BBC Studios takes a minority stake in Mothership Productions

BBC Studios took a minority stake of 25% in Mothership Productions, the unscripted indie set up by former Channel 4 Deputy Director of Programmes, Kelly Webb-Lamb. The strategic partnership will see BBC Studios invest in Mothership’s slate of global formats and ideas of scale across the unscripted genres, which will complement the output of BBC Studios’ existing portfolio of in-house and indie labels. Under the terms of the deal, BBC Studios will have first look global distribution and format rights.

“The whole Mothership team is delighted to be partnering with BBC Studios and to be joining a brilliant stable of invested indies. We’ve been so impressed with the Studios team and are really looking forward to working with them. And for some of us, this feels rather like coming home… you can take the girl out of the BBC, but she never forgets her staff number, and although this is a totally different kind of arrangement, I am super glad that this is where Mothership has ended up in terms of partnership,”  said Kelly Webb-Lamb, Founder of Mothership Productions.

Ralph Lee, CEO of BBC Studios Productions, added: “Kelly is highly sought-after creative leader who has assembled a team around her that has a formidable pedigree in hit shows and formats in a highly competitive field. It is a true testament to their talent and potential that within only a short period of time, Mothership has developed a slate that is brimming with ideas that we believe will appeal to both UK and international broadcasters and platforms. We can’t wait to have Kelly and the Mothership team join the BBC Studios family and look forward to a productive partnership.”

Webb-Lamm launched Mothership earlier this month with the intention of making “some properly great, entertaining, warm and witty programmes.”  She has assembled an impressive senior team of female executives to support the business comprising Charlotte Desai (Creative Director), Gilly Greenslade (Director of Programmes), and Gudren Claire (Head of Production).

Across Webb-Lamb’s career, she has been involved in creating, selling, producing and commissioning a multitude of unscripted award-winning hits on UK television, including “The Apprentice,” “Great British Bake Off,” “Hunted,” “The Island with Bear Grylls,” “Mary Queen of Charity Shops,” and “The Circle.”  Moreover, in her final year at Channel 4, Webb-Lamb passionately drove and landed the hugely successful Black to Front Project – the most radical diversity programme in the channel’s history.