In a significant development in the television production industry, the joint Managing Directors of Lime Pictures, Kate Little and Claire Poyser, have announced their decision to step down at the end of the year after 12 impactful years at the helm.
During their tenure, Little and Poyser have played a pivotal role in diversifying Lime Pictures’ portfolio. They successfully expanded into reality television with popular series such as ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ and ‘Geordie Shore’, which have enjoyed considerable success. In addition, ‘Celebs Go Dating’ has produced 13 series since its debut in 2016, and the UK version of ‘Are You The One?’ recently launched on MTV.
The duo’s leadership extends beyond the UK as they established Lime USA in 2014, producing well-received shows like ‘Singles Project’ and ‘Work Out New York’ for Bravo, ‘Dating No Filter’ for E!, and ‘Who Do You Believe’ for ABC. They also spearheaded the integration of Homes Under the Hammer indie, Lion Television, into Lime’s operations in 2019, alongside launching the Leeds-based factual label, Wise Owl Films.
Lion Television has brought notable programmes such as ‘Pompeii: The New Dig’ and ‘Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors’ to audiences, while Wise Owl Films has recently announced ‘Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive and Kids’ for More 4 and the BBC2 music series ‘When… Came To Britain’. Furthermore, under their leadership, Lime Pictures developed a noteworthy children’s slate including the Netflix titles ‘Free Rein’ and ‘Zero Chill’.
In 2023, Little and Poyser oversaw the consolidation of Lime, Lion, and Wise Owl Films’ unscripted teams into a new division, positioning the company for further growth. They brought in prominent industry figures Mirella Breda from Two Rivers Media and Joe McLusky, an ex-Paramount executive, to lead this initiative.
Hollyoaks, one of Lime’s flagship productions, celebrating its 30th year, underwent a significant overhaul under their guidance. Channel 4’s decision to adopt a digital-first strategy and reduce the schedule to three episodes per week marked a notable shift in its production approach.
Prior to joining Lime, Little held a leading role in business affairs at ITV Studios and the BBC, while Poyser was the director of production at ITV. Little expressed her gratitude for the support from colleagues and stated, ‘During my time at Lime, Lion and Wise Owl Films, I have been so fortunate to work with the most phenomenally talented and creative people across all aspects of the business.’ Poyser echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the strong relationships built over the years and her excitement for future challenges.
All3Media CEO, Jane Turton, lauded Little and Poyser for their ‘hugely successful’ tenure, noting their exceptional leadership and dedication to quality programming. The process to identify their successors is currently underway but there have been no announcements regarding the next steps.
The departure of Kate Little and Claire Poyser marks the end of a noteworthy era for Lime Pictures, characterised by strategic growth and acclaimed productions. Their leadership has left an indelible mark on the company and the wider television production landscape.