About

WORLD-CLASS STORYTELLING, ROOTED IN TELEVISION EXPERTISE

Lucky Bean isn’t just another video production company—it’s built on decades of world-class television expertise.

Founder Donald Clarke is a storyteller at heart. With a career spanning two continents, he has shaped some of South Africa’s biggest reality TV formats and produced standout unscripted content in the UK. After founding Lucky Bean in 2011, he led the company to win major broadcast commissions like MasterChef South Africa and produce award-winning shows such as Girl Eat World and My Story. Lucky Bean also partnered with global brands like KFC, Tusker, Chivas, and McDonald’s to create long-form branded entertainment.

Recruited into BBC Studios-owned Rapid Blue as Commercial Director in 2017, Donald played a pivotal role in launching The Bachelor franchise in South Africa and brokered a major co-development deal between M-Net and BBC Studios during the Covid pandemic.

Since moving to the UK in 2020, Donald has become a sought-after Series Producer and Edit Producer, shaping hit shows like Next Level Chef (Fox), Charlotte in Sunderland (BBC), and Kitchen Nightmares (Fox). His experience crafting engaging narratives, working with real people, and delivering high-impact storytelling now fuels Lucky Bean’s mission: helping brands and people create videos that make a big impact.