Vice Studios UK hires director of unscripted development

Former Darlow Smithson exec Steven Bricknall has boarded Vice Studios UK as the fledgling production outfit looks to expand its development pipeline.

The exec has joined as director of unscripted development, a newly created role. Reporting into Vice Studios UK creative director Yonni Usiskin, he will lead the production arm’s development slate for factual and fact ent content across the UK.

Bricknall will also deliver a strategy for the business’s continued expansion in working with third-party networks and SVODs. He will also coordinate activity with Vice Studios US and the youth-skewing brand’s international offices.

Bricknall was most recently head of development at Hitchhiker TV. Previously, he was head of development at Darlow Smithson, and before that, he was a development exec at Princess Productions, Kalel Productions and Studio Lambert.

His credits include Made In Great Britain (BBC Two), Project Interiors (BBC Two/Netflix) and Secret Britain (BBC One).

Elsewhere, Vice Studios has also promoted Lexi Rose to the role of development exec.

Vice Studios launched in the UK in 2017 and has delivered commissions including The Satanic Verses: 30 Years On (BBC) and Britain’s Cocaine Epidemic (Channel 5).

Forthcoming titles include Inside The Brexit Storm (BBC Two) and four-part doc series Drug Wars (Channel 5).

Usiskin said: “Steven’s appointment marks an important step in Vice Studios’ success and development. We are sending a signal that we are growing our business and consolidating our reputation for creating gripping, award-winning unscripted content for audiences around the world. Steven brings an impressive track record in creating and delivering television hits as well as driving new business. He will be well supported by the team including Lexi, whose time with us has seen her build on her experience and help deliver some of our most noteworthy titles. I can’t think of two better people to take the business forward.”

Bricknall added: “It’s an incredibly exciting time to be joining Vice Studios as they embark on this ambitious new phase in the business. Yonni and his team have built a brilliant reputation as innovative, insightful and exciting programme makers; I’m looking forward to continuing their good work and to creating the next generation of returnable factual and factual entertainment hits with Vice’s unique tone and disruptive sensibility.”