Working with Mel on Junior Taskmaster has been both exciting and relaxing. She knows her stuff so well, she knows children so well, and she knows television so well that what could have been a tricky and troublesome process has only been positive and fun throughout. She somehow manages to have the best interests of the children AND the tv show at the same time and thanks to her we've effortlessly (at least from my point of view) put together a dream cast of 25 kids, every single one of whom has delivered fantastic performances in our bizarre grown up world. She's meticulous, so we always had plans ready if something went wrong. But she's also so meticulous that nothing did go wrong. Obviously, I couldn't recommend Mel highly enough.

Alex Horne

Mel is the most talented, connected, forward thinking Casting Exec I ve ever worked with. I am almost loathed to write this as I don't ever want her to leave Studio Ramsay! She is creative and communicates brilliantly with all members of the team. She is really on it with all the protocols and procedures and ensures not only that you have a fantastic cast that hit the brief and beyond for your show but all the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed. She's a pleasure to work with, has a strong work ethic and a great sense of humour. You d be lucky to have Mel on your team.

Lisa Edwards

Casting Jonnie's Blade Camp, Mel has been nothing short of brilliant. Not only does she have a great nose for a human story, she has the editorial to inform the overall shape of a show from the outset. She has taken a huge weight off my shoulders - she was genuinely invested in all the candidates for our show and demonstrated the highest level of professionalism in their sensitive, considered and legal handling. I very much look forward to finding a show to work on with her again.

Owen Gay

Mel is the best at what she does. She brings a huge wealth of experience to every new casting challenge, she knows all the tricks of the trade, she knows how to treat contributors with the utmost sensitivity and dignity and she's painstakingly thorough with access - identifying the very best way to approach the target and treading carefully and thoughtfully to a successful conclusion. Her taste is excellent, she's super organised and she's passionate about bringing the very best characters to screen.

Mel is a fantastic casting exec. She , in short, one of a kind.

Meredith Chambers

Mel is a real asset to any company, she is the best in the business for casting and her years of experience in editorial means you know she has an eye for character development and arcs beyond the top line. She has a great sense of humour and an encyclopaedic knowledge of television and popular culture.She has worked for me on big shows across factual, fact ent and entertainment. I would hire her in a heart beat.

MARK SABEN

Mel Walden is without doubt an incredibly talented Casting Executive. She would always be my first choice on any show. I worked with Mel most recently at Princess where she brought fresh cast lead ideas into development and expertly delivered a very tricky cast of families on a project for Channel 4. She can confidently pitch in a room and she has an incredible ability to make a commissioner feel reassured - mainly because she has a track record of not only delivering the right cast, but also insuring that they will have been handled and cared for in the most professional manner. I have found her knowledge of the legal requirements and casting protocols at various channels to be invaluable to our productions. Her background as a Series Producer means she is also able to write treatments, direct tasters, oversee edits and understand the wider issues of production. I can't recommend Mel highly enough.

Anna Blue

Mel is a creative and energetic producer, who has good TV sensibilities. She has years of experience along with great instincts, she knows what characters work and how to get the most out of them. She works well as part of a team and is happy to lead.
When we have worked together she has been an invaluable asset, coming up with an almost endless stream of strong ideas. She works hard and is completely dedicated to making the best show possible.

Paolo Proto - Executive Producer

I have worked with Mel as a Producer and Series Producer for a number of years and she is one of the most talented producers I know. She is particularly good at casting, new formats and ideas generation. She is also very strong in the edit. Mel is a very good team manager and likes to run a happy and productive team. Editorially she has very high standards and pushes her team and herself hard to achieve this.

Sara Brailsford, Director of Content, Atomized Entertainment