Paul Adrian Smith, CBE

Paul Smith was born on January 16, 1947 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. He is a producer and director, known for The Descent (2005), Slumdog Millionaire (2008) and Dirty Pretty Things (2002).

He founded https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celador in 1989, having started out as a trainee projectionist with the BBC in 1966, and becoming director of children's and light entertainment in 1973.

He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2012 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to the Media Industry. He is the Founder and Chair of Celador Entertainment.

Source: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0809531/

Press article:

Ulsterman who put the millionaire into slumdog: Paul Smith the executive producer of Slumdog Millionaire and the chairman of Celador Films.

Slumdog Millionaire’s Oscar-winning success is the fulfilment of a childhood dream for its Northern Irish executive producer.

For Belfast man Paul Smith exclusively revealed to Sunday Life that it was in a small east Belfast church hall where he first dreamt of Academy Award glory.

The 62-year-old boss of Celador Films celebrated the extraordinary success of Slumdog Millionaire — in front of Hollywood’s A-list of movie stars, such as Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep.

But no-one knew at the Kodak Theatre that it was in St Finnian’s Church Of Ireland hall in Cregagh where the movie-loving teenager took his first steps towards Hollywood fame and fortune.

Paul says: “There were two elements to it. A group of us, including a mate of mine Philip Hobson, actually made some 8mm films. But I was always strictly behind camera.Then we had a film society in the church for about 18 months showing movies such as The Wizard Of Oz and Rear Window every Friday night.”

Paul, who formed the hugely successful Celador independent production company in 1983, thinks that the seeds for his entertainment business acumen were first planted at the Rochester Avenue church.

“I think that was me, exercising my entrepreneurial skills at an early age, as I came as close as I dared to running a commercial cinema there,” he laughs.

Paul, whose Celador Films company provided £7m of Slumdog Millionaire’s £8.5m budget, feels that St Finnian’s helped to make his 2009 Oscar dream come true.

“St Finnian’s is probably where this all started,” he says. “Of course I dreamed about winning an Oscar back then because they are the ultimate success, in terms of the ultimate acknowledgment of a movie.

“I have to say that it was a surreal experience when it actually happened. But it was also a wonderful experience.”

The ‘Inst’-educated man revealed Slumdog Millionaire moved him to tears when he saw it for the first time last year. “When I read it first, I just knew that it was a great screenplay,” he says. “Even from the first draft you could see the potential.

“When I saw the completed film I did more than get goosebumps. I actually burst into tears at the end.

“What Danny Boyle (the director)and Simon Beaufoy (the writer) created is simply wonderful.”

Back to work at his desk in London’s West End just days after Slumdog’s haul of eight Oscars, Paul pledged that he is “definitely going to take things a little bit easier now”.

However, even though he sold off the TV side of his business, including the rights of the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? (See Chris Tarrant, OBE) show two years ago, Paul’s creative drive is now being channelled into the movie and radio worlds.

And he also revealed he would “love to do a West End show”. Paul told us: “I am quite focussed and passionate.

“I really enjoy the process of creation. I like a challenge. I like to get up in the morning and know that there is something that will challenge me to the point where I have got to keep alert and aware.

“The last thing I want to do is to lead a soporific life. Even if I had the capacity to do so, I wouldn’t want to.” Paul’s extraordinary |career has included the creation of the long running TV ‘bloopers’ show, It’ll Be Alright On The Night.

And he admits to being “greatly proud” of the TV phenomenon he co-created, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? — as well as collaborations with comedian and business partner Jasper Carrott and hypnotist Paul McKenna.

But the things this multi-millionaire is proudest of are his family and his Northern Ireland roots.

“When it all comes down to it, the most important thing in my life is my wife and family,” he says.

“I have a daughter Lucy and a son Sam and my wife is called Sarah. They are the ones who matter to me most of all and bring the most pleasure in my life.”

Paul adds: “Everybody who knows me knows that I have a great pride in my Northern Ireland heritage. I love Northern Ireland. It plays a very important part in my life.”

For Paul will be back home tomorrow in his role as a non-executive director of local TV production company, Waddell Media.

“The managing director Brian Waddell was quick on the phone and asked me the day after we (Celador) sold our television interests, if I would come over and do it?,” he says.

“I told him that if he had been in Sheffield or anywhere else, other than Northern Ireland, I would have just said ‘no, thank you’.

“But I said ‘yes’ because it gives me a chance to visit home half a dozen times a year.”
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/ulsterman-who-put-th...
Author: John McGurk, 1 March 2009

Money Week Article by Jody Clarke, 13 November 2007:

My first million: Paul Smith, Celador
When Paul Smith first pitched the idea for Who Wants to be a Millionaire, it was rejected on the grounds that 'viewers didn't want to watch other people winning lots of money'. Twelve years on, ITV's then-director has

In 1995, TV producer Paul Smith first pitched the idea for Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? to the then-director of programmes at ITV. It was rejected on the grounds that "viewers didn't want to watch other people winning lots of money". Needless to say, he was wrong. Twelve years later, the quiz is shown in more than 105 countries and has made its creator, 60-year-old Smith, far richer than any of its contestants the recent sale of his production firm, Celador, reportedly made him £30m.

Smith had wanted to work in television since he was a child growing up in Belfast. "I don't know why you can't determine passion." There were certainly no family links his parents were in the rag trade. They had moved to Belfast from England in the 1930s after a family friend, a drummer in a band, had been playing in the city and was unable to buy new drumsticks or smart clothes. He decided to open a music shop there and persuaded Smith's father to come along and open a gents' outfitters.

Yet despite the lack of connections, his parents "always wanted to facilitate the wishes of their kids", and his dad found Smith a holiday job as a projectionist in Belfast's Grand Opera House cinema in 1963. This helped him land a post at the BBC in London in 1966, just after BBC2 had launched. He gained experience in several departments, but "what I very quickly realised I liked was mainstream entertainment". He left in 1973 due to the rigid structure and ended up at LWT. Under head of entertainment, Michael Ian Grade, Baron Grade of Yarmouth, CBE, Smith came up with the idea for It'll be Alright on the Night and also launched Jasper Carrot's first television series. Both were "huge hits".

In 1981, inspired by a stint in America, he opened his own post-production firm, Complete Video Facilities Ltd, which became Celador in 1983. Smith produced shows with Paul McKenna and Jasper Carrot, as well as Auntie's Bloomers and Talking Telephone Numbers. The idea for Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? came from a Capital Radio show, Cash Mountain. It was "nothing like" what Smith came up with, but had key elements, such as the "million pound prize, created through the use of premium phone lines".

Despite his track record, the idea was knocked back by the main channels. But in 1998, under ITV's new director of programmes, the show was broadcasted and within a week Smith was fielding calls from networks across Europe to buy the format. But Celador was so small he had no time to respond, which was lucky. "Our unavailability... allowed us to realise how incredibly popular it had become," enabling him to set up a sales strategy. The show was franchised, giving Celador creative control over everything, from music to credits. Then came the books and board games, "where the real money was made". At its height, Celador made £19m profit on £52m turnover all down to the show. "There was other revenue in there, but it was insignificant."

Is it galling that after so many TV successes, he'll only be remembered for one show? "If it wasn't for Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, I wouldn't be able to retire and buy my boat in the South of France I could never resent that."

Article;

I've got two big passions ..Northern Ireland and radio. This new station will combine both of them; ULSTER MILLIONAIRE CREATOR REVEALS NEW SHOWBIZ PLAN.

PAUL Smith, the Belfast brains behind Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, is an undoubtedly rich man.

He has millions in the bank, a country home with a 40-acre garden and he owns almost 40 per cent of Celador, the company behind the hit TV show.

But Smith's greatest wealth is not financial, for the things that make him happiest cannot be bought.

Instead his most important assets are his love of his family and the passion that lights up his face when he talks about Northern Ireland and the remarkable talent he camouflages with crushing modesty.

Normally calm and restrained, Smith becomes animated and emotional when he talks about home.

He bubbles with stories and colourfully describes the snap-shot photographs in his mind.

And his enthusiasm is infectious even to those who rarely leave the country.

So it comes as little surprise the 57-year-old is using the magic combination of brains and financial brawn to launch a new Belfast radio station.

He said: "This bid combines two passions, my love for Northern Ireland and my love for radio.

"I left home in 1966 as a 19-year-old and moved to London to work for the BBC.

"I have lived in England ever since but in my heart, my home is still here in Northern Ireland and I'll make any excuse to get back here.

"There's something about the people that's so comforting, warm and generous. It's something that you just don't find in the south of England where I live.

"No matter how long I live over there, I'll always be a Belfast man and my background still affects my social life and shocks my friends when I pop in to see them without warning.

"If I'm in the area I turn up at their homes without calling before hand and it really spins them into a panic.

"I'll be standing on their doorstep with a smile on my face looking at a look of horror on theirs.

"They'll say they weren't expecting me.

"That they weren't prepared for my visit, that they haven't got a thing in the house to give me and what on earth do I want.

"It makes me laugh because all I want is to say hello.

"I know that if I popped round to someone's house anywhere in Northern Ireland I'd be welcomed with open arms, invited in, fed and watered with whatever they had.

"The English reserve isn't a natural phenomenon over here and that's just the way I like it."

Smith was brought up on Belfast's Antrim Road before a move to Cregagh in the east of the city and an education at Belfast Institute.

His father, Clifford, ran a smart gentlemen's outfitters called Clifford Bryce, now home to restaurant Deane's.

And it was a return visit to the building on Howard Street which recently left Smith overcome with emotion.

He received a call from his old pal Chris McCabe to see if he wanted to take in a Shadows concert in England.

But Smith decided to turn the treat into a nostalgia trip to Belfast to watch the concert at the Waterfront Hall and meet up with Hank Marvin after the show.

Smith explained: "I thought it would be much more fun if we met up in Belfast.

"Chris and I had known Hank and the lads for years since the days we were on the scene as young musicians.

"So it was arranged and we all met up for a meal after the show.

"I knew we were going to a restaurant but I'd no idea that it was on the site of my father's old shop.

"I'd planned on a little nostalgia but I hadn't planned on shedding tears over it.

"But there I was standing in Deane's, tears in my eyes, remembering every inch of my dad's shop, the sights and smells, the rows of good suits, the atmosphere, the past, my childhood.

It was a wonderful evening and very, very moving."

Smith's reference to his musical background, like many of his references, are brief and modest.

He has to be pushed to admit he was a star in his youth, the drummer in a band called The Corsairs.

And he goes bright red while he explains that they were not simply a gang of two-bit hopefuls.

In fact, they were a successful and talented group who regularly played to crowds of 1,000.

But it is with a smile that he reveals their support group was often a little known band called Them - fronted a bloke called Van Morrison. Smith said: "That really makes me smile. I still have a ad that was posted for our gig with the support group mentioned at the bottom of it."

TODAY Smith still has a drum kit, something he "batters" occasionally for a bit of fun.

But his home in Surrey which he shares with his wife Sarah King, also has its own cinema and a pool table complete with purple baize.

He says: " I know I'm a lucky man. I have a wonderful wife, two wonderful children. We have the most beautiful home and I'm happy in my work and now planning a move to Belfast with a new radio station. It all takes hard work, but that's half the fun.

"We have immense skills and the talent in the country and I would hope to be able to employ about 35 people at the station."

Smith is pretty sure the direction his station would take.

He said: "Our audience would mainly be 40-year-olds upward who are interested in good music, good speech and good variety. We'd basically be attracting many of the people who were teenagers when BBC Radio One was first launched.

"Some of our listeners would also be from today's BBC Radio Two audience and we would undoubtedly attract thousands of new listeners who've never been dedicated to any particular station."

Smith and his wife Sarah, a Birmingham-born artist, own 36 per cent of production firm Celador. Last July the company, now famed for Millionaire, launched Johnny Vaughan and Denise Van Outen's Saturday night show on BBC, Passport To Paradise.

And figures at Companies House show that last year Celador had sales of pounds 16million in the UK and pounds 20million overseas, with combined pre-tax profits of pounds 7million.

The pair sold a 49 per cent stake in Celador to media group Avesco for pounds 700,000 shortly before Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? took off.

But they still receive pounds 2million in dividends from the show - not bad for a lad from the Antrim Road.

HIT SHOW: Chris Tarrant celebrates with Millionaire contestant; TOP OF POPS: Paul's band is listed above Van Morrison's Them in old advert; DRUMMER BOY: Paul played for amateur band The Corsairs; TUNED IN: Paul Smith has hopes to launch Belfast radio station
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