Company Pics execs to head new look Shed drama unit

Company Pictures executives John Griffith and Johann Knobel are to head a new Shed Media scripted division, Headstrong Pictures.

Griffith, executive producer on shows such as Skins and The White Queen, will be managing director, while Secret State producer Knobel will be creative director at the Warner Bros. International Television Production-owned company.

UK production powerhouse Shed will now pool all of its drama resources under the Headstrong banner, meaning shows such as BBC One’s continuing dramas Waterloo Road and New Tricks will now be housed there.

This means Eleanor Moran, who is currently head of drama at The Voice producer Twenty Twenty, will now take the same role at Headstrong. She is the exec producer of Suranne Jones-starring scripted series Lawless.

Shed Productions founders Eileen Gallagher, Brian Park and Ann McManus will continue to develop new shows in the UK and US but will relinquish their executive responsibilities, while Wall To Wall will continue to develop and produce miniseries and with its scripted joint venture GreenAcre Films.

Nick Southgate, CEO of Shed: “I’m delighted we have attracted someone of the calibre of John to this role. His creativity and leadership are a perfect fit for what we are trying to build with Headstrong Pictures. John, Johann and Eleanor are going to be a formidable team.”

Griffin added: “This is a fantastic opportunity to build a new and ambitious drama slate inside one of the UK’s top TV production companies, whilst at the same time taking guardianship of some incredibly successful shows.”