EXCLUSIVE: Clarkson’s Farm maker Expectation has hired Katina Grant as Director of Development, Entertainment.
The experienced entertainment formats executive joins from Mettlemouse Entertainment, the Sarah Tyekiff-led company behind Channel 4’s series The Honesty Box, which is set for a Spanish remake, and and Spencer Matthews: Am I a Psychopath?
Grant will be tasked with developing ideas and securing greenlights from buyers in the UK and internationally, with particular focus on talent-led shows, reality TV, gameshows, factual entertainment and unscripted comedy.
Reporting to Ben Wicks, Creative Director, Entertainment, she will also work closely with Expectation’s leadership team on strategy, while building commissioner relationships, and seeking “commercially viable and distinctive” projects. Additionally, she will co-develop formats with Expectation affiliate David Flynn and his company, Plegazoid.
The news comes soon after Expectation and Plegazoid won the competitive tender process to produce the next unscripted series from the BBC and NBCUniversal pact that has already spawned the British and American versions of The Traitors and Destination X.
Expectation’s shows include The Dyers’ Caravan Park for Sky, Alan Carr: Castle Man for Hulu/Disney+, and Clarkson’s Farm for Prime Video, which has now run to five seasons. Other shows include David Baddiel: Cat Man for Channel 4, Hooters Murders: Deadly Shift for Versant Media’s Oxygen and Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home for the BBC.
Prior to working at Mettlemouse, Grant spent nine years at Hungry Bear Media, where she won commissions for the like of Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel, Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad and Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof. She has also worked on Gogglebox, The Only Way Is Essex, and Geordie Shore.
“Katrina has an incredible track record of identifying talent and creating distinctive formats, helping and launch some of British television’s most successful entertainment and reality brands,” said Wicks.
“As Expectation ramps up its formats and entertainment business, building on recent ratings hits and high-profile greenlights for UK and international broadcasters and streamers – whilst doubling down on our talent-led projects – we’re thrilled to have someone of her prodigious talent joining to lead our fantastic development team to further success.”
British TV heavyweights Peter Fincham and Tim Hincks launched Expectation launched Expectation in 2017. BBC Studios owns a minority stake in the business.
“Expectation has a brilliant reputation for developing bold, distinctive ideas, alongside working with some of the biggest talent in television,” added Grant. “I’m excited to join the company at such a pivotal moment and look forward to building on that momentum, developing ideas with global potential and helping bring the next generation of standout entertainment brands to screen.”
