The joint MD’s of Liverpool-based Hollyoaks producer Lime Pictures are to step down after 12 years at the indie.
Kate Little and Claire Poyser will leave the All3Media label at the end of the year, with no immediate details about their future plans.
Together, they have driven Lime’s diversification with reality shows The Only Way Is Essex (ITVBe) and Geordie Shore (MTV/ Paramount) with 34 and 24 series behind them respectively. E4’s Celebs Go Dating has notched up 13 series since its 2016 debut, and it recently made the UK version of matchmaking format Are You The One? for MTV.
The pair also established Lime USA in 2014, building shows including Singles Project and Work Out New York (both for Bravo), Dating No Filter (E!), Match Me in Miami (Roku) and Who Do You Believe (ABC).
In 2019, they brought Homes Under the Hammer indie Lion Television under the Lime operational structure and launched Leeds-based factual label Wise Owl Films.
Lion is behind shows including Pompeii: The New Dig (BBC1), Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors (Netflix) and the just-announced Horrible Science (CBBC), while Wise Owl is responsible for the just-announced Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive and Kids (More 4) and BBC2 music series When… Came To Britain.
Lime also has a kids slate that includes Netflix titles Free Rein and Zero Chill. Little and Poyser oversaw the launch of an animation division through which Netflix’s Wolf King, produced with Jellyfish Pictures, is slated to release next year.
Last year, they folded Lime, Lion and Wise Owl Films’ populist unscripted teams into a new division to enable further growth and brought in Two Rivers Media’s head of entertainment Mirella Breda and ex-Paramount exec Joe McLusky in to oversee it.
The pair have also seen Hollyoaks – now in its 30th year – overhauled by Channel 4, with a digital-first strategy and a reduced three-episodes-per-week schedule from this year.
Before joining Lime, Little led business affairs at ITV Studios and the BBC, while Poyser was ITV’s director of production.
Little said: “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 and to be so supported by Jane [Turton], Sara [Geater] and Angela [McMullen] at All3Media.
“Together we have produced best in class programming for audiences worldwide. After 12 fantastic years, however, it is time for a change and I am really excited to embark upon my next adventure.”
Poyser added: “After 12 years there are too many personal highlights to list but what has made my time at Lime, Lion and Wise Owl so memorable are the people I have worked with; brilliant people who are not only expert in what they do but care about those around them and embody the values that make the Company so special.
“I am really looking forward to my next challenge and am grateful to Jane, Sara and Angela for their support throughout my time at All3Media.”
All3Media chief executive Turton praised the pair for 12 “hugely successful” years and added: “They have overseen important hit shows and led teams across multiple bases and geographies.
“Working with Claire and Kate is a complete pleasure. Not only are they exceptional and talented executives – they are also proper people who are passionate about the business and care about the shows and the teams that they work with.”
It is not yet known who will succeed the pair, but it is understood that All3Media is looking at the next steps.
