David Chalstrey


1st Assistant Director

David is a familiar face across UK HETV, working steadily on major returning series for the BBC, Apple TV+ and Netflix, including Ludwig, Endeavour, Top Boy and His Dark Materials. He has built long-running relationships across both broadcast and streaming drama. He has worked with directors including Ben Palmer, George Kane, Lynsey Miller and Charles Martin, and is equally at home on high-end single-camera drama and fast-moving HETV productions. Having come up through the AD department, David is a consistent presence on set and used to stepping into established productions. Based in Surrey, he is happy to work across

Top Boy: Season 3

1st AD

Ludwig

1st AD

His Dark Materials

1st AD

Selected credits


date
production
director / production company
television:
2026
NUMBER 10
Ben Palmer / Hartswood Films, Channel 4
2025
LUDWIG S2
George Kane / Big Talk, BBC
2025
CRIMINAL RECORD S2
Joelle Mae David / STV, Apple TV+
2025
THE COMPLETELY MADE-UP ADVENTURES OF DICK TURPIN S2
Ben Palmer / Big Talk, Apple TV+
2024
LUDWIG S1
Jill Robertson / Big Talk, BBC
Winner: International Emmy Award - Comedy
Winner: Venice TV Award - Best Comedy
2024
THE DEVIL'S HOURS S3
Shaun James Grant / Hartswood Films, Amazon Prime
2023
DOUGLAS IS CANCELLED
Ben Palmer / Hartswood Films, ITV
2023
SURFACE S2
Lynsey Miller / Hello Sunshine, Apple TV+
2023
THE COMPLETELY MADE-UP ADVENTURES OF DICK TURPIN S1
Ben Palmer / Big Talk, Apple TV+
2022
TOP BOY S5
Will Stefan Smith / Cowboy Films, Netflix
Winner: BAFTA Award - Drama Series
2022
THE BALLAD OF RENEGADE NELL
Ben Taylor / Lookout Point, Disney+
2022
BREEDERS S3
Ollie Parsons / Avalon, Avalon, FX & Sky
2021
MARRIAGE
Stefan Golaszwski / The Forge, BBC
2021
HIS DARK MATERIALS S3
Charles Martin / Bad Wolf, HBO
Winner: RTS Award - RTS Northeast & Border Television Award
2021
BACK TO LIFE S2
Ella Jones / Two Brothers, BBC
2020-18
HOLBY CITY S18-22
Various / BBC, BBC One
2020
BREEDERS S2
Ollie Parsons & Ben Palmer / Avalon, FX & Sky
2019
ENDEAVOUR S7
Zam Salim / Mammoth Screen, ITV
2019
BREEDERS S1
Ben Palmer / Avalon, FX & Sky
Winner: Venice TV Award - Best Comedy
2018
ENDEAVOUR S6
Jamie Donoughue & Johnny Allen / Mammoth Screen, ITV
2018
FLACK S1
George Kane / Hat Trick Productions, UKTV
2018
SEMI-DETACHED
Ben Palmer / Happy Trampe, BBC 2
2017
ENDEAVOUR S5
Geoff Sax / Mammoth Screen, ITV
2017
MUM S2
Stefan Golaszwski / Big Talk, BBC
2016
CATASTROPHE S3
Ben Taylor / Avalon, Channel 4 & Amazon Prime
2016
THE WINDSORS
Adam Miller / NOHO Film & TV, Netflix
2015
MUM S1
Richard Laxton / Big Talk, BBC
Winner: Broadcasting Press Guild Awards - Best Comedy
2015
CUFFS
Kieran Hawkes / Tiger Aspect, BBC
2014
LIVES OF THE INFAMOUS COMEDY BLAPS
George Kane / Big Talk, Channel 4
2013
HIM & HER S4
Richard Laxton / Big Talk, BBC
Winner: BAFTA Awards - Best Situation Comedy