FirstLook TV broadens factual horizons with former Icon duo

A Killer's Mistake

Andie Clare and Lucy Middelboe, two former executives at recently-closed factual indie Icon Films, have resurfaced at FirstLookTV.

As production director of the Stratford-upon-Avon factual indie, Clare now oversees a slate of more than 70 hours for the coming year, and another 20 in longer-term development.

She held the same role at Bristol-based Icon, where she worked for more than 20 years.

Middleboe, meanwhile, heads up co-productions and pre-sale collaborations as head of business, and will be tasked with striking partnerships across true-crime, history and natural history.

The former Icon commercial director, who had worked for the company since 2007, will also manage FirstLook’s social content strategy, overseeing podcasts and output on platforms including YouTube.

Meanwhile, BBC series director Rachel Bowering, who has helmed BBC1 shows such as Olympic Dreams and Helicopter Heroes, has joined FirstLook as creative lead on development. She will manage a fund that curates and invests in projects.

Founded by Will Hanrahan and Gillian Carter, FirstLook TV is best known for its true crime slate, which includes four series of A Killer’s Mistake for Discovery UK, Channel 5’s Sleeping with my Murderer, Sky’s Killer Britain with Dermot Munaghan and two series of My Lover My Killer, first for C5 and subsequently for Netflix.

Hanrahan said the appointments reflected a desire to broaden the company's offering.

“The continuing success of our production models mean we can add factual genres to our existing slate. We have wanted to recruit major industry hitters to cope with our increased output and in Lucy, Andie and Rachel we believe we have.”

Natural history specialist Icon Films, best known for ITV/Animal Planet series River Monsters, was wound down in February after 33 years in business, with founders Laura and Harry Marshall citing changing industry conditions.