Meet The Team

Luke is the 12th Earl of Sandwich and has managed Mapperton Estate with his wife Julie since 2016. After graduating from Columbia University, Luke founded a series of technology, education and media businesses. In 2003 he co-founded the Met Film School, which he led as CEO until 2009, alongside Met Film Productions where he exec produced a number of feature films.

 

Luke has since worked to develop Mapperton alongside a number of pro bono activities, including working in health policy with the Beyond Pills APPG, , as chair of the charity the Dalai Lama Centre for Compassion and more recently chair of the charity West Dorset Wilding which oversees a project to restore nature across 4,500 hectares of southwest England.

Julie Montagu is a celebrated public speaker, historian, television personality, author, and royal commentator known for her engaging presence and ability to connect with diverse audiences around the world. As a historian and public speaker, Julie’s rare blend of expertise, charisma, and authenticity inspires audiences on topics ranging from resilience and wellness to British aristocratic life and royal traditions.

Born and raised in Illinois, USA, Julie’s journey took a remarkable turn when she moved to London and married Luke Montagu, then Viscount Hinchingbrooke, heir to the Earldom of Sandwich and the Mapperton Estate in Dorset. Julie now divides her time between London and Mapperton, where she balances family life, video production, public roles, and managing the estate alongside her husband.

A highly experienced and versatile Series Producer/Director, with a rich background in arts, history, and factual entertainment, delivering premium content to leading broadcasters and digital platforms. 
Working in the TV Industry for over 25 years Victoria is BBC-trained, with a strong academic foundation (BA Hons. History of Art /MA Medieval Studies) and a passion for heritage and the arts. 

 

Victoria brings imaginative, visually inventive storytelling and a calm, decisive presence both on location and in the edit suite. Adept at leading productions from concept to delivery, Victoria excels in creative leadership, editorial development, post-production and talent management. Victoria’s visual storytelling and strong narrative instincts make her a trusted and inspiring figure across all productions.

Shelly began her career in story development at a large Los Angeles film studio while at Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television. She assisted in the development of films such as Life of Pi, 27 Dresses, and Marley & Me. Driven by a lifelong fascination with history and myth, she later moved into academia, earning a PhD in Medieval and Early Modern Studies from the University of Kent, which specialised in the history and folklore of the British Isles.

 

A trained screenwriter, copywriter, and cultural historian, Shelly brings a rare blend of narrative insight and digital strategy to Living History Films. Alongside research and script development, she helps design and grow online communities and membership platforms that transform audience engagement into lasting support for heritage storytelling.