Michael Lacey is a multi award-winning director for television drama. He has directed BAFTA-nominated episodes for prime-time medical dramas Casualty and Holby City and is currently directing 1950’s period drama Father Brown for BBC 1.
Michael started out directing high-end corporates and TV commercials in Japan, Mexico and LA, before making the move into serial drama; where he went on to direct Emmerdale and Coronation Street for ITV Studios. Michael has directed some of the most dramatic and talked-about-moments in the history of both series, including Coronation Street’s Acid Attack and the death of Sinead Osbourne to cervical cancer and Emmerdale’s Marlon Dingle’s stroke, plus the historic sexual abuse episode featuring Aaron Dingle which won Michael the hat trick of the BAFTA, RTS and Broadcast Awards that year.
Michael is very much an “Actors’ director,” but whilst feeling very much at home directing intimate character-driven drama he is also adept directing action/stunts/SFX/VFX and set pieces. Obsessed with subtext and capturing authentic emotional truth, Michael has an innate ability to craft story and character through action into a highly moving piece of work.
Website: www.laceydirector.com
| Awards: | |
|---|---|
| British Soap Award 2023: Winner | Coronation Street: Scene of the Year- The Acid Attack Director |
| British Soap Award 2023: Winner | Coronation Street: Best Single Episode – Acid Attack Director |
| Broadcast Award 2023: Winner | Best soap/continuing drama: Emmerdale Director of the initial episode in which Marlon suffers a stroke (details here). |
| British Soap Award 2022: Nomination |
Emmerdale: Best Single Episode – Marlon’s Stroke Director |
| BAFTA Award 2022: Nomination | Casualty: Best Soap & Continuing Drama Director of episode submitted |
| BAFTA Award 2020: Nomination | Coronation Street – The Death of Sinead Osbourne: Virgin Media’s Must-See Moment of the Year Director |
| BAFTA Award 2020: Nomination | Holby City: Best Soap & Continuing Drama Director of episodes submitted |
| BAFTA Award: Winner | Emmerdale: Best Continuing Drama episode (2017) Director |
| RTS Award: Winner | Emmerdale: Best Continuing Drama episode (2017) Director |
| Broadcast Award: Winner | Emmerdale: Best Continuing Drama episode (2017) Director |
| British Soap Award: Winner | Emmerdale: Most Spectacular Scene of the Year John Barton’s exit |
| Television: | |
|---|---|
| Father Brown | BBC Studios Director for 4 x 60 minute episodes over 2 seasons (2022-present) |
| Casualty | Director for 10 x 60 minute episodes of the prime-time medical drama (2019-present) Prod: Dafydd Llewelyn / Series Prod: Loretta Preece |
| Holby City | Director for 8 x 60 minute episodes of the prime-time medical drama (2018-present) |
| Coronation Street | ITV Studios/ITV1 Director for the prime-time continuing drama series 80+ episodes Episodes include: Climax of Sinead Tinker’s death from cervical cancer Climax of Bethany Platt grooming storyline Kylie Platt’s Funeral Truck Crash / discovery of Callum’s body Acid Attack – aftermath |
| Emmerdale | ITV Studios/ITV1 Director for the long-running drama 175+ episodes Episodes include: Marlon Dingle’s stroke Maya’s grooming of teenager Jacob Aaron reveals to Chas he was sexually abused as a child Chas’s murder trial John Barton’s death – car crash on to cliff edge Zak reveal – Cain whodunit Whitby location special – Jackson’s sky dive and fishing trip Jackson’s death – aftermath |
| Film: | |
|---|---|
| Paddy and Marlon’s Big Night In | ITV Studios Feature-length Emmerdale spin-off film DVD Exclusive |
| Short Films: | |
|---|---|
| Grace’s Story | 20-minute drama short film starring Pauline Quirke Uncompressed 4k Shortlisted: Leeds International Film Festival |
| Touch Down | British Film Council 10-minute drama short film Super 16mm Shortlisted at various international film festivals |
| Commercials / Corporate Videos: | |
|---|---|
| Nissan | |
| Original Source |
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| TNT | |
| Morrison’s | |
| Swissport III Kings | |
| Lacoste | |
| McDonald’s | |
| British Gas | |
| John Lewis – Kitchens | |
| John Lewis – Men’s fashion | |
| John Lewis – Connectivity |