Lee McNicholas is to join Lifted Entertainment as its Creative Director, North from Syco Entertainment where he has spent the last ten years as Creative Director and Executive Producer.
McNicholas joins as Angela Jain, Managing Director, unveils Lifted Entertainment as the new name for the ITV Studios Entertainment, the label behind shows including I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, Love Island, Dancing On Ice, The Voice, Countdown, University Challenge and Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.
As Creative Director, North, McNicholas will create and lead production and development to drive commissions. He will be based out of Lifted Entertainment’s northern base in MediaCityUK, from which it produces shows including Judge Rinder for ITV, University Challenge for BBC Two and Countdown – with new host Anne Robinson – for Channel 4. Last year, the team also produced the documentary Miscarriage: Our Story for Channel 5.
McNicholas will work alongside Jain and Director of Entertainment, Richard Cowles, Creative Directors Tom Gould and Fiona Clark, and Kat Hebden, Head of Development.
McNicholas has overseen both Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor, as well as playing an instrumental role in the international rollout of both formats. As Executive Producer, McNicholas held responsibility for all aspects of the production from initial casting, overseeing the UK’s biggest touring TV production and managing the live shows.
Prior to Syco, where he also worked with the development teams in creating new formats for the UK and US markets, McNicholas worked across a variety of shows including Channel 4’s How Clean is Your House and the BBC’s The Apprentice.
As the label enters its new era, Lifted Entertainment has also been commissioned to produce Secret Gameshow, a brand new primetime pilot for ITV hosted by comedian and The Masked Singer host Joel Dommett. The show is a new spin on the hidden camera format, in which celebrities compete for bragging rights as they take on audacious hidden camera stunts to fool unsuspecting members of the public into helping them. For the celebrities, it’s a chance to get one over on each other. For the public, it’s a chance to win money in a gameshow they didn’t know they were part of.
Angela Jain, MD, Lifted Entertainment, said: “Lee brings a wealth of experience and expertise on huge global entertainment shows which, when added to the depth of the brilliant creative team we have here in Manchester, means he is in the perfect position to spearhead the next phase of growth in the North. I have no doubt he will be an inspiring, generous and kind leader who shares our values and vision for the future.
“With hope around the corner, it seems like we all need to be lifted out of our real lives at the moment. So many of the shows we produce bring joy and escapism, something I believe Secret Gameshow has in abundance. This past year has given us all the opportunity to focus our minds on the future in what has been a 12 months like no other. We responded to those challenges with creativity, determination, resilience and ability, producing throughout lockdown, something we could not have done without our incredible people. Now the future is about more of these award-winning, returnable global brands and we are excited about the world of opportunity out there.”
Lee McNicholas said: “As a teenager growing up in Liverpool, I remember going on the Granada Studios tour and thinking one day I want to work here. To think after all these years I’ll be joining the incredible team in Manchester, really is a dream come true. I’m a huge fan of everything that Lifted Entertainment produce and hope to add some more hits to their already impressive roster.”
Jon Creamer
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