Objective starts fact-ent label

All3Media-owned prodco Objective Productions is launching a new factual entertainment arm and has hired a writer and producer to lead its development.

Objective exec Deborah Sargeant will lead the new label as chief creative officer, which will be called Second Star Productions and will be based in the UK.

Writer and producer Andy Burgess has been hired to take on the role of head of development, while Objective’s existing ‘head of magic’ Anthony Owen is also going to be part of the team.

“Second Star will build on what Objective has always been brilliant at – funny factual, mischievous formats, timeless storytelling with a hint of magic,” said Sargeant, who joined Objective in September after a stint at Sky as entertainment commissioner.

“What I love about Andy is that he brings a wealth of enviable fact ent experience, and by also bringing Anthony Owen into the fold we hope to create a really vibrant atmosphere to create some truly original ideas.”

Assuming the role in January 2016, Burgess will start building the Second Star development team with immediate effect. He has helped develop ideas and formats such as Life Stories, Come Dine With Me and Hell’s Kitchen, among others.

Burgess was appointed development executive at John Stanley Productions in October 2014 and has worked at a range of broadcasters including ITV, BBC and Sky Arts.

“We’re looking to create a development team that will attract the best, most innovative producers and ideas people out there,” Burgess said.

Second Star will take on Objective’s factual entertainment slate, which most recently includes such shows as the Bafta-winning It Was Alright in the… for Channel 4, the forthcoming second series of BBC1’s Now You See It and the recently announced Kalel coproduction for BBC3 and BBC Worldwide Stupid Man, Smart Phone.