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Event producer, creative director and all-round entrepreneur Russ Malkin does not let barriers stand in his way. When it comes to producing some of the World's leading events and record-breaking challenges, Russ thrives on the challenge of the 'impossible'
This pioneering spirit has allowed Russ to pull off a range of major stunts, ranging from taking a movie from script to screen in a record-breaking 13 days, to pitching super cars in a race against the Orient Express. He even secured Boots as title sponsors of the World's largest aerobics event with 15,000 people exercising in London's Earls Court to raise £1million for the Royal Marsden Cancer Appeal.
Russ was the business brain behind Long Way Round, the global TV success story that saw Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman riding east around the World from London to New York. Their exploits formed a unique television series that went on to spawn a best-selling DVD, book and CD soundtrack. The series sold worldwide into territories including Australia, Canada, Japan, France, Spain and Italy. Soon after, Ewan and Charley were ready for another expedition; Long Way Down was the highly acclaimed follow-up and saw the guys ride from the northernmost point of Scotland, down to the southern tip of South Africa and the show was sold into 40 countries worldwide. In 2020, Apple TV commissioned a third series, Long Way Up, which followed Ewan and Charley as they traveled from Argentina to LA on electric Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
In between Long Way Round and Long Way Down, Russ and Charley found the time to race in the infamous Dakar Rally in January 2006. The rally is one of the world's most dangerous races and saw the team race from Lisbon, Portugal to Dakar, Senegal; encountering hazardous terrain and tough conditions. The show was first aired on Sky and a DVD and book soon followed, highlighting their experience.
By Any Means, and By Any Means 2, first shown in 2008, were acclaimed for their creative and adventurous concept. Charley and Russ found themselves travelling from Ireland to Australia, and then Australia to Japan, by any means necessary on all forms of transport; including gondolas, sailing yachts, and elephants! They sold over 400,000 DVDs and 350,000 books and they continue to be a firm favorite.
Extreme Frontiers was Russ' third collaboration with Charley Boorman. Spanning three series, the show followed Charley as he got to grips with Canada, South Africa and the USA respectively, whilst undertaking hair-raising challenges with his signature humor.
More recently, Russ joined forces with Prince Harry to produce and direct the TV documentary 'Prince Harry in Africa' for ITV. The show followed the Prince's journey from Kensington Palace to Lesotho in Southern Africa to take a look at the work his charity Sentebale is doing to help children and young people affected by HIV and Aids. The documentary featured Sir Elton John, Chris Martin and Joss Stone.
As producer/director of 'David Beckham: For The Love Of The Game,' Russ organized matches with the tribes of the jungles of Papua New Guinea, in the temples of Nepal and on the icy glaciers of Antarctica, to name a few. The show saw David Beckham fulfill his ambition of playing 7 unique football matches on seven continents in seven days for his UNICEF 7 Fund, raising an impressive £1M for Unicef.
Ever keen for an adventure, Russ was the Executive Producer for Ranulph and Joseph Fiennes' National Geographic series, 'Fiennes: Return to the Nile,' which followed the Fiennes cousins, comprising world-renowned explorer and award-winning actor, as they embarked on an epic journey across Egypt including a rare chance to stay overnight in the giant pyramid of Cheops.
As well as television production, Russ has also published his first adventure book; Big Earth's 101 Amazing Adventures. Published by Transworld Publishing in 2010, the book saw him travel around the world showcasing must-do adventures for keen travelers. From weekend trips to month long excursions, Russ provides an insight into exciting trips that has kept the book top of the best sellers.
This hectic schedule is nothing new for Russ, who has been producing events and TV shows for the last 15 years. It was his experience in large-scale event management, TV production and global broadcast distribution that allowed Long Way Round to be the huge success it became.
Via his TV production company, Big Earth, Russ has masterminded some of the most exclusive sponsor-led global sports and event programming, including: the FIA European Drag Racing Championships 2000-2003; the FIM European Bike Championships 2000-2003; the Honda Formula One Powerboat Championships 2001; Class One World Offshore Powerboat Championship 2001; Class One Offshore Powerboat Championship; Formula One motor racing; and the Honda Formula Four Stroke, for which Russ secured carriage on Channel 4.
Big Earth also produced and retain global broadcast rights to the World Wakeboarding Championships 2001, 2002, and 2003, and the European Wakeboarding Championships 2002. Their market leadership was cemented with exclusive broadcast rights for UK and European Kitesurfing competitions.
Often Russ develops a concept, secures relevant sponsors and sells worldwide broadcast rights. The Intercontinental Hotels Riviera Challenge (1992) was one such event. A unique mix of cars assembled in London's Trafalgar Square before heading off to the Hotel Carlton in Cannes. The vehicles, collectively valued at more than £5million, were driven by international celebrities and racing drivers, and competed in a series of Motor Sport Track Tests at Brands Hatch and Dijon.
Russ also devised the concept for some innovative TV sports events: the World's Fittest Woman 2003, featuring ten world-class extreme sports champions in a multi-challenge competition, sponsored by the Hong Kong Tourism Board and aired on Sky Sports, ESPN and Fox; The Blue Eskimo Adventure Challenge, a seven-show series spotlighting a 36-hour non-stop challenge incorporating mountain biking, abseiling, trail walking, rope work and canoeing, sponsored by Ordnance Survey; and the Puma Dream Team Challenge, a one-hour special hosted by Linford Christie shown on Sky and Channel 5.
One of the most glamorous sporting events must be the Venice-Simplon Orient Express Challenge, developed by Russ in the 90s. This historic race featured celebrities and drivers in a jaw-dropping line-up of Lamborghinis, Aston Martins, Porsches and Ferraris dashing from London to Venice in a race to beat the World famous Orient Express train.
Russ showed a shrewd appreciation of branding by spearheading the campaign to save the floundering HEMS London Air Ambulance after it lost its sponsor. Harnessing the national media and making it a hot topic in the capital, he persuaded Richard Branson to come to the rescue with a Virgin-branded mini helicopter. Within two weeks, Virgin took over the contract and the future of London's air ambulance was secure.
This brand prowess was again to the fore when Haymarket approached Russ to produce the Clothes Show Live 2002 and 2003 as a one-hour prime-time special on ITV. With presenters including Caryn Franklin, Tess Daly and Tamara Beckwith, the event achieved benchmark status as the ultimate showcase for UK fashion.
Russ has also recently been working on several branded content projects, including directing Inside California: On The Road with Anna Friel, a successful British Airways and Visit California digital campaign.
Russ and his production company Big Earth have devised, developed and delivered some of the World's most exhilarating event television. Imagination and daring are all that can hold Russ back, and he has those by the barrel-load. Something tells me this is only the start.
