Simon Shaps

Simon Shaps (born 10 September 1956) is a British television executive and producer, and former ITV Director of Television.

Early life

He went to the prestigious Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School in Elstree, Hertfordshire. The Elstree area is predominated by the television and film industry.

He studied English at Magdalene College, Cambridge

Career

He started out as a reporter on the Cambridge Evening News in 1979; in a speech to the Royal Television Society (RTS) he described this time as a two-year stint in Siberia.

Thames Television

In 1982 he joined Thames Television as a researcher, having been turned down by the BBC for a job as a trainee. As a television producer he produced Strange but True? and The One That Got Away.

Granada Television

In 1997 he became Director of Programmes at Granada Television in Manchester. In 2001 he became Managing Director of Granada Content. In November 2003 he became Chief Executive of Granada Television.

ITV

He became ITV Director of Television on 21 September 2005, leaving in 2008. Under his leadership, ITV revived its programme line-up, unceremoniously dispensing with many long-term programmes.

Personal life

He is married with three children.