Wonderhood Studios hires Naked’s Lianne Hickey, promotes execs

UK-based factual prodco and creative agency Wonderhood Studios has hired former Naked executive Lianne Hickey as head of production and promoted Katharine Patrick and Tom Garton to head of factual and head of development, respectively.

Lianne Hickey

The company, founded in 2018 by former Channel 4 CEO David Abraham and chief creative officer Samantha Anstiss, said it is bolstering its leadership team as it gears up to expand its production slate with orders from both UK and international commissioners.

During her time at Fremantle-backed Naked, Hickey oversaw The Rap Game UK (BBC Three), The Killer Nanny: Did She Do It? (Channel 4), Ghislaine, Prince Andrew & the Paedophile (ITV/Paramount+), Manson: The Lost Tapes (ITV) and Planet Sex (Hulu /BBC3).

Before joining Naked, she held senior production roles at IMG Media, Firecracker Films, DCD Media and Summer Films.

Patrick and Garton both joined Wonderhood Studios in 2019. During her time at the company, Patrick has developed and exec produced Baby Surgeons: Delivering Miracles (Channel 4), Trump in Tweets (BBC Two) and Devil’s Advocate: The Mostly True Story of Giovanni di Stefano (Sky Documentaries).

Garton has developed projects including Heston’s Marvellous Menu (BBC Two), Covid: Our Lockdown in Shanghai (Smithsonian), Devil’s Advocate: The Mostly True Story of Giovanni di Stefano and the upcoming three-part series Scouting for Girls (Sky Documentaries).

In their expanded roles, Garton and Patrick will secure unscripted commissions and work with Anstiss on the company’s creative direction.

“Good heads of production may sometimes be in unsung roles, but they are absolutely key to the success of any indie, and in Lianne we have one of the very best,” said Susie Dark, MD of Wonderhood Studios.