Meet the Team
Operations
Laura Holmes
In 1972, a crack Executive Assistant was sent to prison by a military court for a crime she didn't commit. She promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Newcastle underground. Today, still wanted by the government, she survives as a soldier of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find her, maybe you can hire... Laura Holmes.
James Hepple
Born in Sunderland, James learned his craft in Leeds and London, bouncing around the BBC and various Post-Production Houses before returning to the North East to stake his rightful claim as WhatCulture Fifa World Cup Champion. He also handles recruitment, edits videos and manages the main WhatCulture YouTube channel.
Editorial
Andrew Pollard
Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main dayjob, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg.
Scott Tailford
Scott has been WhatCulture's Games Editor since 2014, and in that time he's kindled a few bonfires, been yelled at by his genetically identical twin and thwarted an evil tyrant’s reign with a shovel. It’s been said that no one truly understands the entire Metal Gear Solid universe, but he laughs long and hard into the face of such detractors. Nanomachines, son.
Ewan Paterson
Resident movie guy at WhatCulture who used to be Comics Editor. Thinks John Carpenter is the best. Likes Hellboy a lot. Can usually be found talking about Dad Movies on his Twitter at @EwanRuinsThings.
Michael Sidgwick
Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!
Michael Hamflett
Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett
Jen Gallie
Jen is WhatCulture's resident expert on both the world of Disney, and the fantastical output of Universal Studios. On a recent visit to Los Angeles, she was forced to break up a bar fight between [name redacted for legal reasons] and [name redacted for legal reasons] from HBO's Game of Thrones.
Andy H Murray
Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.
Josh Brown
Writer. Mumbler. Only person on the internet who liked Spider-Man 3. Likes to be called John.
Gareth Morgan
Lifts rubber and metal. Watches people flip in spandex and pretends to be other individuals from time to time...
Audio / Video
Kris Thompson
Sometime in 2004, Kris decided to edit a video for a laugh. Well, the joke was on him it seems because now he has to come to WhatCulture and do it every single day. All that's really changed in that time is that now he exports to YouTube instead of a VHS. Yes, an actual VHS, that's how long he's been honing his craft.
Jules Gill
Jules joined WhatCulture in 2016 and since then the amount of fires in the office seems to have risen in direct contrast to the number of pets going missing around the Gateshead area. Well versed in editing/presenting/stealing writers content and not giving them due credit, he can be found floating between all of WhatCulture.com's YouTube channels picking fights, usually with his son Ewan chasing in his wake.
Phil Chambers
Head Of Video for Whatculture and presenter on our Wrestling Channel. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram: @PhilMyChambers
Adam Wilbourn
Lanky, specky, ginger bloke who loves all things wrestling, football and quiz related. The man who invented the #BloodyGoodQuiz.
Adam Nicholas
Video Editor & Podcast Producer for WhatCulture Wrestling. Co-host of Podcast Horseman.
James Peart
Hunter of Monsters & Invader of Tarnished. Whatculture's resident Anime & Manga guy. Best desk in the office!
Ben-Roy Turner
Resident Evil Aficionado. Video Games & Fried Chicken are my passions. Occasionally some Wrestling. I used to work in Film & TV, but now I Write, Edit & Present for this website and its Youtube Channels.
Joe Johnston
Neo-noir enjoyer, lover of the 1990s Lucasarts adventure games and detractor of just about everything else. An insufferable, over-opinionated pillock.
Development
Chris Darby
WhatCultures Lead Web and Application Developer, trying to keep things running for the good of the planet, saving the world one feature (or bug) at a time.