Former Channel 4 exec Kelly Webb-Lamb launches Mothership Productions

Former Channel 4 deputy director of programmes and head of popular factual Kelly Webb-Lamb has set up Mothership Productions, a new indie focusing on global formats and unscripted programming.

Kelly Webb-Lamb

Webb-Lamb’s unscripted credits include 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 commercially funded pubcaster C4, as well as looking after a vast roster of shows (including Gogglebox, Naked Attraction, Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds, A British Tribe Next Door and Murder Island), Webb-Lamb also developed new and diverse talent, such as Mo Gilligan, Sophie Willan and Yinka Bokinni.

Prior to joining C4 in 2018, she had stints as MD of Shine TV and director of factual at Princess Productions.

Mothership has already hired Webb-Lamb’s fellow C4 alums Charlotte Desai and Gilly Greenslade for its top team, as well as ex-Jamie Oliver Productions exec Gudren Claire.

Desai will be the company’s creative director. At C4, she created award-winning format The Dog House. The exec joins from Five Mile Films, where she also developed The Simpler Life, a social experiment for C4, and fellow C4 format The Dog Academy.

Desai has worked as a commissioning editor at both C4 and Sky, with further credits including The Write Offs, My Family Secret, Losing It and The Great British School Swap.

Greenslade has been named director of programmes. She joins straight from C4, where she was commissioning editor for factual entertainment.

Her credits include reality show The Circle – which ran for three seasons and sold globally to Netflix – Five Guys a Week and The Undateables. Before joining C4, Greenslade developed and was series producer on seasons one and two of documentary series Hospital for BBC Two.

Claire will be Mothership’s head of production. She was previously head of production at Jamie Oliver’s Fresh One Productions and then Jamie Oliver Productions. Other past roles include head of production and production consultant for a number of startup 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.

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.”