Former Channel 4 Deputy Director of Programmes and Head of Popular Factual, Kelly Webb-Lamb, has set up Mothership Productions.

The new indie will focus on “global formats and ideas of scale across the unscripted genres.” The company launches with senior team of Charlotte Desai, Gilly Greenslade, and Gudren Claire on board.

On announcing the new company Kelly Webb-Lamb said: “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. 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.”

Across Webb-Lamb’s career, she has been involved in creating, selling, producing and commissioning shows including The Apprentice, Hunted, the Great British Bake Off, The Island with Bear Grylls, Mary Queen of Charity Shops, and The Circle. In her five years at Channel 4, as well as looking after a roster of shows including Gogglebox, Naked Attraction, Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds, A British Tribe Next Door, Murder Island, she also developed new and diverse talent – including Mo Gilligan, Sophie Willan and Yinka Bokinni when they were unknown, as well as nurturing snames such as Sandi Toksvig, Jamie Oliver, Ashley Banjo, Emma Willis, Joe Lycett, Anna Richardson, Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood. In her final year at Channel 4, Webb Lamb drove the Black to Front Project.

Charlotte Desai is Creative Director. Desai created the RTS award-winning series The Dog House for C4, now in its third series. She joins Mothership from Five Mile Films where she also developed The Simpler Life for C4 and The Dog Academy a new 8pm format for Channel 4. She has been a commissioning editor at C4 and SKY where her credits include The Write Offs, My Family Secret and Losing It all of which were BAFTA nominated and popular factual series The Great British School Swap. Charlotte also developed and produced The Apprentice, The Choir, The Auction House and When Michael Portillo Became a Single Mum in her early career.

Director of Programmes, Gilly Greenslade joins Mothership from C4, where she was commissioning editor in Factual Entertainment, working across reality, new and returning factual entertainment formats, and documentaries. Her credits include hit reality show The Circle, which ran for 3 seasons and sold globally to Netflix, Five Guys a Week and The Undateables.  Before joining C4, Greenslade developed and was the series producer on series one and two of Hospital for BBC2, and in her early career worked on formats such as The Apprentice, Child Genius, Mary Queen of Charity Shops, Ladette to Lady, Wife Swap and Faking It.

Gudren Claire is Mothership’s Head of Production. She has an established track record over 25 years, working with various production companies, becoming Head of Production at Jamie Oliver’s Fresh One Productions and then Jamie Oliver Productions.  Before joining Mothership, Gudren has been Head of Production and Production Consultant for number of start-up production companies including Parable, Summer Films and Nick Mirsky’s Five Mile Films.

Mothership already has several projects in advanced development and the team is currently pitching to broadcaster and SVOD commissioners.

Jon Creamer

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