Wallen Matthie joined Granada in 1981 folllowing the Liverpool and Manchester riots.

Prior to then he had worked on a freelance basis with the BBC and with the Manchester Council for Community Relations.

He worked initially as a Researcher on a range of local programmes that included Granada Reports, This Is Your Right and Live From Two. He also has fond memories of working with Tony Wilson on Upfront. Wallen would later himself produce a Young Upfront version for teenagers.

He also worked with Brian Morris on Job Watch and would become heavily involved in trying to persuade Granada to employ more people from the black and ethnic communities.