Harry: The Interview EP Nat Lippiett and BBC factual entertainment commissioner Clare Mottershead have joined Orchard Studios, the nascent UK unscripted indie run by former Amazon UK programs chief Dan Grabiner and ex-The Garden boss Nicola Hill.
Lippiett will become Head of Programmes and Mottershead Head of Factual & Formats when they join later this year, as Grabiner and Hill signal their intent to make Orchard a major player in the space. They have also snapped up Disney+’s Save Our Squad with David Beckham edit producer Dani Carpanen as Senior Producer.
Lippiett most recently exec produced ITV’s explosive Prince Harry interview, which generated headlines worldwide as the Prince discussed how he and wife Meghan Markle had fled the UK “fearing for our lives.” Other credits during his lengthy ITN Productions stint include Amazon Prime Video‘s The Confession and The Queen’s Green Planet for ITV.
Mottershead is a highly-regarded BBC commissioner who has worked across the likes of Interior Design Masters, Hugh’s War on Plastic and Amanda and Alan’s Italian Job as Lead Commissioner in Catherine Catton’s fact-ent and events team. She was promoted last year when Catton was handed the events brief. Carpanen’s past credits include Nat Geo’s One Day in America and the BBC’s Hospital series.
“Nat, Clare and Dani are best-in-class creative leaders with knockout track records in developing, producing and launching bold, innovative unscripted programming,” said Grabiner. “Together, we’re building a modern, global, world-class production company, creating must-watch factual-entertainment formats and impactful box-set documentaries.”
Grabiner and Hill unveiled Orchard in September, shortly after Grabiner’s Amazon exit, and the pair have secured capital from an unnamed private media investment group. Production indie advisory Matisse is providing creative, strategic and talent support.
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