CTS Writes

CLAIRE TRAVERS SMITH

Senior Edit Producer / Series Edit Producer / Edit Director / Script Writer

For the last 17+ years, I’ve funded my gin and haberdashery habits by edit producing and writing voice over scripts for television for most broadcasters in the UK, a couple in the US, plus streamers like Netflix and Amazon.

I’ve written over 150 hours of broadcast television: from cookery shows to property programmes, dog grooming competitions to travelogues; documentaries, mockumentaries, even a “cockumentary” (which the critics panned and of which I am still immensely proud).

My strengths lie in writing voice over with a smidge of wit, a pinch of cheek and a soupçon of personality. I’ve set the tone in commentary for many a series, not to mention doctoring and polishing other scripts and establishing series formats.

My career highlights to date include: scripting an observational documentary series about the Best Western hotel chain that the viewers on Twitter thought had been created by Ricky Gervais; becoming the acceptable voice of presenter James May, and in 2023, a feature documentary for ITV about a Mormon and a Vegan who invented a herbal alternative to viagra and chaos ensued.

Oh, and the odd pun. Love a pun, me. I’m pun-loving criminal, in fact. Top pun, that! I’ll get my coat…

BROADCAST CREDITS

Series Editor

Inside Four Seasons, Park Lane – Plum Pictures for Channel 5 (2025)

Edit Director

The Great Erection Deception: The Stiff Nights Story – Plum Pictures for ITV X (2023)

Senior Edit Producer

A Very British Hotel Chain: Inside Best Western – Plum Pictures for Channel 4 (2019-2020)

How To Live Mortgage Free With Sarah Beeny – Plum Pictures for Channel 4 (2016-17)

Tipping Point – RDF for ITV1 (2015)

Series Edit Producer

Secrets Of Your Big Shop – Plum Pictures for Channel 4 (2024)

Crazy Rich Agents: Selling Dream Homes – Plum Pictures for BBC Two (2023)

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces series 11 – Plum Pictures for Channel 4 (2022)

James May: Our Man In Italy – Plum Pictures & New Entity for Amazon Prime Video (2021-22)

Johnny Vegas: Carry On Glamping – Plum Pictures for Channel 4 (2020)

Food Junkies – Fresh One for London Live (2014)

Edit Producer

Johnny Vegas’ Little Shop of Antiques – Plum Pictures for Quest (2025)

For The Love Of Dogs with Alison Hammond – Multistory for ITV1 (2024 & 2025)

Great Explorers with James May – Plum Pictures for Channel 5 (2024)

James May and the Dull Men – Plum Pictures for Quest (2024)

Will & Ralf Should Know Better – Afro-Mic Productions for Dave (2024) *shortlisted for 2025 Broadcast Digital Award for Best Entertainment Programme*

Bangers: Mad About Cars – Plum Pictures for Channel 4 (2023) *winner of the 2024 Broadcast Digital Award for Best Content Partnership or AFP* 

James May: Our Man In India – Plum Pictures & New Entity for Amazon Prime (2023)

Gino’s Italy: Like Mama Used To Make – Betty TV for ITV1 (2022)

Millionaire Holiday Home Swap – Plum Pictures for Channel 5 & Paramount Plus (2022)

George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces (2018-19 & 2021)

Paul O’Grady’s For The Love Of Dogs – Multistory for ITV1 (2020 & 2021)

Our Family Farm Rescue – STV for Channel 5 (2021)

Pooch Perfect – Beyond Productions for BBC1 (2020-21)

Big Flower Fight – Multistory for Netflix (2019)

James May: Our Man In Japan – Plum Pictures & New Entity for Amazon Prime Video (2019)

The Family Brain Games – Label 1 for BBC Two (2019)

Easyjet: Inside The Cockpit – ITN for ITV (2019)

Britain By Bike – Channel 5 (2018)

Call The Cleaners – Curve Media for ITV1 (2018)

Great British Menu – Optomen for BBC Two (2015, 2016 & 2018)

Peter Andre’s 60 Minute Makeover – Shiver for Quest Red (2017-18)

£10k Holiday Homes – Betty TV for Channel 4 (2017)

Gino’s Italian Coastal Escape – Shiver for ITV1 2017)

Sh*tholes – Vice for Viceland (2017)

Killer Women With Piers Morgan – Plum Pictures for ITV1 (2017)

Freddie Down Under – Plum Pictures for Sky One (2017)

Penelope Keith’s Hidden Villages – Reef TV for More 4 (2015)

Big Kitchens – Windfall Films for A&E Networks (2015)

Tipping Point – RDF for ITV1 (2014-15)

Double Your House For Half The Money – Redhouse for Channel 4 (2014)

Jamie’s Comfort Food – Fresh One for Channel 4 (2014)

Taste Of Britain – Cactus TV for BBC1 (2014)

Auf Wiedersehn, My Pet – Shine for ITV1 (2013)

Paul Hollywood’s Pies and Puds – Spun Gold for BBC Two (2013)

ITV’s Crime Thriller Club – Cactus TV for ITV3 (2013)

The Roux Scholarship – Cactus TV for Watch (2013)

iTunes Festival – Princess Productions for iTunes (2012)

Superstorm Sandy – Pioneer Productions for National Geographic (2012)

EMA Spotlights – MTV (2011 & 2012)

Geordie Shore: Chaos In Cancun – MTV (2012)

Sport Relief 2012 – Comic Relief (2012)

The Great British Taste Tour – ITV for ITV1 (2012)

The Weakest Link – BBC for BBC1 (2008-10)

TESTIMONIALS

“Claire is the definition of a ‘safe pair of hands.’ Committed, innovative and completely reliable. I’ve worked with Claire on many challenging projects. And she always found a way to get sequences working and shows over the line. She doesn’t need hand holding, writes like a dream…seriously, not many can and she has a great ‘can do’ attitude. One of the very best I’ve worked with who is always first on the team sheet when crewing up a production. Please don’t employ her…as I want to. Thanks!” – Managing Director & Executive Producer, Plum Pictures

“CTS and I have now cut 2 new formats together, and they have been unusually low-stress affairs due to her skill and patience. She is a superb writer with a great sense of pace and timing. She can move a piece effortlessly between humour and pathos, and wrangles the rushes into a sum greater than their parts. She’s a pro at battering out format beats, and understands the spirit of a note rather than its literal meaning. No-one does music cues better. In short – She will add huge value to anything you have in the edit.” – Executive Producer & former Channel 4 commissioner

“Claire is without doubt the most talented EP I have ever worked with. Her ability to find the narrative within the rushes, to find the drama and the humour is unparalleled. She is hardworking and collaborative and writes beautifully. The fact she is also the kindest and most generous person you could hope to meet is an added bonus.” – Managing Director & Executive Producer, Plum Pictures

“If you are lucky enough to employ Claire then you will quickly find youself ‘breathing out’ & ‘shoulders lowered’. She is however more than a safe pair of hands – she is an extraordinary creative. Excelling in the humourous & quirky, but also naturally adept to doing heartfelt & profound. She brings her all to every project & truly loves what she does – and it shows in her work.” – former Executive Producer,ITV

“Claire is a joy to work with and is someone I would have on a retainer if I could. She has a flawless editorial eye, her penmanship lends itself to any genre of writing, and she has always delivered a well crafted and importantly, on schedule project(s) for me. She is an asset to any production, and a thoroughly lovely person to boot.” – former Series Producer, ITV

“Claire is an extremely talented and witty writer and her scripts were absolutely on point. Claire’s extremely creative and her ideas for strands and themes were fantastic. She was a great person to have on the team and I’d have no hesitation at all in hiring her again.” – former Executive Producer, MTV.

“I don’t think ‘squeaky bum time’ is suitable language for pre-watershed television” – former commissioner, Channel 4.

“I have a project that needs to be channeled through your weird brain” – regular Executive Producer, various projects.

“But why isn’t it your voice I hear on the telly?” – Claire’s mother.