Talent Agent Accused of Leaving Clients Without Payments and Support

Actor Thea Beyleveld anticipated a promising career, with opportunities from Netflix, soaps, and lucrative TV advertisements. She was enthusiastic about her new talent agent, Archie Purnell, who was tasked with securing roles for her, mediating contracts, and negotiating remuneration. Purnell would then receive a commission from the work Beyleveld secured. However, online accusations emerged concerning fabricated acting credits and delayed fee disbursements. Actors recounted comparable experiences on social media under the hashtag #BodhiGate. Thea, 36, stated, “The one thing that caught my attention was [the] late payments.” She added, “My heart immediately dropped.” Former clients have informed the BBC that they are thousands of pounds out of pocket and feel “in the lurch” by authorities, following Archie’s declaration of bankruptcy. In the UK, establishing a talent agency does not require a license, and no regulatory body oversees their operations. Talent agencies are legally categorized as “employment agencies,” necessitating their adherence to the Employment Agencies Act 2003, which mandates that payments be processed within 10 days of funds being received. Nevertheless, clients of Bodhi Talent Agency reported having to pursue overdue payments for extended periods. In January, Thea inquired with Archie regarding payment for her contributions to Netflix’s The Crown and a car advertisement. Documentation reviewed by the BBC indicates that Bodhi Talent Agency had received full payment for Thea’s work at least five months prior to these communications. Thea claims a total of £12,960 is owed to her. Following this discovery, she conveyed to Archie in a letter, “Words cannot express the rage, betrayal and hurt you have caused me.” Action Fraud redirected reports due to its lack of investigative authority. The Greater Manchester Police classified the matter as civil. Ten former clients, including Thea, who are members of the performers’ union Equity, had initiated civil legal proceedings against him to recover nearly £40,000; however, the case was discontinued after his bankruptcy declaration. The BBC has interviewed 30 former clients, with additional individuals reporting problems such as delayed or absent payments for completed assignments. Jack Bence, known for his recurring role in the sitcom Bad Education, entered into an agreement with Bodhi Talent Agency in March 2022. Jack, also 36, asserts that he is owed £7,079.81 for work on projects such as an advertisement for a prominent hotel chain and the mystery series, Mrs Sidhu Investigates. As a father of a young family, every sum is crucial for Jack, who also holds a position with an events company. In January, he was compelled to pursue Archie for a subsequent payment for the hotel advertisement, having recently received “the mother of all tax bills.” Archie subsequently communicated via WhatsApp that he would transfer £2,000 from his personal funds to Jack, aiming to prevent Jack from “stressing.” In a voice note, Archie stated, “I’m more than happy to do that, if it takes the pressure off you at the minute – until it comes in.” Jack commented, “That actually made me a bit emotional, because I was like, wow, you’re going above and beyond for something that’s not your fault… that’s how I saw it at the time, naively.” Archie had, in reality, received payment for the assignment in October 2023. Jack expressed, “[Now] I feel isolated, alone, left in the lurch, but I’m also angry. He will do it again – because why wouldn’t he?” Other actors impacted include: Although Jack and Thea knew him exclusively as Archie, Companies House records indicate his actual name is Jamie Thomas Fisher. Hailing from Wigan, Jamie initially entered the industry as an actor. One of Jamie’s former agents, despite noting his limited success as an actor, characterized him as “charming” and “over the top.” The agent informed the BBC, referencing what they termed “love-bombing” behaviors such as purchasing gifts or chocolates to gain attention, “I can see why anyone would believe what he said.” He moved between various agencies in the North West, accumulating experience as an emerging agent, establishing connections, and ultimately founding his own enterprise. However, others have challenged the qualifications upon which Jamie established his reputation. Jamie reportedly asserted that he had trained at the esteemed Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and had advanced his career at United Agents, a leading London agency. In emails, he claimed membership in the Personal Managers’ Association, an organization that maintains a code of conduct for agents. The BBC contacted all three of these organizations, each confirming they had no record of him. Multiple former clients have informed the BBC that Jamie provided them with audition opportunities not originally designated for them. Layla Shirley, based in Birmingham, joined the agency in June 2022. Jamie presented her with a seemingly promising self-tape opportunity, a process where production companies select actors to record auditions remotely. This was for an advertisement with a prominent burger chain, notwithstanding her vegan diet. The production company subsequently verified that they had no record of issuing this request for Layla. She remarked, “So many times with self-tapes, you get them the night before, and you’ve got to drop everything or cancel your plans to learn the lines, which is a sacrifice we make… If you’ve done all that for nothing, it really is a kick in the teeth.” Out of frustration, Layla started discussing her experience with other former clients and Alexa Morden, the host of The 98%, a podcast that examines the realities of employment for working actors. Layla’s primary concern, however, was to highlight the operations of Jamie’s agency for child actors, Luna Kids Casting. Luna Kids Casting conducted auditions in April, July, and October 2023. Pop-up banners at the Wigan studio implied that children represented by Jamie subsequently secured work with Cbeebies, Sky, Disney, and Fox. Sarah Wilson’s 10-year-old daughter was successful in competitive auditions, and a photoshoot day was arranged for the children invited to join the agency’s roster. Parents were instructed to pay £180 in cash to Jamie’s Mum at the reception desk. Sarah stated that while this fee was “incredibly expensive,” she felt confident due to the extensive paperwork required before her daughter’s enrollment. Nevertheless, expenses continued