Lime Pictures

Name

Lime Pictures

Legal name

Lime Pictures Limited

Website

https://limepictures.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Television Production

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Docuseries & Episodic Nonfiction (TV/Streaming) (MPADADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Animated Feature Film Production (MPADACAH)

Keywords

• Television production
• Scripted drama series
• Reality entertainment
• Children's programming
• Content distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Liverpool

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Television Production Commissions: Lime Pictures produces commissioned content for broadcasters including Channel 4, ITV, BBC, and Discovery+. Revenue is generated through production fees and licensing of produced content to commissioning broadcasters.
2. International Content Distribution: Productions are distributed internationally to platforms such as Netflix, reaching global audiences in over 190 countries. Revenue comes from licensing fees for international distribution rights.
3. Streaming Platform Content: Content is streamed on platforms including Channel 4, ITVX, ITVBe, E4, Netflix, and Discovery+, generating revenue through platform licensing agreements and advertising-supported viewing.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Lime Pictures is a UK-based television production company that develops, produces, and distributes scripted drama, reality entertainment, children's programming, and factual/documentary content. Productions are commissioned by major broadcasters (Channel 4, ITV, BBC, Channel 5, Discovery+) and licensed to global streaming platforms including Netflix and Roku, reaching audiences in 190+ countries.

Product overview

Lime Pictures is a television production company offering a portfolio of scripted drama, reality programming, and children's content across multiple platforms. The core products include Hollyoaks (streaming-first Channel 4/E4 soap), The Only Way Is Essex (ITVBe/ITVX reality series), and international Netflix hits including Free Rein (double Emmy winner), Zero Chill, and Dance Monsters. The company also produces Celebs Go Dating (E4), Geordie Shore (MTV), 22 Kids and Counting (Channel 5), and children's programming including Wolf King and Girl Troop vs Aliens. Supporting sub-brands include Wise Owl Films (Leeds-based factual/unscripted label), Digital16 (digital and social media team formerly Lime Digital), and L16 Studios (production facility). The company operates from Liverpool, London, and Los Angeles offices, producing content for linear broadcast, streaming platforms, and digital channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hollyoaks Long-running British soap opera set in a leafy suburb of Chester, airing five episodes weekly on Channel 4 and E4. Known for strong issue-led storytelling and blockbuster plots targeting youth audiences. First aired in 1995 and has pioneered streaming-first distribution.
• The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE) BAFTA award-winning reality TV series for ITVBe and ITVX, featuring Essex-based celebrities. Has run for over 32 series and remains ITVBe's highest-rated programme since channel launch in 2014.
• Free Rein Double Emmy award-winning Netflix Original series commissioned out of the US for a global audience in over 190 countries. Family and horse-themed drama.
• Zero Chill Netflix project from the team behind Free Rein. Live-action kids and family series distributed globally on Netflix.
• Dance Monsters Worldwide Netflix entertainment format produced by Lime Pictures.
• Celebs Go Dating E4's highly successful celebrity dating agency series, now in its 13th series. Nominated for C21 International Format Awards in Best Brand Driven Format category.
• Geordie Shore MTV reality series, the highest-rated series outside of North America. Part of Lime's reality programming portfolio.
• 22 Kids and Counting Lion Television production for Channel 5 following Britain's biggest family, The Radfords, with 22 children, six grandchildren, and four dogs. Documentary series commissioned in 2023.
• Wolf King Royal Television Society nominated children's animation based on Curtis Jobling's Wereworld novels. Animated series produced with Jellyfish Pictures and released on Netflix in 2025. Nominated for RTS Programme Awards 2026 in Children's Programme category.
• Girl Troop vs Aliens Children's sci-fi drama for CBBC, produced in association with Boat Rocker Media. A fresh, fearless series putting smart, resourceful girls front and centre. Available on CBBC and BBC iPlayer.
• Brookside Historic Liverpool-based soap opera that ran from 1982 to 2003. Regarded as one of Britain's top four soap-operas. Lime Pictures' founding production.
• Vinnie Jones In The Country 6x60' documentary series for Discovery+ following Vinnie Jones as he adjusts to countryside life on 147 acres in the South of England.
• Georgia & Tommy: Baby Steps ITVBe series following TOWIE's Georgia and Tommy as they navigate family life, including content about pregnancy loss and ADHD diagnosis. Executive produced by Richard Whalley.
• Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive & Kids More4 series produced by Wise Owl Films following Amanda Owen, Clive Owen and their children as they renovate Anty John's, a centuries-old farmhouse in the Yorkshire Dales.
• Hollyoaks 30th Anniversary with Brookside Crossover 30th Anniversary special of Hollyoaks featuring a crossover with Brookside and Hollyoaks Later, broadcast on E4 and streamed on Channel 4.
• Digital16 Digital and social media team (formerly Lime Digital) that pioneered early social media presence for UK TV brands including Hollyoaks, TOWIE, and Celebs Go Dating. Works with clients including Channel 4, Optomen and Wise Owl Films on brands such as Hollyoaks, Our Farm Next Door, Princess Diaries, Sort Your Life Out and Bad Boyfriends.
• L16 Studios Production base and studio facility operated by Lime Pictures in Liverpool, supporting scripted and unscripted productions.
• Wise Owl Films Leeds-based non-scripted production label within Lime Pictures. Produces factual and factual entertainment television with links to Yorkshire and Northern England, including Our Farm Next Door for More4 and documentaries for BBC and Sky Arts.

Quantifiable outcome

• RTS Programme Awards 2026 nominations for Wolf King (Children's Programme) and Hollyoaks (Soap and Continuing Drama)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• All3MediacoreOthersLime Pictures is part of All3Media, a leading independent television production and distribution company. The All3Media group comprises 26 production and distribution companies across the UK, Europe, Asia Pacific and the USA. All3Media is owned jointly by Discovery Communications and Liberty Global.
• BAFTA albert ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLime Pictures works with the BAFTA albert Consortium to report on carbon footprint and carbon action plans. Hollyoaks was an early adopter of the BAFTA Albert sustainability scheme which supports All3Media's group target of all productions participating and engaging with the Consortium as the route to achieving net zero in production.
• IntebminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInteb serves as environmental consultants supporting implementation of Carbon Reduction across Lime Pictures and the All3Media group, assisting with energy audits and sustainability initiatives.
• Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHollyoaks consulted with the charity Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) when developing a new storyline focusing on postpartum psychosis involving character Cleo McQueen, aiming to raise public awareness about the condition.
• Wise Owl FilmscoreOthersWise Owl Films is a Leeds-based non-scripted production label within Lime Pictures, producing factual and factual entertainment television including Our Farm Next Door for More4 and documentaries for BBC and Sky Arts.
• Digital16coreOthersDigital16 (formerly Lime Digital) is the digital and social media team within Lime Pictures, responsible for launching early social media presence for UK television brands including Hollyoaks, TOWIE, and Celebs Go Dating.
• L16 StudioscoreOthersL16 Studios serves as a major production base for Lime Pictures in Liverpool, providing studio facilities for productions.
• ProtectminorOthersProtect is an independent whistleblowing charity that runs a confidential helpline for the All3Media Group, providing free confidential whistleblowing advice to staff.
• Tell JaneminorOthersTell Jane is an independent organisation running the All3Media free bullying and harassment complaints helpline, providing help and support to employees raising concerns about harassment.
• TelusHealthminorOthersTelusHealth provides an Assistance Programme available to all All3Media Group employees, offering confidential help for work, health or life concerns including access to counselling and CBT sessions.
• Boat Rocker MediaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGirl Troop vs Aliens is produced in association with Boat Rocker Media for CBBC.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sister Pictures: UK drama and documentary producer (Chernobyl, The Power). Comparable mid-sized independent competing for prestige streamer and broadcaster commissions.
• ITV Studios: ITV's in-house production arm and one of the world's largest TV content producers. Direct competitor producing drama (The Night Manager), reality, and entertainment formats for UK and global buyers. Highly comparable slate breadth and broadcaster-relationship model.
• Mammoth Screen: ITV Studios-owned prestige drama producer (Poldark, World on Fire). Closely comparable in scripted drama commissions for UK broadcasters and streamers.
• Fremantle: RTL Group-owned global production and distribution company (American Idol, Got Talent). Competes with Lime on global format distribution and prestige drama commissions for Netflix and Amazon.
• Banijay UK: Global production powerhouse owning Endemol Shine and dozens of UK labels (Tiger Aspect, Initial, Zeppotron). Directly comparable in reality and entertainment format production and international distribution scale.
• Red Production Company: StudioCanal-owned UK drama producer (Queen's Sister, It's a Sin). Competes with Lime Pictures for BBC and Channel 4 drama commissions.
• Hat Trick Productions: Independent UK producer of comedy and entertainment (Outnumbered, Father Ted). Comparable mid-sized independent production model serving major UK broadcasters.
• Tiger Aspect Productions: Endemol Shine/Banijay-owned UK production company producing drama, comedy and children's content (Mr Bean, Horrible Histories). Competes directly with Lime Pictures on BBC, Channel 4 and Netflix commissions.
• Carnival Films: NBCUniversal-owned UK drama specialist (Downton Abbey, Bridgerton). Direct competitor for prestige drama commissions from streamers and public broadcasters, with comparable production scale in Liverpool/London.

Broad incumbents

• BBC Studios: Commercial arm of the BBC producing Doctor Who, Top Gear and natural history programming. Broader portfolio including international distribution, but competes with Lime on factual, drama and children's commissions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/limetvpictures
• Xx.com/limepictures
• Facebookfacebook.com/Lime-Pictures-Limited-1505622599767260

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lime Pictures