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The majority of Muslim, Jewish and Arab people working in the UK film and TV industry have experienced a decline in wellbeing since October, a survey from the Film and TV Charity has found.
According to the survey, 94% of people of Jewish, Muslim, and Arab heritage have felt a negative impact on their mental health or psychological and emotional wellbeing since the October 7 attacks of terrorist group Hamas in Israel, and the subsequent humanitarian crisis in Gaza that has followed.
Only 24% of respondents said they felt supported by their employers as the charity aims to publish a broader analysis of...
According to the survey, 94% of people of Jewish, Muslim, and Arab heritage have felt a negative impact on their mental health or psychological and emotional wellbeing since the October 7 attacks of terrorist group Hamas in Israel, and the subsequent humanitarian crisis in Gaza that has followed.
Only 24% of respondents said they felt supported by their employers as the charity aims to publish a broader analysis of...
- 2/27/2024
- ScreenDaily
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Almost every person of Arab, Muslim and Jewish heritage working in TV and film has experienced a deterioration in their mental health following Hamas’ October 7 attack and the subsequent humanitarian crisis in Gaza, a leading charity has reported.
A startling 94% surveyed by the Film & TV Charity reported their mental health or psychological and mental wellbeing had declined following the tragic events in Israel and Palestine over the past four-and-a-half months. Among this figure, 92% of Jewish respondents and 95% of Muslim and Arab respondents said this was the case, and just 24% felt supported by their employers.
The survey was followed by a series of countable discussions between senior leaders from the major UK networks, production companies, newsroom execs, industry bodies and representatives from British Muslim, Arab, and Jewish communities working in the film and TV industry. Channel 4 content chief Ian Katz, Directors UK boss Andy Harrower, Sky News’ Louise Hastings...
A startling 94% surveyed by the Film & TV Charity reported their mental health or psychological and mental wellbeing had declined following the tragic events in Israel and Palestine over the past four-and-a-half months. Among this figure, 92% of Jewish respondents and 95% of Muslim and Arab respondents said this was the case, and just 24% felt supported by their employers.
The survey was followed by a series of countable discussions between senior leaders from the major UK networks, production companies, newsroom execs, industry bodies and representatives from British Muslim, Arab, and Jewish communities working in the film and TV industry. Channel 4 content chief Ian Katz, Directors UK boss Andy Harrower, Sky News’ Louise Hastings...
- 2/27/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
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Production company’s credits include Steve McQueen’s Small Axe and Netflix’s The Edge of War.
BBC Studios has taken a minority stake in Small Axe indie Turbine Studios, which is in production with Apple TV+ drama Constellation.
The indie, founded in 2020 by exec producers Andrew Eaton, Justin Thomson, Tracey Scoffield and David Tanner, already has the backing of Bron Media Corp, the US entertainment firm behind HBO’s Euphoria.
It is co-producing an eight-part psychological space thriller for Apple TV+ with Haut et Court TV. Constellation, written by Peter Harness, follows a woman who returns to Earth after a disaster in space.
BBC Studios has taken a minority stake in Small Axe indie Turbine Studios, which is in production with Apple TV+ drama Constellation.
The indie, founded in 2020 by exec producers Andrew Eaton, Justin Thomson, Tracey Scoffield and David Tanner, already has the backing of Bron Media Corp, the US entertainment firm behind HBO’s Euphoria.
It is co-producing an eight-part psychological space thriller for Apple TV+ with Haut et Court TV. Constellation, written by Peter Harness, follows a woman who returns to Earth after a disaster in space.
- 11/30/2022
- by Ellie Kahn Broadcast
- ScreenDaily
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Former Heyday President Tom Winchester’s Pure Fiction Staffs Up
Former Heyday Television President Tom Winchester’s fledgling See-Saw Films-backed indie Pure Fiction Television has signed Euston Films and Urban Myths Films execs in its first major play. Euston’s Laura Klimke joins as Executive Producer and former Urban Myth Development Exec Yolanda Lee becomes Development Executive. Past credits for the pair include ITV’s The Sister, BBC Three’s Wreck and War of the Worlds. Pure Fiction has also hired Development Coordinator Musanna Ahmed. The trio will work on a slate focused on “prestige commercial content,” seeking IP and original ideas. The company was launched earlier this year by Winchester, backed by Power of the Dog producer See-Saw and talent agency Hamilton Hodell. Winchester spent three-and-a-half years as President of David Heyman’s Heyday, overseeing the likes of Netflix’s Clickbait and hiring teams in London and LA.
Former Heyday Television President Tom Winchester’s fledgling See-Saw Films-backed indie Pure Fiction Television has signed Euston Films and Urban Myths Films execs in its first major play. Euston’s Laura Klimke joins as Executive Producer and former Urban Myth Development Exec Yolanda Lee becomes Development Executive. Past credits for the pair include ITV’s The Sister, BBC Three’s Wreck and War of the Worlds. Pure Fiction has also hired Development Coordinator Musanna Ahmed. The trio will work on a slate focused on “prestige commercial content,” seeking IP and original ideas. The company was launched earlier this year by Winchester, backed by Power of the Dog producer See-Saw and talent agency Hamilton Hodell. Winchester spent three-and-a-half years as President of David Heyman’s Heyday, overseeing the likes of Netflix’s Clickbait and hiring teams in London and LA.
- 11/3/2022
- by Max Goldbart, Zac Ntim and Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
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BBC Studios, the commercial arm of U.K. public broadcaster BBC, has taken full ownership of Firebird Pictures, the scripted production company set up by former BBC executives Elizabeth Kilgarriff and Craig Holleworth in 2019.
BBC Studios previously held a 25 percent stake in the company and has now increased its investment to buy the rest for 100 percent control. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.
Firebird “works with and champions top-level and emerging talent to create high-end character-led series for British and international audiences,” the company said. “It has recently had two major series green-lit: Wilderness, a six-part series for Amazon Prime Video, written by Marnie Dickens and based on B.E. Jones’ novel, starring Jenna Coleman and Oliver Jackson-Cohen and currently shooting in Canada and the U.S.; and an adaptation of Nikki May’s best-selling debut novel, Wahala, written by Theresa Ikoko for BBC One,...
BBC Studios, the commercial arm of U.K. public broadcaster BBC, has taken full ownership of Firebird Pictures, the scripted production company set up by former BBC executives Elizabeth Kilgarriff and Craig Holleworth in 2019.
BBC Studios previously held a 25 percent stake in the company and has now increased its investment to buy the rest for 100 percent control. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.
Firebird “works with and champions top-level and emerging talent to create high-end character-led series for British and international audiences,” the company said. “It has recently had two major series green-lit: Wilderness, a six-part series for Amazon Prime Video, written by Marnie Dickens and based on B.E. Jones’ novel, starring Jenna Coleman and Oliver Jackson-Cohen and currently shooting in Canada and the U.S.; and an adaptation of Nikki May’s best-selling debut novel, Wahala, written by Theresa Ikoko for BBC One,...
- 10/5/2022
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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Family History
Keira Knightley, Kit Harington, Emeli Sandé and Toby Jones are among the celebrities who’ve signed up to explore their family histories in Wonderhood Studios show “My Grandparents’ War.”
The second season of the show, which airs in the U.K. on Channel 4, will explore how the stars’ grandparents navigated global conflicts from the killing fields of Kenya to the mountains of Monte Cassino in Italy. The first season starred Helena Bonham Carter, Mark Rylance, Kristin Scott Thomas and Carey Mulligan.
All3Media International distributes the show, which will air on PBS in the U.S., Sbs in Australia and CBC in Canada.
Investment
BBC Studios has taken a 25 stake in Kelly Webb-Lamb’s unscripted indie Mothership Productions.
Webb-Lamb, formerly Channel 4’s deputy director of programs, launched the company just a few weeks ago with a team of female executives including creative director Charlotte Desai, director of programs...
Keira Knightley, Kit Harington, Emeli Sandé and Toby Jones are among the celebrities who’ve signed up to explore their family histories in Wonderhood Studios show “My Grandparents’ War.”
The second season of the show, which airs in the U.K. on Channel 4, will explore how the stars’ grandparents navigated global conflicts from the killing fields of Kenya to the mountains of Monte Cassino in Italy. The first season starred Helena Bonham Carter, Mark Rylance, Kristin Scott Thomas and Carey Mulligan.
All3Media International distributes the show, which will air on PBS in the U.S., Sbs in Australia and CBC in Canada.
Investment
BBC Studios has taken a 25 stake in Kelly Webb-Lamb’s unscripted indie Mothership Productions.
Webb-Lamb, formerly Channel 4’s deputy director of programs, launched the company just a few weeks ago with a team of female executives including creative director Charlotte Desai, director of programs...
- 8/31/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
BBC Studios Takes Minority Stake In Former Channel 4 Deputy Kelly Webb-Lamb’s Mothership Productions
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BBC Studios has taken a 25 minority stake in former Channel 4 Deputy Head of Programmes Kelly Webb-Lamb’s Mothership Productions.
Webb-Lamb set up the company earlier this month along with former Channel 4 colleagues Charlotte Desai and Gilly Greenslade and it joins a roster of BBC Studios-backed non-scripted indies that includes Expectation and Curve Media, along with numerous scripted producers.
The strategic partnership will see BBC Studios invest in Mothership’s slate of global formats and “ideas of scale” across the non-scripted genres. Mothership has already said it has several projects in advanced development while the team is currently pitching to broadcaster and SVoD commissioners.
Webb-Lamb is a well known British TV figure having been Chief Content Officer Ian Katz’s deputy at Channel 4 for several years, during which time she oversaw the likes of The Circle and The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan. She used to Run Banijay-backed Shine and previously worked for the BBC.
Webb-Lamb set up the company earlier this month along with former Channel 4 colleagues Charlotte Desai and Gilly Greenslade and it joins a roster of BBC Studios-backed non-scripted indies that includes Expectation and Curve Media, along with numerous scripted producers.
The strategic partnership will see BBC Studios invest in Mothership’s slate of global formats and “ideas of scale” across the non-scripted genres. Mothership has already said it has several projects in advanced development while the team is currently pitching to broadcaster and SVoD commissioners.
Webb-Lamb is a well known British TV figure having been Chief Content Officer Ian Katz’s deputy at Channel 4 for several years, during which time she oversaw the likes of The Circle and The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan. She used to Run Banijay-backed Shine and previously worked for the BBC.
- 8/31/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
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Channel 4’s former Deputy Programmes Chief Kelly Webb-Lamb has launched a non-scripted production outfit with two former Channel 4 commissioners to create “global formats and ideas of scale.”
Webb-Lamb, who up until recently was the second most senior content person at the Gogglebox network, has opened Mothership Productions with Creative Director Charlotte Desai and Director of Programmes Gilly Greenslade, both of whom worked extensively with her at Channel 4 before she departed last year.
The production outfit looks set to be a key player in the booming British non-scripted TV sector, focusing on big, sellable formats, and said it already has several projects in advanced development while the team is currently pitching to broadcaster and SVoD commissioners.
Webb-Lamb was at Channel 4 for five years and deputy to Chief Content Officer Ian Katz for three, during which time she commissioned the likes of The Circle, Studio Lambert’s format that was subsequently remade for Netflix,...
Webb-Lamb, who up until recently was the second most senior content person at the Gogglebox network, has opened Mothership Productions with Creative Director Charlotte Desai and Director of Programmes Gilly Greenslade, both of whom worked extensively with her at Channel 4 before she departed last year.
The production outfit looks set to be a key player in the booming British non-scripted TV sector, focusing on big, sellable formats, and said it already has several projects in advanced development while the team is currently pitching to broadcaster and SVoD commissioners.
Webb-Lamb was at Channel 4 for five years and deputy to Chief Content Officer Ian Katz for three, during which time she commissioned the likes of The Circle, Studio Lambert’s format that was subsequently remade for Netflix,...
- 8/1/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
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Former Channel 4 deputy director of programs and head of popular factual Kelly Webb-Lamb has set up a new production company.
Mothership Productions will focus on global formats and “ideas of scale” across the unscripted genres. The new outfit has already hit the ground running with a senior team that includes Charlotte Desai, Gilly Greenslade and Gudren Claire.
“After 25 years in the industry on both sides of the pitching/buying table, it felt like it was time to take the leap and have a go at doing it for myself,” said Webb-Lamb. “I can’t honestly believe I’ve managed to persuade such a brilliant group of women to come along for the ride with me. We are super ambitious — and intend to make some properly great, entertaining, warm and witty programmes — and have a lot of fun.”
Webb-Lamb is one of the U.K. TV industry’s most well-respected executives.
Mothership Productions will focus on global formats and “ideas of scale” across the unscripted genres. The new outfit has already hit the ground running with a senior team that includes Charlotte Desai, Gilly Greenslade and Gudren Claire.
“After 25 years in the industry on both sides of the pitching/buying table, it felt like it was time to take the leap and have a go at doing it for myself,” said Webb-Lamb. “I can’t honestly believe I’ve managed to persuade such a brilliant group of women to come along for the ride with me. We are super ambitious — and intend to make some properly great, entertaining, warm and witty programmes — and have a lot of fun.”
Webb-Lamb is one of the U.K. TV industry’s most well-respected executives.
- 8/1/2022
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
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BBC Studios, the commercial arm of U.K. broadcaster BBC, has revealed a first look and development deal with London-based talent and entertainment company Diving Bell Group.
Founded by Kim Butler and Justin Girdler in 2017, Diving Bell represents creators and innovators in the purpose-led space including model, trans activist and cultural figure Munroe Bergdorf; feminist author, illustrator and influencer Florence Given; Gina Martin, who successfully led the national campaign to make upskirting illegal; and Emma Gannon whose careers podcast “Ctrl Alt Delete” has amassed over 10 million downloads.
The deal gives BBC Studios a first look at content ideas from Diving Bell clients for the purpose of collaborating to develop these ideas and pitch for commissions. To lead the process, BBC Studios has teamed with industry veteran and diversity champion Kelly Webb-Lamb, formerly Channel 4’s deputy director of programs, who has worked with Diving Bell’s talent on a one-to-one...
Founded by Kim Butler and Justin Girdler in 2017, Diving Bell represents creators and innovators in the purpose-led space including model, trans activist and cultural figure Munroe Bergdorf; feminist author, illustrator and influencer Florence Given; Gina Martin, who successfully led the national campaign to make upskirting illegal; and Emma Gannon whose careers podcast “Ctrl Alt Delete” has amassed over 10 million downloads.
The deal gives BBC Studios a first look at content ideas from Diving Bell clients for the purpose of collaborating to develop these ideas and pitch for commissions. To lead the process, BBC Studios has teamed with industry veteran and diversity champion Kelly Webb-Lamb, formerly Channel 4’s deputy director of programs, who has worked with Diving Bell’s talent on a one-to-one...
- 3/25/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
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BBC Studios has struck a first look and development deal with Diving Bell Group, the talent agency that represents the likes of trans activist Munroe Bergdorf and feminist author Florence Given.
The BBC’s commercial arm described Diving Bell Group as representing “some of the most future-facing, change-making creators currently emerging in the UK.”
The outfits will collaborate to develop ideas and pitch for commissions and Kelly Webb-Lamb, Channel 4’s former Deputy Director of Programmes, has been consulting with both to identify these opportunities. BBC Studios will be given a first look at content ideas from Diving Bell’s clients.
The firm represents Bergdorf, the trans activist and cultural figure who has appeared on the front of Time Magazine. Other clients include Women Don’t Owe You Pretty author Given, Gina Martin, who successfully led the national campaign to make upskirting illegal, and Emma Gannon, whose careers podcast Ctrl...
The BBC’s commercial arm described Diving Bell Group as representing “some of the most future-facing, change-making creators currently emerging in the UK.”
The outfits will collaborate to develop ideas and pitch for commissions and Kelly Webb-Lamb, Channel 4’s former Deputy Director of Programmes, has been consulting with both to identify these opportunities. BBC Studios will be given a first look at content ideas from Diving Bell’s clients.
The firm represents Bergdorf, the trans activist and cultural figure who has appeared on the front of Time Magazine. Other clients include Women Don’t Owe You Pretty author Given, Gina Martin, who successfully led the national campaign to make upskirting illegal, and Emma Gannon, whose careers podcast Ctrl...
- 3/25/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
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It doesn’t get more ironic than the hand that’s been dealt the U.K.’s Channel 4.
The publicly owned broadcaster set up by then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher — and known overseas as the creative incubator of shows like “Derry Girls” and “It’s a Sin” — is facing a potential sale by Boris Johnson’s government at the exact moment it delivers the highest content budget in its 39-year history and eyes a record-breaking £1 billion ($1.3 billion) in revenues for 2021.
Ian Katz, chief content officer, tells Variety that £700 million is ear-marked for new shows in 2022 — a cash infusion that will only build on what he brands as an auspicious “purple patch” for the channel.
The broadcaster has had a bumper year, delivering the hard-won free-to-air premieres of British tennis star Emma Raducanu’s historic U.S. Open win and Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 championship run, and airing shows like Peacock co-produced comedy “We Are Lady Parts,...
The publicly owned broadcaster set up by then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher — and known overseas as the creative incubator of shows like “Derry Girls” and “It’s a Sin” — is facing a potential sale by Boris Johnson’s government at the exact moment it delivers the highest content budget in its 39-year history and eyes a record-breaking £1 billion ($1.3 billion) in revenues for 2021.
Ian Katz, chief content officer, tells Variety that £700 million is ear-marked for new shows in 2022 — a cash infusion that will only build on what he brands as an auspicious “purple patch” for the channel.
The broadcaster has had a bumper year, delivering the hard-won free-to-air premieres of British tennis star Emma Raducanu’s historic U.S. Open win and Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 championship run, and airing shows like Peacock co-produced comedy “We Are Lady Parts,...
- 12/17/2021
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
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U.K. public service broadcaster Channel 4 has revealed several further steps to increase Black representation in the U.K. industry following its “Black to Front” day of programming on Sept. 10.
The measures include a dedicated fund for commissions from ethnically diverse-led independent production companies, tripling current spend to £22 million ($29.5 million) by 2023. Starting in 2022, each genre will also commission at least one new show with ethnically diverse talent and/or ethnically diverse stories at its heart every year. In addition, from January 2022, every Channel 4 commissioning editor will have at least one ethnically diverse-led indie on their development slate.
Further, supported and funded by 4Skills, Channel 4 will partner with We Are Parable to deliver “Momentum,” a mentorship and training program for Black talent that will run across six U.K. cities in 2022.
“Black to Front” was an industry-first event, where the entire Channel 4 schedule for Sept. 10 — including commercial breaks — featured Black on- and off-screen talent.
The measures include a dedicated fund for commissions from ethnically diverse-led independent production companies, tripling current spend to £22 million ($29.5 million) by 2023. Starting in 2022, each genre will also commission at least one new show with ethnically diverse talent and/or ethnically diverse stories at its heart every year. In addition, from January 2022, every Channel 4 commissioning editor will have at least one ethnically diverse-led indie on their development slate.
Further, supported and funded by 4Skills, Channel 4 will partner with We Are Parable to deliver “Momentum,” a mentorship and training program for Black talent that will run across six U.K. cities in 2022.
“Black to Front” was an industry-first event, where the entire Channel 4 schedule for Sept. 10 — including commercial breaks — featured Black on- and off-screen talent.
- 11/19/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
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The organizers of Channel 4’s Black to Front initiative have spotlighted the challenge of forging a project that attracted public criticism from the likes of comedian London Hughes.
C4 Commissioning Editor Vivienne Molokwu, who oversaw the project with Shaminder Nahal and Kelly Webb-Lamb, said she understood some may have thought the initiative was “a gimmick” but the organizers were “united behind a clear vision.”
To Catch A D*ck star Hughes slammed the day of Black programming as “insulting” and “performative tokenism” in a set of tweets just prior to its September delivery, before subsequently saying she had communicated her concerns to C4 commissioners.
Speaking on a C4 Inclusion Festival panel, Molokwu said: “By its very nature you can see how easily people would think this was a gimmick and to ignore that would be insanity. It would have been tokenistic if it was only the day but the day was never the end.
C4 Commissioning Editor Vivienne Molokwu, who oversaw the project with Shaminder Nahal and Kelly Webb-Lamb, said she understood some may have thought the initiative was “a gimmick” but the organizers were “united behind a clear vision.”
To Catch A D*ck star Hughes slammed the day of Black programming as “insulting” and “performative tokenism” in a set of tweets just prior to its September delivery, before subsequently saying she had communicated her concerns to C4 commissioners.
Speaking on a C4 Inclusion Festival panel, Molokwu said: “By its very nature you can see how easily people would think this was a gimmick and to ignore that would be insanity. It would have been tokenistic if it was only the day but the day was never the end.
- 11/18/2021
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
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U.K. broadcaster Channel 4, a network set up in 1982 by Margaret Thatcher with a remit of championing unheard voices and taking “bold, creative risks,” is presenting an industry first on Sept. 10, when its entire schedule — including commercial breaks — will feature Black on- and off-screen talent.
Titled “Black to Front,” the initiative has taken a full year to realize since it was announced in August 2020, just months after the murder of George Floyd in the U.S. The idea emerged amid a disquieting period for the U.K. industry, which was reflecting, necessarily, on its own shortcomings around inclusion.
The major broadcasters committed an array of representation-focused talent schemes and funds and more than 5,000 people signed an open letter demanding an end to exclusive practices. The refrain, however, rang a little too familiar. “It felt like there were lots of conversations being repeated,” Vivienne Molokwu, a factual entertainment commissioner at Channel 4, tells Variety.
Titled “Black to Front,” the initiative has taken a full year to realize since it was announced in August 2020, just months after the murder of George Floyd in the U.S. The idea emerged amid a disquieting period for the U.K. industry, which was reflecting, necessarily, on its own shortcomings around inclusion.
The major broadcasters committed an array of representation-focused talent schemes and funds and more than 5,000 people signed an open letter demanding an end to exclusive practices. The refrain, however, rang a little too familiar. “It felt like there were lots of conversations being repeated,” Vivienne Molokwu, a factual entertainment commissioner at Channel 4, tells Variety.
- 8/24/2021
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
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More than 800 members of the U.K. entertainment industry have signed an open letter decrying a work culture that’s been put in sharp relief following multiple misconduct allegations against actor Noel Clarke.
The industry has been in a febrile state ever since The Guardian broke an explosive story detailing sexual harassment allegations against actor, writer and filmmaker Clarke, which he has vehemently denied.
The open letter to the film and TV industry, led by Meriel Beale, freelance producer and unscripted anti-bullying and harassment officer at industry union Bectu, states: “After reading the Noel Clarke allegations, many of us within the TV and film industry started sharing our own stories of sexual harassment and sexual abuse. His case is not a one-off and, shockingly, is not an extreme example. It has happened to so many of us that it seems normal.”
“It has happened to so many of us at...
The industry has been in a febrile state ever since The Guardian broke an explosive story detailing sexual harassment allegations against actor, writer and filmmaker Clarke, which he has vehemently denied.
The open letter to the film and TV industry, led by Meriel Beale, freelance producer and unscripted anti-bullying and harassment officer at industry union Bectu, states: “After reading the Noel Clarke allegations, many of us within the TV and film industry started sharing our own stories of sexual harassment and sexual abuse. His case is not a one-off and, shockingly, is not an extreme example. It has happened to so many of us that it seems normal.”
“It has happened to so many of us at...
- 5/6/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
![Image](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZjRkZjFhZTUtMzVlMS00NGMwLWJkNTYtNTEwYmM5ODBiNTA1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTE0MzQwMjgz._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,27,500,281_.jpg)
Channel 4 has promoted its programming boss Ian Katz to chief content officer in a sweeping reorganization aimed at helping the UK broadcaster secure 40% of its £985 million ($1.3 billion) revenue from sources other than traditional TV advertising by 2025.
Katz will have total authority over editorial decision making across linear, streaming, and social, with seven genre commissioning chiefs reporting directly to him. He will also formally oversee acquisitions, beefing up his responsibility for buying shows, like Hulu’s The Handmaids Tale, where previously he just had creative sign-off.
As part of the changes, Katz’s deputy will Kelly Webb-Lamb will not be replaced after announcing her departure this month. Sarah Lazenby, Channel 4’s head of features and formats, is also leaving after nearly six years, with her duties — including overseeing The Great British Bake Off — being handed to other genre teams. It means that Katz’s report lines will be:
Karl Warner,...
Katz will have total authority over editorial decision making across linear, streaming, and social, with seven genre commissioning chiefs reporting directly to him. He will also formally oversee acquisitions, beefing up his responsibility for buying shows, like Hulu’s The Handmaids Tale, where previously he just had creative sign-off.
As part of the changes, Katz’s deputy will Kelly Webb-Lamb will not be replaced after announcing her departure this month. Sarah Lazenby, Channel 4’s head of features and formats, is also leaving after nearly six years, with her duties — including overseeing The Great British Bake Off — being handed to other genre teams. It means that Katz’s report lines will be:
Karl Warner,...
- 1/27/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
![Image](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYzhlN2U3MmMtOWVkNS00ZTg5LThjNzQtYjcyMDBiODgxMDYwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTE0MzQwMjgz._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,0,500,281_.jpg)
Kelly Webb-Lamb, U.K. broadcaster Channel 4’s deputy director of programs and head of popular factual, will leave the channel later this year.
Webb-Lamb joined in 2016 and worked closely with Channel 4 director of programs Ian Katz in realizing the channel’s creative strategy. She oversaw the popular factual commissioning departments responsible for over 1,000 hours of programming every year — from the launch, and continued success, of “The Great British Bake Off,” “Gogglebox,” “Hunted” and several other creative successes including “The Circle,” which will return soon for a third season. Webb-Lamb was also instrumental in the channel’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
She leaves the broadcaster in good heath, with record growth in young viewing and All 4 streaming during 2020. The main channel ended the year with linear share up 3%, share among 16-34s up 8% and All 4 viewing up 31%. Webb-Lamb exits at a time when the channel is looking to the...
Webb-Lamb joined in 2016 and worked closely with Channel 4 director of programs Ian Katz in realizing the channel’s creative strategy. She oversaw the popular factual commissioning departments responsible for over 1,000 hours of programming every year — from the launch, and continued success, of “The Great British Bake Off,” “Gogglebox,” “Hunted” and several other creative successes including “The Circle,” which will return soon for a third season. Webb-Lamb was also instrumental in the channel’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
She leaves the broadcaster in good heath, with record growth in young viewing and All 4 streaming during 2020. The main channel ended the year with linear share up 3%, share among 16-34s up 8% and All 4 viewing up 31%. Webb-Lamb exits at a time when the channel is looking to the...
- 1/13/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
![Image](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMmUwOGM5ZDgtMzliZC00ZTc1LWJhZmItZGUzMjE3MjQ3ODk4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTE0MzQwMjgz._V1_QL75_UY281_CR0,0,500,281_.jpg)
Kelly Webb-Lamb, Channel 4’s deputy director of programs and head of popular factual, is leaving the British broadcaster after five years.
A senior figure in the UK industry, Webb-Lamb said it was time for “new adventures” after working hand-in-glove with Channel 4’s content chief Ian Katz for the past three years of her tenure, overseeing shows including The Great British Bake Off, Gogglebox, and The Circle.
Channel 4 said she leaves this summer with the broadcaster in good health, having helped the main network increase its share of viewing 3% last year. Streaming on All 4 also grew 31% in 2020, as people watched more online during the pandemic.
Her departure comes at a time of structural change at Channel 4, however. The company is going to significantly increase the emphasis on All 4 over the coming years, reshaping its commissioning strategy to prioritize the streaming service over linear channels. The hope is that this will...
A senior figure in the UK industry, Webb-Lamb said it was time for “new adventures” after working hand-in-glove with Channel 4’s content chief Ian Katz for the past three years of her tenure, overseeing shows including The Great British Bake Off, Gogglebox, and The Circle.
Channel 4 said she leaves this summer with the broadcaster in good health, having helped the main network increase its share of viewing 3% last year. Streaming on All 4 also grew 31% in 2020, as people watched more online during the pandemic.
Her departure comes at a time of structural change at Channel 4, however. The company is going to significantly increase the emphasis on All 4 over the coming years, reshaping its commissioning strategy to prioritize the streaming service over linear channels. The hope is that this will...
- 1/13/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
![Image](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMmQ1NjIyMDMtZjI0OC00MGVjLWI3NDktYmNlOWVkODkyNjJjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTE0MzQwMjgz._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,0,500,281_.jpg)
Channel 4’s hit format “The Circle” has been greenlit for a coronavirus protocol-friendly third season, while a celebrity version of the show is also on the way.
The Studio Lambert-produced format — which was picked up by Netflix in 2018 — will now be pre-recorded as opposed to airing live on certain days, and the show will also forgo a studio audience. Channel 4 has said the changes are in line with Covid-19 filming guidelines, which were released by the country’s broadcasters last month.
The production will resume shooting later this year in Manchester, with casting already underway.
“The Circle,” which is co-produced by Studio Lambert North and Motion Content Group, will see host Emma Willis return, while comedian Sophie Willan will also resume her voiceover role.
The format, in which “anyone can be anyone,” finds residents living in separate apartments and befriending each other using a social media platform called The Circle.
The Studio Lambert-produced format — which was picked up by Netflix in 2018 — will now be pre-recorded as opposed to airing live on certain days, and the show will also forgo a studio audience. Channel 4 has said the changes are in line with Covid-19 filming guidelines, which were released by the country’s broadcasters last month.
The production will resume shooting later this year in Manchester, with casting already underway.
“The Circle,” which is co-produced by Studio Lambert North and Motion Content Group, will see host Emma Willis return, while comedian Sophie Willan will also resume her voiceover role.
The format, in which “anyone can be anyone,” finds residents living in separate apartments and befriending each other using a social media platform called The Circle.
- 6/15/2020
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
![Emma Willis at an event for Brit Awards 2011 (2011)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTg2MjM4NTQwMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwODI1NTk0NA@@._V1_QL75_UX140_CR0,1,140,207_.jpg)
![Emma Willis at an event for Brit Awards 2011 (2011)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTg2MjM4NTQwMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwODI1NTk0NA@@._V1_QL75_UX140_CR0,1,140,207_.jpg)
Former Big Brother host Emma Willis is to host the second season of Channel 4’s reality series The Circle. She is to replace Alice Levine and Maya Jama for the second run of the format, which is being remade by Netflix in the U.S. and in a number of other territories.
The social media based-show will also move from London to Manchester and will feature more live episodes than it did last year. The series, which is essentially Big Brother-meets-Catfish for a social media-obsessed audience, is produced by All3Media’s Studio Lambert, producer of Undercover Boss and Gogglebox, and Motion Content Group, the Wpp-backed program funder.
The Circle features a range of individuals from all walks of life competing in a popularity contest to win a prize of around £75,000. They will live in one modern block but separately in individual apartments, interacting with one another exclusively through...
The social media based-show will also move from London to Manchester and will feature more live episodes than it did last year. The series, which is essentially Big Brother-meets-Catfish for a social media-obsessed audience, is produced by All3Media’s Studio Lambert, producer of Undercover Boss and Gogglebox, and Motion Content Group, the Wpp-backed program funder.
The Circle features a range of individuals from all walks of life competing in a popularity contest to win a prize of around £75,000. They will live in one modern block but separately in individual apartments, interacting with one another exclusively through...
- 6/5/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
![Tom Hanks and Emma Watson in The Circle (2017)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjY2OTM2Njc3Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDgzODU3MTI@._V1_QL75_UX140_CR0,0,140,207_.jpg)
![Tom Hanks and Emma Watson in The Circle (2017)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjY2OTM2Njc3Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDgzODU3MTI@._V1_QL75_UX140_CR0,0,140,207_.jpg)
Social media-based reality series The Circle is returning to Channel 4 after the British broadcaster ordered a second season.
This comes after Netflix snapped up the international rights to the format and Deadline revealed that it was making French and Brazilian series as well as a U.S. adaptation.
The series, which is essentially Big Brother-meets-Catfish for a social media-obsessed audience, is produced by All3Media’s Studio Lambert, producer of Undercover Boss and Gogglebox, and Motion Content Group, the Wpp-backed program funder.
The Circle features a range of individuals from all walks of life competing in a popularity contest to win a prize of around £75,000. They will live in one modern block but separately in individual apartments, interacting with one another exclusively through a bespoke voice-activated social media platform called The Circle. In the show, the contestants will chat, make friends, argue and maybe even fall in love, while...
This comes after Netflix snapped up the international rights to the format and Deadline revealed that it was making French and Brazilian series as well as a U.S. adaptation.
The series, which is essentially Big Brother-meets-Catfish for a social media-obsessed audience, is produced by All3Media’s Studio Lambert, producer of Undercover Boss and Gogglebox, and Motion Content Group, the Wpp-backed program funder.
The Circle features a range of individuals from all walks of life competing in a popularity contest to win a prize of around £75,000. They will live in one modern block but separately in individual apartments, interacting with one another exclusively through a bespoke voice-activated social media platform called The Circle. In the show, the contestants will chat, make friends, argue and maybe even fall in love, while...
- 1/18/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Shine TV announced today it was upping Tanya Shaw and Tim Whitwell from creative director and head of programming to managing director and creative director respectively. The moves come in the wake of current managing director Kelly Webb-Lamb to leave the company at the end of the year. Shaw was previously commissioning editor of factual features and formats at the BBC. She joined Shine in 2014. Whitwell, a double BAFTA winner, joined Shine in 2012 from Optomen, where he…...
- 12/1/2015
- Deadline TV
Kelly Webb-Lamb will exit London-based Shine TV at the end of this year after two years as its Managing Director. Richard Johnston, CEO of parent Endemol Shine UK, said the company will “take the time over the next few months” to explore what form new leadership will take. Webb-Lamb will help with the transition. The exec joined Shine TV as Creative Director in 2012 before being promoted to MD the following year and prior to the mega-merger that created Endemol Shine…...
- 10/21/2015
- Deadline TV
The Island with Bear Grylls will return for a third season.
Channel 4 has commissioned Shine TV to make a follow-up to the award-winning survival show fronted by the adventurer.
"It has been incredible to see the effect that The Island has not only on those who undergo the challenge themselves but also from so many millions of viewers around the world," Grylls said.
"It reminds us that when squeezed and stripped of everything, mankind and womankind still have an amazing spirit of resourcefulness, courage, and endurance, as well as an inspiring ability to form the closest of bonds with those alongside them going through hell.
"As a team we are ambitious to raise the bar for this third series and push the limits of human survival even further. Hold tight!"
Head of Factual Entertainment at Channel 4 Liam Humphreys added: "The Island with Bear Grylls is the ultimate survival challenge.
Channel 4 has commissioned Shine TV to make a follow-up to the award-winning survival show fronted by the adventurer.
"It has been incredible to see the effect that The Island has not only on those who undergo the challenge themselves but also from so many millions of viewers around the world," Grylls said.
"It reminds us that when squeezed and stripped of everything, mankind and womankind still have an amazing spirit of resourcefulness, courage, and endurance, as well as an inspiring ability to form the closest of bonds with those alongside them going through hell.
"As a team we are ambitious to raise the bar for this third series and push the limits of human survival even further. Hold tight!"
Head of Factual Entertainment at Channel 4 Liam Humphreys added: "The Island with Bear Grylls is the ultimate survival challenge.
- 5/15/2015
- Digital Spy
Elisabeth Murdoch’s Shine Group has promoted Kelly Webb-Lamb to managing director of MasterChef producer Shine TV. The exec has spent the past 18 months as creative director of London-based Shine TV which also encompasses the Shine Soho offices, where all MasterChef series are produced, and Salford-based Shine North. Since joining Shine last year, Webb-Lamb has had a hand in such series as Britain’s Best Bakery (ITV1), Jewish Mum Of The Year (C4), and Ashley Banjo’s Street Crew (Sky1). Recent commissions for Shine TV include Saturday Farm With Dick And James Strawbridge (ITV1), and documentaries Karaoke Nights (C4) and Idris Elba: King Of Speed (BBC2). Webb-Lamb was previously Director of Factual Programmes at Princess Productions where she served as exec producer on Sky 1’s Got To Dance. Her other exec producing credits include Gordon Ramsay: Cook Along Live and Ramsay’s Great British Nightmare.
- 9/25/2013
- by NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor
- Deadline TV
London, March 12 2012: Shine Group today announced a restructure of its UK senior management that sees Princess Productions and Kudos Chief Executive’s Henrietta Conrad and Jane Featherstone assuming joint responsibility for the UK as Joint Chairmen. In addition to their current roles as Chief Executives of Kudos and Princess Productions, UK based company Dragonfly will report to Featherstone who will continue to oversee comedy and drama labels Brown Eyed Boy and Lovely Day. Shine TV will report to Conrad who also becomes its Chief Executive. The restructure sees Joint Managing Directors of Shine TV, Jamie Munro and Karen Smith choosing to step down from their positions with neither being replaced. The move to bring the six Shine Group UK companies under the joint leadership of Featherstone and Conrad is designed to provide greater opportunity for closer collaboration between the UK businesses and to provide greater clarity of focus for each.
- 3/12/2012
- by NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor
- Deadline TV
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