Lime Pictures
Lime Pictures is a British television production company known for scripted drama, continuing serials, reality television, factual entertainment, and children's programming.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Lime Pictures is a British television production company based in Liverpool and operating within Banijay UK. The business was founded by producer and writer Phil Redmond in the early 1980s under the name Mersey Television. Its early identity was closely associated with Liverpool and with the expansion of Channel 4, for which it created and produced Brookside, a long-running soap opera that became one of the channel's defining original programmes. The company later created Hollyoaks, another Channel 4 continuing drama, which remains in production and is one of the most durable properties in Lime Pictures' portfolio. Mersey Television developed beyond its original soap-opera base through drama, children's programming, entertainment, and factual formats. Redmond's connection with youth and regional storytelling also led to the company's involvement with Grange Hill, the BBC children's drama whose production it took over in 2003. That transfer moved production to Liverpool and represented a significant expansion of Mersey Television's relationship with established British television properties. Brookside itself ended in 2003 after a long run, with declining ratings cited as the reason for its removal from the schedule. In 1991, the company attempted to obtain the ITV Channel 3 franchise for North West England through a bid branded North West Television. The proposal sought to provide a stronger Liverpool presence in regional television and was backed by Yorkshire Television and Tyne Tees Television. Although the bid offered substantially more money than incumbent Granada Television, the Independent Television Commission judged that it did not satisfy the required quality threshold, and Granada retained the licence. The unsuccessful bid nevertheless demonstrated Mersey Television's ambition to become not only a programme supplier but also a regional broadcaster. All3Media acquired Mersey Television in 2005. As part of the transaction and associated contractual requirements, the business adopted the Lime Pictures name in 2006. Under the Lime identity, the company broadened its international-facing production activity. Its portfolio came to include unscripted and reality series such as The Only Way Is Essex, Geordie Shore, and Celebs Go Dating; children's and family productions such as House of Anubis, Rocket's Island, The Evermoor Chronicles, Free Rein, and Wolf King; and additional scripted projects including Apparitions, Bonkers, and Hollyoaks-related programming. The company also produced Hollyoaks IRL, a short-form Channel 4 series connected with its continuing drama brand. Lime Pictures has maintained a production base in Liverpool while developing operations elsewhere. In 2018 it expanded into Leeds through Wise Owl Films, a non-scripted subsidiary formed with former Shiver founder Mark Johnson. In 2019, All3Media reorganised aspects of Lime's London factual operation with Lion Television, with Lion's founders joining the London office and Lion continuing as a label. In September 2024, Lime closed its London production office and transferred unscripted productions previously made there, including The Only Way Is Essex and Celebs Go Dating, to Objective Media Group's Objective Entertainment label. Lime Pictures is now best understood as a multi-genre producer whose core strengths are long-running British drama, popular factual entertainment, reality formats, and internationally distributed children's and streaming content.
History
Lime Pictures originated as Mersey Television, a production company established by producer and writer Phil Redmond in the early 1980s. Its first major production was Brookside, a Channel 4 soap opera launched when the channel began broadcasting in 1982. The programme ran until 2003 and gave the company a strong Liverpool identity as well as extensive experience in continuing drama. A Brookside spin-off, Damon and Debbie, was produced in 1987. In 1991, Mersey Television attempted to enter regional broadcasting by bidding for the North West England Channel 3 franchise under the name North West Television. The bid proposed a television service with greater emphasis on Liverpool and was financially supported by Yorkshire Television and Tyne Tees Television. Despite offering more money than Granada Television, the incumbent franchise holder, North West Television failed the Independent Television Commission's quality assessment and did not win the licence. Mersey Television created Hollyoaks for Channel 4 in 1995. The series became a long-running continuing drama and remains central to Lime Pictures' identity. The company also took over production of Grange Hill in 2003, moving the BBC children's drama's production to Liverpool. After Brookside ended, the business continued to diversify into scripted drama, children's programming, factual television, and reality formats. All3Media acquired Mersey Television in 2005. The company was renamed Lime Pictures in 2006. Its subsequent work included the MTV reality series Living on the Edge, the ITV sitcom Bonkers, the BBC drama Apparitions, the BBC Switch production The Season, and a pilot for the E4 sitcom Sex and the Chippy. From 2010, Lime produced The Only Way Is Essex for ITV2, and from 2011 to 2022 it produced Geordie Shore for MTV in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company also worked with Nickelodeon Productions and Studio 100 on House of Anubis, produced Rocket's Island for CBBC, and supplied The Evermoor Chronicles for Disney Channel. Lime's streaming work expanded with Free Rein for Netflix from 2017 and Wolf King from 2022. It also produced Celebs Go Dating for E4 from 2016 and Hollyoaks IRL for Channel 4 in 2021. In 2008, the company upgraded its in-house post-production capabilities as Hollyoaks moved into high-definition production. The company expanded geographically and organisationally during the All3Media period. In 2018, it established Wise Owl Films in Leeds with Mark Johnson as president. In 2019, All3Media reorganised the relationship between Lime's London factual operation and Lion Television's London office. In September 2024, Lime closed its London production office. Unscripted programmes previously made there were transferred to Objective Entertainment, a label of Objective Media Group, while Lion Television continued separately as a label. Lime Pictures remains an active British producer with a portfolio spanning continuing drama, entertainment, factual programming, children's content, and streaming.
- 2024
London office closes
[1]Lime closes its London production office and transfers associated unscripted productions to Objective Entertainment.
- 2022
Wolf King begins
[1]Lime begins producing the Netflix series Wolf King.
- 2021
Hollyoaks IRL produced
[1]Lime produces the Channel 4 short-form series Hollyoaks IRL, which receives a BAFTA TV nomination in the short-form programme category.
- 2018
Wise Owl Films established
[1]Lime expands into Leeds through the creation of non-scripted subsidiary Wise Owl Films with Mark Johnson.
- 2017
Free Rein begins
[1]Lime begins producing the Netflix series Free Rein.
- 2016
Celebs Go Dating begins
[1]Lime begins producing Celebs Go Dating for E4.
- 2011
House of Anubis, Geordie Shore and Rocket's Island production period begins
[1]Lime begins work on House of Anubis, Geordie Shore, and Rocket's Island for Nickelodeon, MTV, and CBBC respectively.
- 2010
The Only Way Is Essex begins
[1]Lime starts producing the ITV2 reality series The Only Way Is Essex.
- 2008
Hollyoaks moves to high-definition production
[1]Lime upgrades its in-house post-production facilities to support HD production of Hollyoaks.
- 2006
Lime Pictures name adopted
[1]Mersey Television is renamed Lime Pictures.
Products and positioning
A Liverpool-rooted British production company combining long-running scripted television with commercially successful reality, factual-entertainment, children's, and streaming productions for domestic broadcasters and international platforms.
Continuing drama · 1995
Hollyoaks
A Channel 4 continuing soap opera created by Phil Redmond and first produced by Mersey Television in 1995. Hollyoaks became Lime Pictures' principal long-running scripted property and has supported related short-form and digital extensions, including Hollyoaks IRL.
Soap opera · 1982
Brookside
Mersey Television's first major production, created by Phil Redmond for Channel 4. The Liverpool-set soap ran from the channel's launch in 1982 until 2003 and was instrumental in establishing the company's reputation for distinctive regional and continuing drama.
Reality television · 2010
The Only Way Is Essex
An ITV2 reality series produced by Lime Pictures from 2010. It follows the personal and social lives of a group of Essex-based participants and became one of the company's best-known unscripted entertainment formats.
Reality television · 2011
Geordie Shore
An MTV reality series produced by Lime Pictures in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 2011 to 2022. The programme formed a major part of the company's youth-oriented unscripted production portfolio.
Reality and factual entertainment · 2016
Celebs Go Dating
An E4 entertainment format produced by Lime Pictures from 2016. The series centres on public figures participating in a dating-agency framework and reflects Lime's focus on repeatable, personality-led factual entertainment.
Children's streaming drama · 2017
Free Rein
A children's and family series produced for Netflix from 2017. Its inclusion in Lime's catalogue illustrates the company's move from British broadcast production into internationally distributed streaming content.
Children's mystery drama · 2011
House of Anubis
A children's drama produced from 2011 to 2013 by Lime Pictures in partnership with Nickelodeon Productions and Studio 100. The series was made for the Nickelodeon audience and added internationally oriented youth drama to Lime's output.
Children's fantasy drama · 2014
The Evermoor Chronicles
A Disney Channel children's production made from 2014 to 2016. The series formed part of Lime Pictures' work in scripted family entertainment for international broadcasters.
Animated streaming series · 2022
Wolf King
A Netflix series whose production by Lime Pictures began in 2022, extending the company's children's and family production activity into streaming fantasy and animation-oriented content.
Brand decisions
2024
Closure of the London production officeStrategyBackground
All3Media reorganised production activities across its group of labels and subsidiaries.
Action taken
Lime closed its London production office and transferred unscripted productions formerly made there to Objective Entertainment within Objective Media Group.
Aftermath
The Only Way Is Essex and Celebs Go Dating moved to the receiving label, while Lion Television continued separately as a label. Lime London executives Kate Little and Claire Poyser departed, and Rebecca Kenny-Smith joined Objective Entertainment to lead the production transition.
2018
Creation of Wise Owl FilmsStrategyBackground
Lime sought to expand its non-scripted production presence beyond its established Liverpool base.
Action taken
The company partnered with Mark Johnson to establish Wise Owl Films in Leeds.
Aftermath
Wise Owl Films became Lime's Leeds-based non-scripted production subsidiary, with Johnson serving as president.
2005
Acquisition by All3MediaM&ABackground
All3Media sought to expand its production group and enter more deeply into scripted television.
Action taken
All3Media acquired Mersey Television.
Aftermath
The company became an All3Media subsidiary and adopted the Lime Pictures name in 2006.
1991
Bid for the North West ITV franchiseOtherBackground
Mersey Television sought to replace Granada Television as the Channel 3 franchise holder for North West England and proposed a service with greater emphasis on Liverpool.
Action taken
The company submitted the North West Television bid with financial backing from Yorkshire Television and Tyne Tees Television.
Aftermath
The Independent Television Commission determined that the bid did not meet its quality threshold, and Granada retained the licence.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Liverpool Film Office, Lime Pictures and Channel 4 launch Action! Next Take training scheme[2]
Reported:
Liverpool City Council's Film Office, Lime Pictures' L16 Studios Media Academy and Channel 4's 4Skills launched Action! Next Take, a training initiative offering 48 fully funded places across post-production, art department and production accountancy, with six paid 12-week placements scheduled for early 2027.
Sources2 sources
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