Former Lime Pictures head of production Joe McLusky is returning to the company after seven years, this time as director of unscripted production.
Since leaving the All3Media-owned company in 2016, McLusky headed Paramount’s in-house production division Viacom International Studios UK, until it was wound down earlier this year.
As vice-president and general manager of non-scripted for VIS UK, he oversaw a slate that included Channel 5 titles Holidaying with Jane McDonald and Cruising with Susan Calman.
He returns to Lime in the role previously held by Helen Kruger Batt, who left last November to become managing director of Monkey.
McLusky’s appointment follows All3Media’s decision in January to fold Lime’s unscripted production, plus that of sister labels Lion Television and Wise Owl, into one unit. The director of unscripted production role already spanned these three units.
In his previous three-year stint at Lime, McLusky was responsible for established ITV2 show The Only Way is Essex and MTV’s Geordie Shore, and secured commissions for ITV2’s Educating Joey Essex and E4’s Celebs Go Dating.
He is a former ITV Studios production chief executive, where his credits included The Chase and Surprise Surprise, and has previously worked for Shine and Granada.
Lime joint managing directors Claire Poyser and Kate Little hailed McLusky’s “phenomenal production experience”, adding: “We are looking forward to working together again.”
