Laurence Akers: The Multi-Talented Producer Behind the Scenes and Suranne Jones’ Creative Partner

Searching for information about Laurence Akers, the accomplished writer, producer, and media professional whose 30-year career spans magazine editing, television production, and screenwriting? Best known publicly as the husband of BAFTA-winning actress Suranne Jones, Laurence Akers has built an impressive independent career that began at age 19 working on the hugely popular teenage magazine Just Seventeen, progressed through launching groundbreaking publications like BIG! magazine, and evolved into television production where he devised and produced shows for BBC, IMG, and Channel 4 before transitioning to screenwriting and directing with his 2017 short film “Gone” that marked his entry into narrative filmmaking.

What makes Laurence Akers fascinating extends beyond his celebrity marriage to encompass a genuine creative partnership through TeamAkers Productions, the joint venture he runs with Suranne Jones dedicated to making content that resonates with contemporary audiences and addresses relevant social issues. Born approximately 10 years before Suranne (making him around 57-58 years old as of 2025), Laurence brings decades of media experience to their production company where he’s currently developing multiple projects including The Jane Couch Story about the pioneering female boxer, psychological comedy-dramas based on D.C. Thompson characters, documentary series for Channel 4, and theatrical productions exploring everything from espionage to Arthur Conan Doyle’s early life.

Their relationship itself reads like a romantic comedy—they met at Coronation Street actress Sally Lindsay’s 2013 wedding where Laurence was initially set up with Carol Vorderman, but he famously asked to “cut in” while Suranne was dancing with another man, then swept that man onto the dance floor instead of Suranne in a humorous display that made her think “Oh, he’s very funny.” Despite the complicated start (Laurence was still living with an ex-partner at the time though they’d already split), the couple got engaged just six weeks after meeting, married in 2015 at Islington Town Hall, and welcomed their son in March 2016, maintaining remarkable privacy around their family life while building successful careers both independently and collaboratively.

Early Career: Magazine Journalism and Publishing

Laurence Akers entered the media industry at the remarkably young age of 19, joining the editorial team of Just Seventeen, one of Britain’s most popular teenage magazines during the late 1980s and early 1990s. This publication targeted adolescent girls with content covering fashion, beauty, celebrity interviews, relationships, and pop culture—a training ground that taught Laurence how to understand youth audiences, create engaging content, meet tight deadlines, and navigate the fast-paced world of magazine publishing.

His early success at Just Seventeen demonstrated natural editorial instincts and understanding of what resonated with young readers. This wasn’t merely writing articles but truly grasping cultural moments and translating them into compelling magazine content that teenagers eagerly consumed each month.

Launching BIG! Magazine

After establishing himself at Just Seventeen, Laurence Akers took on a more ambitious challenge—developing and launching BIG! magazine, described as “the first teen film, TV and music magazine” in the UK market. This innovative publication recognized that teenagers’ entertainment consumption was diversifying beyond traditional pop music into film, television series, and broader celebrity culture.

Launching a new magazine requires enormous effort including identifying market gaps and target demographics, developing editorial concepts and visual identities, assembling creative teams and establishing workflows, securing advertising and distribution partnerships, and creating inaugural issues that capture audience attention immediately.

BIG! magazine represented Laurence’s first major creative leadership role where he could shape editorial vision from conception rather than contributing to existing publications. The experience of building something new from the ground up proved invaluable for his later ventures in television production and independent filmmaking.

After three years in magazines, Laurence Akers had developed crucial skills that would translate perfectly to television—understanding audiences, creating compelling narratives, working under pressure, and identifying cultural trends before they became mainstream.

Transition to Television Production

The move from print journalism to television production represented a significant career pivot, but Laurence’s editorial background and youth culture expertise made him ideally suited for music and entertainment television.

Early Television Roles: Music Booking

Laurence Akers began his television career booking music bands for children’s and youth programming including Disney Club, the Sunday morning show that mixed Disney content with live performances, and What’s Up Doc?, a live Saturday morning entertainment show that featured music acts alongside other content.

These booking roles required different skills than editorial work including understanding which artists appealed to target demographics, negotiating with record labels and artist management, coordinating complex live performance logistics, and balancing artistic quality with budget constraints.

The experience of working on live television where mistakes couldn’t be edited out and schedules demanded precision taught Laurence valuable lessons about the pressure and unpredictability of broadcast production.

BBC: Producing Music and Technology Programming

Laurence Akers‘ career advanced significantly when he joined the BBC, Britain’s most prestigious broadcaster, where he took on producing roles for multiple shows demonstrating his versatility across formats and subjects.

Inside Tracks (BBC3): Laurence devised and produced this music program for BBC3, the corporation’s youth-oriented digital channel. Devising a show means creating the original concept rather than just executing someone else’s vision—indicating his growing creative authority and the BBC’s confidence in his judgment.

Popzone (BBC1): This music magazine show aired on BBC1’s mainstream schedule, giving Laurence experience with larger audiences and higher production values. Popzone featured chart music, artist interviews, and performances designed to capture the same teenage demographic he’d served in magazines but now through television.

Wogan’s Web (BBC1 Daytime): Perhaps his most ambitious BBC project involved developing and producing Wogan’s Web, a live daytime show. Working with Terry Wogan, one of Britain’s most beloved broadcasters, on a live daily program demonstrated Laurence’s ability to handle high-pressure production environments and work with established talent.

IMG: Developing Niche Programming

After establishing himself at the BBC, Laurence Akers joined IMG, a global sports, fashion, and media company, where he developed and produced several shows for specialized markets.

Gamer.TV: Recognizing the growing gaming culture before it became mainstream, Laurence developed and produced Gamer.TV, a computer game magazine show. This demonstrated his ability to identify emerging trends—in the early 2000s, gaming was still relatively niche, but Laurence understood its potential audience.

Evolver: This technology show explored emerging tech trends, again showing Laurence’s forward-thinking approach to content creation and his comfort with technical subjects beyond traditional entertainment.

The Other Side: Laurence developed this alternative lifestyle show for the Asian television market, demonstrating his ability to create content for international audiences and navigate cross-cultural programming challenges.

These IMG productions showcased Laurence Akers‘ versatility—he wasn’t limited to music programming but could develop compelling content across gaming, technology, and lifestyle categories for diverse audiences.

Screenwriting and Directing: A New Creative Phase

In 2016, after two decades in television production, Laurence Akers turned his attention to screenwriting and producing full-time, marking a significant career evolution from factual and entertainment programming to narrative filmmaking.

“Gone” (2017): Directorial Debut

Laurence wrote and directed his first short film “Gone” in 2017, a project that allowed him to express creative vision through narrative storytelling rather than the format constraints of television production. While specific details about the film’s plot and reception remain limited in public records, the fact that it’s listed prominently in his IMDb credits suggests it represented an important milestone in his creative development.

Creating a short film requires mastering entirely different skills than television production including screenplay writing with three-act structure and character development, directing actors and making performance choices, collaborating with cinematographers on visual storytelling, managing smaller budgets and crew sizes, and maintaining artistic vision throughout production and post-production.

The experience of writing, directing, and presumably producing “Gone” gave Laurence Akers complete creative control—a significant change from television where producers typically answer to commissioners, channel executives, and various stakeholders with competing visions.

TeamAkers Productions: Creative Partnership with Suranne Jones

One of Laurence Akers‘ most significant professional ventures involves TeamAkers Productions LTD, the joint production company he runs with his wife Suranne Jones. This partnership combines Suranne’s acting profile and industry connections with Laurence’s production expertise and development skills.

Company Mission and Philosophy

According to their website, TeamAkers Productions is “dedicated to making content that is relevant to the world today and resonates with the viewing public.” This mission statement reflects both partners’ commitment to meaningful storytelling rather than purely commercial content.

The company benefits from unique advantages including Suranne’s star power and industry relationships built over decades of acclaimed television work, Laurence’s 30+ years of production experience and development expertise, their combined understanding of what makes quality drama that resonates with audiences, and their ability to identify stories with social relevance alongside entertainment value.

Current Development Projects

Laurence Akers actively develops multiple projects for TeamAkers Productions across various formats and genres:

The Jane Couch Story: A biographical project about Jane Couch, Britain’s first officially licensed female boxer who fought for the right to box professionally in the UK during the 1990s when the British Boxing Board of Control banned women. This true story combines sports drama with feminist themes about breaking barriers in male-dominated fields—exactly the kind of socially relevant content TeamAkers Productions prioritizes.

D.C. Thompson Psychological Comedy-Drama: Working with Emanata Studios, Laurence is writing a series based on characters from D.C. Thompson, the Scottish publishing company behind beloved comics like The Beano and Dandy. Adapting comic characters into psychological comedy-drama represents creative ambition to reimagine familiar properties for contemporary adult audiences.

Channel 4 Documentary Series: In partnership with production company Ricochet, Laurence Akers is producing a documentary series for Channel 4, one of Britain’s major broadcasters known for innovative factual programming. While specific subject matter hasn’t been publicly detailed, this demonstrates continuing work in factual television alongside narrative projects.

SpyforSpy Theatrical Production: Producing Kieron Barry’s play SpyforSpy at The Riverside Theatre in London shows interest in theatrical production beyond screen work.

Arthur Conan Doyle Play: Laurence recently completed writing a play about the early life of Arthur Conan Doyle for Sheringham Little Theatre, demonstrating his versatility as a writer across screen and stage.

Meeting and Marrying Suranne Jones

While Laurence Akers had built an impressive 20+ year career before meeting Suranne Jones, his personal life gained public attention when he married one of Britain’s most acclaimed actresses.

The Wedding Dance That Started It All

The couple’s origin story has become part of their public narrative because of its charming details. They met at Coronation Street actress Sally Lindsay’s wedding in 2013. Suranne had asked her former Coronation Street boss to set her up with someone at the wedding, and he pointed out Laurence—who happened to be sitting next to television personality Carol Vorderman.

The memorable moment came when Suranne was dancing with actor Peter Eccleston (partner of Coronation Street’s Antony Cotton), and Laurence approached asking “Can I cut in?” But instead of taking Suranne as his dance partner, he swept Peter onto the dance floor instead, flinging him around energetically.

Suranne later recalled thinking, “Oh, he’s very funny”—the humor and unexpectedness of that moment clearly made an impression. They exchanged numbers that night, beginning a relationship that moved remarkably quickly despite complicated circumstances.

The “Complicated” Beginning

In interviews, Laurence Akers candidly admitted that the start of their relationship was “complicated” because he was still living with an ex-partner when he met Suranne. As he explained, “I was living with someone else but we’d split up and neither of us could afford to move out.”

This living situation meant navigating the early stages of new romance while dealing with the practical and emotional complexities of a previous relationship’s aftermath. Laurence’s honesty about finding Suranne “stunning, really down to earth and funny” despite his complicated circumstances shows the immediate connection they felt.

According to some reports, Laurence proposed just six weeks after their first meeting—an remarkably short courtship that suggests both were certain they’d found the right partner despite the unconventional timing.

Marriage and Family Privacy

Laurence Akers and Suranne Jones married in 2015 in a private ceremony at Islington Town Hall in London. Keeping the wedding intimate and low-key reflected their shared preference for maintaining privacy around their personal lives despite Suranne’s public profile.

This privacy commitment has remained consistent throughout their marriage—they rarely discuss their relationship in interviews, don’t share family photos on social media, and generally keep their son completely out of the public eye.

Fatherhood and Family Life

In March 2016, Laurence Akers became a father when Suranne gave birth to their son. True to their privacy values, they’ve never publicly revealed their son’s name, and Suranne doesn’t use social media regularly, so news of the pregnancy only became public when she appeared at the National Television Awards with a visible baby bump.

Parenting Approach and Division of Labor

Suranne has shared limited but sweet details about their parenting dynamic in interviews. She described their division of play activities: “I will play Hot Wheels, Laurence will do Lego and Batman.”

This glimpse into their home life shows Laurence Akers as an engaged father who makes time for age-appropriate play despite his busy production schedule. Lego and Batman activities suggest he enjoys building and imaginative play with their son—creating the kinds of memories that matter more than professional accomplishments.

Suranne has emphasized how precious family time is because she’s “away a lot” for filming. This likely means Laurence often serves as the primary parent when Suranne’s on location for productions, requiring flexibility in his own work schedule.

Protecting Their Son’s Privacy

Both Laurence Akers and Suranne have worked hard to keep their son away from public attention. As Suranne explained, he’s now nine years old but his name and image remain private—no photos appear in media outlets or on social media.

This protection extends to everyday activities. Suranne shared an anecdote about cutting her hair short for her role as Prime Minister in the series “Hostage,” and her son hated the look, saying “Mummy, please don’t pick me up at the school gates”—a normal child’s embarrassment about a parent’s appearance that also reveals Suranne does regular school pickups when not filming, maintaining normal family routines.

The couple’s approach to parenting emphasizes normal childhood experiences including rock climbing and football birthday parties, time away from screens through activities like Hot Wheels and Lego, regular school attendance without special treatment, and protection from media attention that could complicate their son’s social life.

Lockdown Family Expansion

During COVID-19 lockdown, Laurence Akers and Suranne expanded their family in a different way—they adopted two dachshund puppies. Many families turned to pet adoption during lockdown for companionship and to give children responsibility and comfort during uncertain times.

The addition of these dogs to their Muswell Hill household likely brought joy during isolation and gave their son experience caring for animals—valuable life lessons about responsibility, empathy, and the commitment pets require.

Life in Muswell Hill, London

Laurence Akers and his family live in Muswell Hill, an affluent residential area in North London known for its Victorian and Edwardian architecture, excellent schools, independent shops and cafes, strong sense of community, and green spaces including Alexandra Palace.

This location choice reflects their priorities—it’s close enough to London’s media industry centers for work but far enough from central tourist areas to maintain relative anonymity in daily life. Muswell Hill offers the village-like atmosphere that makes family life comfortable while remaining well-connected to the city.

The area’s strong local schools, parks, and family-friendly environment make it ideal for raising their son away from the intense media attention that would accompany living in more celebrity-heavy neighborhoods like Notting Hill or Primrose Hill.

Professional Relationship and Collaboration

Beyond their personal partnership, Laurence Akers and Suranne Jones maintain a professional creative relationship through TeamAkers Productions that represents genuine collaboration rather than one spouse merely supporting the other’s career.

Laurence brings production expertise including development skills from his 30 years in media, an understanding of broadcasting landscape and commissioner relationships, and practical knowledge of budgets, schedules, and production logistics. Suranne contributes acting talent and creative instincts from decades performing acclaimed roles, industry relationships built through successful television work, and understanding of what actors need from productions and what resonates with audiences.

Together, they can identify stories worth telling, develop them with both creative and practical considerations in mind, attract financing and broadcaster interest through Suranne’s profile, and ensure production quality through Laurence’s expertise—a genuinely complementary partnership where both parties add distinct value.

Their willingness to work together professionally while maintaining healthy personal boundaries speaks to mutual respect and clear communication—they’ve found ways to collaborate creatively without letting professional disagreements damage their marriage or letting personal dynamics interfere with business decisions.

Conclusion

Laurence Akers represents a media professional whose impressive 30-year career spanning magazine editing of publications like Just Seventeen and BIG!, television production for BBC, IMG, and Channel 4 developing shows like Popzone, Gamer.TV, and Wogan’s Web, and screenwriting and directing including his 2017 short film “Gone” demonstrates versatility, creative vision, and the ability to identify emerging cultural trends before they become mainstream.

While public attention often focuses on his marriage to BAFTA-winning actress Suranne Jones, reducing him to “Suranne Jones’ husband” ignores his substantial independent accomplishments and the genuine creative partnership they’ve built through TeamAkers Productions where he’s actively developing multiple projects including The Jane Couch Story, D.C. Thompson adaptations, Channel 4 documentaries, and theatrical productions.

Their relationship itself—beginning with that memorable wedding dance floor moment, progressing through a whirlwind six-week engagement despite complicated circumstances, evolving into a solid marriage marked by shared privacy values and hands-on parenting of their nine-year-old son in their Muswell Hill home—demonstrates that successful partnerships balance individual professional identities with collaborative creative vision, public profiles with private family protection, and romantic partnership with professional respect.

At approximately 57-58 years old in 2025, Laurence Akers continues building an impressive body of work that combines entertainment value with social relevance, proving that successful media careers don’t require constant public attention but rather sustained creativity, adaptability across formats and genres, and commitment to quality storytelling that resonates with audiences regardless of whether your name appears in headlines or you work contentedly behind the scenes making meaningful content.