Honeybird Studios is a collaboration between Lisa Chapman, Derek Drennan and Stew Batt. Between them, they have decades of experience in reality, factual entertainment, studio entertainment, documentary and live events.
Prior to Honeybird, Lisa was Senior Vice President Non-Scripted Television at eOne UK and the Managing Director of successful independent production company Whizz Kid Entertainment. An experienced and trusted industry executive, she co-devised, launched and Executive Produced the huge international reality hit ‘Ex on the Beach’ and ‘Celebrity Ex on the Beach’ for MTV International – one of the biggest reality hits of the decade with numerous spin offs and local versions throughout the world.
Her experience straddles many genres including factual entertainment, live music and music documentary, comedy entertainment and studio with big entertainment hits including ‘Lip Sync Battle UK’ (Channel 5) and ‘Let’s Dance for Comic Relief’ (BBC1). Most recently she has consulted on reality productions ‘Dating Naked UK’ season 1 for Paramount+ and ‘Blue Therapy’ for Netflix. Lisa also has an outstanding track record in live TV and global events with credits including ‘The BAFTA Film Awards’ (BBC1 & Worldwide), ‘Stand Up To Cancer UK’ and ‘Global Citizen Prize’ (NBC). A longstanding BAFTA voting member, she also sits on the Board of North East Screen in an advisory capacity.
Derek brings a strategic and commercial direction to Honeybird packaging deals, distribution, funding and finance.
He also leads Nest Productions which he founded in 2019 in response to the growing need for high-quality production support for new and established independent producers. Production credits span multiple genres and include hit reality series such as ‘Made in Chelsea’ (Channel 4) and ‘Celebs Go Dating’ (C4).
A former production manager, line producer and production executive with over 20 year’s experience in premium unscripted production.
Credits include ‘Dating Naked UK’ season 1 & 2 (Paramount+), ‘TOWIE’ (ITV), ‘Celebs Go Dating’ (ITV), and ‘James May’s Toy Stories’ (BBC2).
With over 20 years of experience delivering high-quality television production across reality and fact ent, specialist factual, ob docs, drama and drama reconstructions.
Her credits include: ‘Blue Therapy’ (Netflix), ‘Love in the Flesh’ (BBC3) and ‘Inside the Vatican’ (BBC1/PBS/Netflix).
Honeybird Studios welcomed Debbie as its non-exec director from initial start up advising on corporate matters and investment strategy.
Debbie’s previous roles include Director of Rights and Business Affairs at the BBC, Director of Rights for Flextech TV, Chair of PACT, Commercial Director at RDF, COO of Hat Trick, CEO of Keo Films and Senior Investment Director at Ingenious Media.
Debbie works in an advisory capacity in the TV and Film industry, including acting as a non-executive director for companies spanning production, distribution and production services. She is also a founding partner and executive producer for First Person Films with director Victoria Mapplebeck. Debbie was proud to be the Executive Producer on Victoria’s BAFTA-winning short film ‘Missed Call’ in 2019.
In addition to her more formal roles, Debbie is also involved in a number of projects and charities including launching a small restaurant group, HERE Cafe Ltd, and holding the role of Chair for the charity SafeHands.
We’re always on the lookout for new Honeybirds!
Please email your CV and covering letter to us.