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A media production company in Gloucestershire has appointed a filmmaker behind videos for pop stars which have garnered millions of views online as its new creative director.

Cheltenham-based Squashed Robot creates video, photography, animation, design, creative and social content for local SMEs to globally recognised brands such as Tommy Hilfiger.

The business, which is based at Chapel House off the town’s High Street, has now hired director and producer Phil Beastall as it looks to accelerate its growth. Mr Beastall will oversee all of the creative output of the business, develop and nurture client relationships and to explore new creative opportunities.

Mr Beastall has previously worked with companies such as Adobe, McLaren, ITV and Google. He was also the writer and director of the music video for singer Lewis Capaldi’s number one single ‘Someone You Loved’ , which featured Dr. Who actor Peter Capaldi and has racked up more than 180 million views on YouTube.

A short Christmas film Mr Beastall made In 2018 titled Love is a Gift was also viewed millions of times and shared more than 200,000 times on social media. Following its success he was invited by ITV show Good Morning Britain to write and direct a film for its ‘1 million Minutes Christmas’ charity campaign.

In a post on LinkedIn Mr Beastall said it was “the right time for me to join a fast growing company” after working as a freelancer for 15 years.

He added: “I wanted to join a content agency who had not only proved themselves to be a leader in the area, but had a huge amount of potential for growth. Squashed Robot has been incredibly welcoming and supportive of my transition and I can’t wait to see what content we create over the coming months.”

Squashed Robot said its previous creative director, Bafta-nominated filmmaker Lex Beckett, would now step into the role of chief executive following Mr Beastall‘s appointment.