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Jamie Magnus Stone

Jamie Magnus Stone (born 15 December 1985) is a Scottish film and television , , , and known for his work in science fiction and period drama genres. The son of broadcaster and film director , as well as grandson of quizmaster and singer Mamie Baird, Stone grew up in a family with strong ties to the arts and media. He studied film and television at the before enrolling at the (NFTS) in 2010, where he honed his skills in animation and live-action directing. Stone's early career featured acclaimed short films, including Skyborn (2011), which earned a for the and the British Independent Film Award for Best , and Orbit Ever After (2013), which won the Grand Prix at the Encounters and received a BAFTA . His transition to television and feature films began with directing episodes of the period drama The Village in 2014, followed by his breakthrough as a lead director on Doctor Who, helming seven episodes across series 12 (2019–2020) and series 13 (2020–2021), including the season openers "Spyfall" and "The Halloween Apocalypse." In features, Stone directed the biographical comedy-drama The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021), starring as the eccentric artist known for his anthropomorphic cat paintings. He has since expanded into executive producing and directing prestige television, including the opening three episodes of the BBC's (2023), a post-World War II immigration drama, and (2024), a thriller series. Currently, Stone is directing a television adaptation of Brian W. Aldiss's novel Non-Stop for Aircraft Pictures, marking his return to the genre that defined his Doctor Who tenure. He is directing the family feature Awful Auntie and the series Crookhaven for (with first-look images released in October 2025 and set to premiere in early 2026). Based between and London, Stone continues to blend innovative visual storytelling with narrative depth across animation, television, and film.

Early life and education

Early life

Jamie Magnus Stone was born on 15 December 1985 in . He is the son of the and journalist Sally Magnusson and film director , who has hosted programmes such as Reporting Scotland and for the . Stone is the grandson of , the Icelandic-born British journalist and long-time host of the quiz show from 1972 to 1997, and of Baird Magnusson, a pioneering Scottish journalist who worked for newspapers including the Scottish Daily Express. Growing up in this media-oriented family, Stone was exposed from an early age to the worlds of broadcasting, journalism, and storytelling through his parents' and grandparents' professional lives. This familial environment likely fostered Stone's initial interest in visual media and narrative forms. He later pursued formal training in film and television at the .

Education

Stone began his formal education in film at the , where he enrolled in the Film and Television program and graduated with a degree in the field. During his undergraduate studies, he directed several short films, including Flights (2008), a live-action piece exploring themes of aging and isolation, and Fritz (2006), an animated short that earned a nomination for a BAFTA Scotland Award. These student projects showcased his early versatility in both live-action and animation techniques. In 2008, while still at , Stone received the McLaren Prize for New British Animation at the for his series The World According To..., a collection of sand-animated vignettes produced in collaboration with Anders Jedenfors. The same work also won Best Animation at the New Talent Awards, recognizing his innovative use of animation in short-form storytelling. Following his undergraduate graduation, Stone pursued postgraduate training at the (NFTS), enrolling in 2010 in the directing program. He completed the program in 2012, with his graduation film Skyborn screening at the as part of the NFTS showcase. This advanced training honed his skills in narrative directing and visual effects, building on his foundational work in animation.

Film and animation work

Short films

Following his graduation from the National Film and Television School (NFTS), Jamie Magnus Stone wrote and directed several short films that showcased his emerging style blending emotional depth with speculative elements and innovative visual techniques. These works, produced between 2011 and 2013, often explored familial bonds and human longing within fantastical settings, earning recognition for their heartfelt narratives and practical effects. Stone's first notable short, Sh-Boom! (2011), was produced at NFTS and starring Charlene McKenna and Philip Barantini, the film premiered at the school's Stars of Tomorrow screening at BAFTA in September 2011. While plot details remain sparse in public records, it marked Stone's early experimentation with confined, high-concept storytelling. In 2011, Stone directed Skyborn as his NFTS graduation project, a post-apocalyptic tale of a father (played by Bob Goody) and son (Perry Millward) stranded in a foggy wasteland, constructing a flying machine from scavenged parts amid pyrotechnics, miniatures, and even live chickens for authenticity. The film screened at the BFI in March 2012 and was nominated for Best British Short Film at the (BIFA) in 2012, as well as selected as a finalist for the . Critics noted its inventive use of practical effects to convey themes of hope and generational tension in dystopian isolation. Stone's 2013 short Orbit Ever After, a steampunk-infused sci-fi romance, follows (), a young man orbiting in a ramshackle with his , who risks everything to pursue love with a woman on a passing vessel. Produced by BFI Lighthouse and featuring and , the film employed detailed model work and to create its retro-futuristic aesthetic. It premiered at international festivals, including winning the Grand Prix at the Encounters and Festival in 2013 and earning a nomination for Best at the BAFTA Awards in 2014. The work received praise for its poignant exploration of and , with reviewers highlighting the emotional resonance of its dynamics and charming visuals. Overall, Stone's shorts garnered acclaim for pioneering and effects techniques, such as sets and live-action elements, establishing his reputation in genre filmmaking.

Animation projects

Jamie Magnus Stone's early animation projects demonstrated his innovative approach to short-form storytelling, blending humor and visual experimentation. In 2008, he co-directed the series The World According To..., a collection of four three-minute animated episodes produced by Anders Jedenfors, which explored quirky global perspectives through stylized animation. The series earned the BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Animation, recognizing its creative brevity and technical execution in a competitive field. Stone's animation style often incorporated experimental techniques, such as sand animation, which he developed alongside more traditional directing. This method featured prominently in his 2012 short Skyborn, where animated sequences using sand created ethereal, fluid visuals to enhance the narrative's dreamlike quality. His work received critical acclaim at animation festivals, including the MacLaren Award at the for its artistic innovation and emotional depth. Transitioning to interactive media, Stone directed , developed and directed in 2018 and released in 2019, a pioneering live-action and developed by Flavourworks for Sony 4. The project merged cinematic storytelling with player-driven choices, allowing users to influence the protagonist's investigation into her traumatic past through branching narratives and touch-based interactions. was lauded for advancing narrative gaming, with reviewers praising its high production values, intuitive interface, and bold experimentation in (FMV) storytelling that blurred lines between film and . Critics highlighted its tense thriller elements and seamless flow as a fresh evolution for the genre.

Television career

Early television directing

Stone's entry into television directing came with the BBC period drama series in 2014, where he helmed episodes 2.3 and 2.4, marking his professional debut in episodic television. Set in a village across the , the series explored themes of community and social change, with Stone's direction emphasizing intimate character-driven narratives amid historical settings, including rural location shoots that highlighted ensemble interactions. Building on his background in short films, which had accustomed him to concise pacing and visual innovation, Stone transitioned to by focusing on family-oriented genres that allowed for dynamic dynamics and on-location filming. His early TV style evolved toward balancing emotional depth in dramas like with adventurous energy in productions, prioritizing relatable character arcs over spectacle. This foundation in smaller-scale series enabled him to manage tight schedules and collaborative environments effectively.

Doctor Who episodes

Jamie Magnus Stone made significant contributions to the BBC series Doctor Who as a director during the tenure of as the . He directed four episodes across series 12 in 2020, three episodes of the serialized series 13 (subtitled ) in 2021, and the 2022 BBC centenary special, totaling eight episodes between 2020 and 2022. His work emphasized ambitious , international location shoots, and the emotional tone of Whittaker's era, marking a pivotal phase in the show's modern revival. In series 12, Stone directed the premiere "Spyfall – Part One," which opened with a high-stakes espionage thriller involving global intelligence agencies and alien infiltration. He also helmed "Praxeus," an environmentally themed story set across Madagascar, Hong Kong, and the South Pole, blending mystery with global catastrophe. The penultimate episode "Ascension of the Cybermen" explored a dystopian future war, featuring upgraded Cybermen in large-scale battle sequences. Stone concluded the series with the finale "The Timeless Children," a lore-expanding narrative that delved into the Doctor's origins amid Cybermen assaults and temporal division. These episodes showcased his ability to manage multi-location filming, from Cardiff studios to on-location shoots in Wales simulating exotic locales. Returning for series 13 (Flux), Stone served as lead director alongside Azhur Saleem, overseeing the serialized format's interconnected threats. He directed the opener "Chapter One: The Halloween Apocalypse," introducing the Flux event and new foes like the Sontarans and Weeping Angels in a chaotic, universe-altering setup. "Chapter Two: " shifted to the era, reimagining Sontaran invasions with historical twists and temporal disruptions. Stone also directed "Chapter Four: ," a standalone horror-tinged installment set in 1967 , focusing on Weeping Angels possessing villagers in a haunted orphanage. The Flux production faced challenges, including restricted locations and enhanced studio builds, but benefited from an increased VFX budget that allowed for intricate effects like Angel transformations. Stone capped his Doctor Who tenure with the 2022 special "The Power of the Doctor," a centenary celebration written by that reunited past Doctors and companions against the , , and . Filmed in story order, the production carried emotional weight as Whittaker's regeneration, blending high-stakes action with nostalgic elements across diverse settings like a and volcanic terrains. As lead director for both series 12 and 13, Stone coordinated filming blocks, ensuring tonal consistency in Whittaker's compassionate yet adventurous portrayal of the Doctor. His approach integrated complex VFX for iconic monsters—such as Cybermen hordes in futuristic battles and Weeping Angels' eerie movements—while navigating multi-location demands, from period villages to interstellar voids. In interviews, Stone highlighted the collaborative intensity of Flux, where serialization allowed deeper character arcs amid VFX-heavy sequences, like the Angels' psychological horror in "Village of the Angels," achieved through practical effects and post-production polish by DNEG. For Cybermen scenes in "Ascension of the Cybermen" and "The Timeless Children," he emphasized kinetic action and scale, using stunt coordination to convey their relentless menace without overpowering the human elements.

Later television projects

Following his success on Doctor Who, which elevated his profile in genre television, Jamie Magnus Stone expanded his directing career into diverse formats, including international co-productions and thrillers. In 2015, Stone directed four episodes of the sci-fi comedy series Tripped for , a adventure following three friends navigating alternate realities. The series, created by , showcased Stone's ability to blend humor with speculative elements in a six-episode run. He also contributed to the Canadian WWII spy drama X Company on CBC, directing multiple episodes across its three seasons from 2015 to 2017, including key installments like "August 19th" that depicted the Dieppe Raid. The series, produced in co-operation with BBC America and Sony Pictures Television, highlighted Stone's work in historical action, focusing on Allied agents operating in Nazi-occupied Europe. In 2016, Stone helmed the fantasy television film The Last Dragonslayer for Sky One, adapting Jasper Fforde's novel about a young woman inheriting magical powers in a modernizing world. Starring Rose Leslie and Matt Berry, the project marked Stone's venture into family-oriented fantasy, emphasizing themes of corporate greed and destiny. Stone's post-Doctor Who work further diversified with the 2023 migration drama Ten Pound Poms on BBC One and Stan, where he directed and executive produced the first three episodes of the six-part series. Created by Danny Brocklehurst, the show follows British families relocating to 1950s Australia under the titular immigration scheme, blending historical drama with personal struggles. In 2024, he directed the opening three episodes of the BBC thriller miniseries Nightsleeper, a real-time conspiracy story set on a hijacked overnight train from Scotland to London. Produced by Euston Films, the six-part series stars Alexandra Roach and Joe Cole, underscoring Stone's shift toward high-stakes suspense in contemporary settings. Looking ahead, Stone is set to write and direct a sci-fi series adaptation of Brian W. Aldiss' 1958 novel Non-Stop for Aircraft Pictures, announced in . The project, centered on a tribal society aboard a vast generational starship, represents his continued exploration of ambitious genre narratives in international production.

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