Jim Field Smith is a BAFTA, Emmy and Golden Globe nominated director, writer and producer, and co-founder of the production company Idiotlamp.
He is the co-creator, executive producer and director of HIJACK starring Idris Elba, now in production on its second season for Apple TV+ which debuts in January 2026.
Jim is also the co-creator, executive producer and lead director of the International Emmy-nominated Netflix original drama series CRIMINAL, starring David Tennant, Kit Harrington, Sophie Okonedo and Kunal Nayyar.
Jim’s other recent credits as director and executive producer include the mini-series LITVINENKO – a dramatisation of the 2006 assassination of the eponymous former Russian agent, portrayed by David Tennant – and the Amazon Prime series TRUTH SEEKERS, co-created by and starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.
at BAFTA, 11 November 2022
Previously, Jim co-wrote, produced and directed the BBC series STAG, and produced and directed THE WRONG MANS, nominated for three BAFTAs and winning an RTS Award. Jim is the originating director and executive producer of DEFENDING THE GUILTY (Big Talk for BBC), and also directed the pilot for the Channel 4 series HOME. His other TV directing credits include ENDEAVOUR (ITV/PBS), WRECKED (TBS) and EPISODES (Showtime/BBC) – the latter of which brought a Golden Globe nomination.
Jim’s film directing credits include the major motion picture SHE’S OUT OF MY LEAGUE for Dreamworks / Paramount, starring Jay Baruchel and Alice Eve, and the satirical comedy BUTTER, starring Jennifer Garner, Hugh Jackman and Olivia Wilde.
Jim started his directing career making short films such as “Goodbye to the Normals”, “Where Have I Been All Your Life?” and “Missing Moscow”, as well as directing numerous award-winning commercials in the UK, US and Europe for clients such as The Grammys, Galaxy, Gerber, Cow & Gate and Heinz.
Starting out as a comedy writer, performer and voice actor, Jim was part of sketch group Dutch Elm Conservatoire, who were nominated for the Perrier Award in 2005 and staged sell-out shows in Edinburgh, the West End and a national tour. Other comedy writing credits include the cult adult puppet show FUR TV for MTV, and his own BBC Radio 4 sitcom DEEP TROUBLE, which he co-created and performed with Ben Willbond. As an actor, he appeared in several British TV comedy shows, including COUPLING, THE ROBINSONS, MY LIFE IN FILM and SNUFFBOX.
Jim is a member of the DGA, WGA, BAFTA and Directors UK.
Jim Field Smith 