ByCandice Krieger, Candice Krieger
TV comedy producer Dan Patterson has been lending his humour to a more serious cause. The award-winning producer, perhaps best known for creating the hit improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, says he has been motivated to reduce his carbon footprint after hosting a UJIA Jewish media networking event last week.
Mr Patterson chaired the session, where panelists — BBC journalist Tim Samuels; Nicola Mendelssohn, the MD of advertising agency Karmarama; and branding expert Simon Myers — debated which sectors are doing the most to help the environment and what others should be doing to help.
Mr Patterson tells People: “I spend so much time worrying about Israel, antisemitism, work and Manchester United, that there is little time left to worry about green issues. But it is something that does worry me. The green thing is important.”
He says: “The panelists know a lot more about the subject than I do, but I was inspired to do more.”
The general feeling, he says, is that you have to start somewhere. “My wife and I have decided that we don’t get bottled water any more — we get tap water instead.” He points out that this is not for cost-cutting purposes. He adds: “We recycle... we worry.”
Mr Patterson set up his Soho-based production company, Angst Productions, in 2004. It specialises in TV comedy shows including Mock the Week.