Katie Horbury on Spotting the Best Stories for Big Brother
From a young age, Katie Horbury has felt something within her that set the course for the rest of her life. She is laced with creativity and her unwillingness to tame her imagination has always motivated her to share her ideas with the world. She knows that her skillset transcends an average office job, and her unwavering desire to bring her ideas to life has earned her an esteemed career as a television producer.
“I have always wanted to tell stories and the idea of that has never seemed daunting to me. In fact, it has only ever excited me. When I took an interest in the media and producing my own content, I developed a love for seeing a concept through from its inception to its final product. The whole process inspired me, and editing together something that I have worked so hard on is one of the most motivating, fulfilling feelings I have ever experienced. I knew instantly that this was the right career for me, and I maintain that it still is today,” said Horbury.
Her successes in the entertainment industry have earned her an unparalleled reputation as a television producer. Anyone who works with Horbury knows of the caliber of content that she is capable of producing. Her decorated career includes storytelling, editing, producing, and more for a number of high quality productions. For instance, Horbury is well-versed in the realm of reality television, having worked closely on television series such as The Only Way Is Essex and Celebs Go Dating, where she was responsible for deciding what editorial content would appear in the show, for generating storylines, and for ensuring that all conversations, events, activities are relevant, entertaining, and interesting for viewers. One of her more notable contributions to reality television, however, was from 2013 to 2016 when she worked on the award-winning series, Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother.
“I was a fan of Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother before this job, so being able to not only work on the show, but to be the creative voice behind its storylines was a dream come true. What really attracted me to the role was the process of putting the show together. Every day in the Big Brother house broadcasts the following night, so the turn-around time is incredibly fast. As a producer, it was my job to identify the best stories and to tell them in the most interesting way possible,” told Horbury.
Her role on both shows, however, entailed much more than that. When Horbury was approached to work on the show, she was brought on as an Assistant Producer; however, she was quickly promoted to Edit, Story and Gallery Producer. With this, on any given day, Horbury seamlessly balanced the various tasks associated with each. As the Edit Producer, she ensured that the correct stories were being developed to their fullest potential. As the Gallery Producer, she was responsible for overseeing all of the show’s editorial content, as well as monitoring health and safety practices on set and mitigating any potential unacceptable behavior. Horbury also conducted all diary room interviews, controlled the stories being told, managed junior staff, ensured that there was continuity between storylines and episodes, and much, much more. There is no limit to her abilities and somehow, she makes it look effortless.
Those who have the opportunity to collaborate with Horbury consider themselves fortunate to work with such a driven, hardworking producer. Zuelika Brown, who worked with Horbury on several productions such as The Only Way Is Essex, Big Brother, and Celebrity Big Brother, knows of her remarkable ability to produce engaging content under strict deadlines. According to Brown, what makes Horbury so good at what she does is her dedication and thoroughness.
“When Katie sets out to complete a task, you know that she’ll do so on time and to the best of her ability. She is incredibly creative, and she develops entertaining ideas with a fast turnaround. Not to mention, in a fast-paced industry, Katie is great at remaining calm and professional, no matter what the circumstances are. Her personality also makes her great with her colleagues and contributors,” said Brown.
In order to keep with Big Brother’s signature premise, housemates are filmed 24-hours a day. For that reason, producers must be ready and working the entire time. For Horbury, this means producing the highest quality content on an ongoing basis. While some producers might struggle to stay on top of their work, Horbury manages to present the best stories without sacrificing all of the drama, humor, and emotional aspects of the show. The series, which is broadcast every night for as long as nine weeks at a time, requires fresh and interesting content on a continual basis. As it progresses, housemates are voted off periodically and Horbury must maintain the same level of excitement for her audience with fewer housemates and fewer storylines. Without her uncanny ability to spot worthy stories and creatively present them, the show would not be the widespread success that it is today.
Despite the show’s wild success, Horbury remains humble amidst its recognition. She considers her contributions to the show becoming a hit positively overwhelming. For Horbury, it is simply a reminder that she is capable of anything she sets her mind to and remember that no matter how seemingly difficult a job may be, she has the experience and the talent to exceed all expectations.
“Before I worked on Big Brother, I didn’t know if I would be capable of doing that job, but now I find it easy. In fact, I never found it difficult. There are lots of difficult elements to it. Fundamentally, the most important part of the job is spotting the best stories and I found that part came naturally to me. I also love being part of a show that allows a much more real side of celebrity personalities to come across. It was a pleasure to be a part of,” she concluded.
