BBC Studios backs start-up from ex-Lime and Youngest Media execs

BBC Studios is backing an unscripted indie set up by former Lime Pictures former head of unscripted Sarah Tyekiff.

Mettlemouse Entertainment is BBCS’ sixth indie investment in the past year from BBCS, following the likes of Small Axe and Uprising co-producer Turbine Studios and Kelly Webb-Lamb’s start-up Mothership Productions.

BBC has taken a 25% stake in Tyekiff’s company, which will specialise in entertainment, popular factual and fact ent formats.

Tyekiff exited Lime in January, around the time that owner All3Media consolidated Lime Pictures, Lion TV and Wise Owl Films’ populist unscripted teams into one new division.

She managed Lime’s long-running constructed reality brands The Only Way is Essex and Geordie Shore and Celebs Go Dating as well as developing Dance Monsters for Netflix, Stand Up and Deliver for Channel 4 and Who Do You Believe for US network ABC.

She previously oversaw the revamp of Love Island as an ITV2 show and relaunched Saturday Night Takeaway for the main channel as an executive producer for ITV.

Tyekiff’s first hire for Mettlemouse is creative director Shaun Parry, the co-creator of BBC1’s Pointless who was chief creative officer of Moneybags producer Youngest Media until it was wound up in February.

BBC Studios will have a first look on global distribution and format rights.