EXCLUSIVE: UK unscripted vet Daniel Pearl is exiting Paramount UK for Lion TV.
The streamer’s VP of unscripted originals within the UK, whose previous credit embrace Leaving Neverland and 72 Movies-produced Premier League collection Rise of the Billionaires, will grow to be Artistic Director on the All3Media-owned manufacturing outfit, changing Tom Watt-Smith however with a wider remit.
Pearl has spent the previous six years at Paramount UK, the place he has overseen a wealth of factual exhibits first for Paramount UK community Channel 5 and latterly Paramount+ – main the cost on the streamer’s UK unscripted push. Credit for Paramount+ embrace Rise of the Billionaires, serial killer collection The Field and actuality present Sizzling Yachts. For Channel 5, he oversaw massive factual beasts akin to Our Yorkshire Farm.
Pearl is a UK unscripted vet, having spent the six years earlier than Paramount/Channel 5 in varied present affairs roles with Channel 4, and the 15 years earlier than that on the BBC.
Lion shall be his first function on the opposite aspect of the broadcaster-producer fence and exhibits arising embrace a BBC documentary on Pompeii and a Netflix docu-drama about Alexander the Nice. Lion additionally makes long-runners like CBBC’s Horrible Histories and has just lately produced Netflix exhibits together with Attractive Beast and Secrets and techniques of the Saqqara Tomb. He replaces Watt-Smith, who moved to Welcome to Earth with Will Smith indie Nutopia earlier this yr, however may have a wider remit on account of his previous expertise.
Lion, which additionally has a U.S. hub from the place it produces Bravo’s Money Cab, has undergone loads of structural change just lately. Earlier this yr, it pivoted focus to specialist, premium factual and children TV whereas forging a well-liked factual division with All3Media stablemates Lion Tv and Smart Owl Movies. Lime bosses Kate Little and Claire Poyser oversee the three indies.
“Lion has a global reputation as a producer of some of the world’s most popular, intelligent programming and is perfectly positioned for the current demand for new and exciting unscripted franchises,” mentioned Pearl.
Richard Bradley, Lion co-founder and Chief Artistic Officer, lauded an “outstanding track record in unscripted programming, amazing editorial and creative judgement,” including: “It makes for perfect synergy with our continued focus on creating high quality compelling stories which celebrate the human and natural world.”
Ben Frow, Pearl’s boss at Paramount UK, mentioned he had “been a brilliant member of the commissioning team and played an important part in the transformation of Channel 5.”
