| Television (broadcast – Factual / Entertainment): | |
|---|---|
| Yes Chef | Cookery competition presented by Sheree Murphy 35+ episodes (Director and Producer) |
| University Challenge: Class Of 2014 | Series Producer |
| Goodbye Granadaland | Peter Kay bids a fond farewell to the iconic television landmark that is Granada Studios in Manchester 90’ TV Movie/Documentary (Director) |
| Girls Aloud: Ten Years At The Top | 60’ Documentary (Director and Producer) |
| Olly: Life On Murs | 3 x 45’ Documentary (Director and Producer) |
| Coronation Street: 50 Years, 50 Moments | Two-part tribute programme (Director and Producer with Kerry Allison) |
| 30 Years Of ‘An Audience With…’ | Documentary (Director, 1 x 60’, and Series Producer, 5 x 60’) |
| Changing Faces | 60’ Documentary (Director and Producer) |
| Beyond A Joke | 5 x 60’ Documentary (Director and Producer) |
| The Best Of The Royal Variety | 5 x 60’ Compilation/Clip show (Producer) |
| Animals Do The Funniest Things | Compilation/Clip show (Director) |
| ITV Entertainment | Various other Roles for ITV Entertainment ranging from Stars In Their Eyes to The Royal Variety and everything in between. |