Agent
Assistant
Biography
Al Mackay is a director known for bold, character‑driven storytelling across some of the UK’s most acclaimed contemporary dramas. He is currently directing all five parts of THE CAGE for BBC One, starring Sheridan Smith and Michael Socha.
His recent work includes all six episodes of KIDNAPPED for BBC Studios and all four parts of WITHOUT SIN for Left Bank/ITV, starring Vicky McClure and Johnny Harris. Without Sin was named by The New York Times as one of the Best Shows of 2024.
Al also launched the second series of COBRA for New Pictures/Sky One after impressing on the first, and previously directed episodes of HUMANS for Kudos/Channel 4 and the Netflix/E4 series CRAZYHEAD, earning a Best Director nomination at the West of England RTS Awards. He was named on the BBC’s New Talent Hotlist in 2017.
Earlier in his career, Al directed the closing block of Russell T Davies’s BANANA for Red Productions, and the four‑part web series MY JIHAD for BBC iPlayer, following the success of the original short film he also directed.
Al has written and directed numerous short films, including an online episode of MISFITS for Channel 4, which was nominated for a BAFTA Craft Award. As a writer, he developed his feature project THE DEN through iFeatures2 and was selected as one of eight writers on the SOS scheme.
THE CAGE
“A deeply moving state‑of‑the‑nation thriller” ★★★★★ The Guardian (Lucy Mangan)
“Sheridan Smith is superb in the gripping follow up to the Responder” ★★★★★ The Telegraph (Anita Singh)
“A thriller with a knack for extreme tension”★★★★ The Financial Times (Rebecca Nicholson)
WITHOUT SIN
“a moody and meticulously crafted whodunnit, with riveting twists and turns, excruciating tension and maddening ambiguity surrounding Charles’s culpability.” The Evening Standard
“The hyperactive cops-policing-cops series “Line of Duty” made the British actress Vicky McClure a star, but it was not exactly a comprehensive showcase for her talent. She gets that in “Without Sin,” playing a woman shattered by the death of her teenage daughter who has an unsettling meeting with the man who is in prison for the girl’s murder.” The New York Times, Best Shows of 2024.
COBRA
“this new drama ramps up the end-times mood to nerve-shredding effect.” The Times
“a moreish exploration of low politics and high ambition, with subtle and timely nods to that squalid belt where extreme left and right meet.” The Guardian
“propulsive plotting meant COBRA gripped” The Telegraph
“an astounding climax” Metro
“What marks out this fast-paced drama is its sharp wit and light smattering of political intrigue in the corridors of power.” The Times
MY JIHAD
“Utterly superb… simply an excellent romcom. Sparkling lead performances full of fluttering romantic chemistry.” The Guardian
“The dialogue and performances are sweet and sharp in just the right proportions.” Radio Times
“Richer territory than the standard romcom.” The Sunday Times
Credits
Television
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
THE CAGE 2025 |
BBC 1 |
Director |
|
KIDNAPPED 2023 – 2024 |
BBC |
Director and Executive Producer. |
|
WITHOUT SIN 2022 |
Left Bank/ITV |
Director all four parts. |
|
COBRA 2 2020 |
New Pictures/Sky |
Lead Director, 3 Episodes. |
|
COBRA 2019 |
New Pictures/Sky |
Director, 3 episodes. |
|
DEEP WATER 2018 |
Kudos/ ITV |
Director, 2 episodes. |
|
HUMANS 3 2017 |
Kudos/AMC/C4 |
Director, 2 episodes. |
|
CRAZYHEAD 2016 |
Urban Myth/ E4/ Netflix |
New series. Lead Director. |
|
BANANA 2014 |
Red Productions/ E4 |
Director, 2 episodes, including series finale. |
In Development
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| THE LIE | Rough Cut TV |
Co created with Simon Hewitt. |
| THE SURGEON | Rough Cut TV |
Co-created with Simon Hewitt. |
Short Films
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
HIT AND RUN 2010 |
Steel Mill Pictures/ Elephant Gun Films, EM Mediampany |
Writer and Director. |
|
THE GOOD MEN OF LEICESTER 2010 |
Steel Mill Pictures/ Quad Shorts/ EM Media |
Writer and Director. |
|
BALE 2009 |
Wellington Films/ Elephant Gun Films/ UK Film Council |
Writer and Director. |
Online
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
MY JIHAD 2015 |
BBC |
4-part web series spin-off of the iPlayer short. |
|
MY JIHAD 2013 |
BBC |
Short film for the BBC’s iPlayer. |
|
MISFITS ONLINE 2011 |
Clerkenwell Films/ C4 |
Director. |
Commercials
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TFL - Project Guardian | Tomboy Films/ M&C Saatchi |
Director. |
| TEMPO - Merci Mission | B - Reel/ Publicis |
Director. |
Other
| Production | Company | Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
THIS IS ENGLAND 2005 |
Warp Films |
Feature Film. EPK Operator. |
