Hannah Cheers secures leadership position at Banijay Entertainment label

Lime Pictures has appointed Hollyoaks exec producer Hannah Cheers in the newly created role of creative director, Broadcast can reveal.

Current series producer Si Wall will succeed Cheers at the helm of the Channel 4 continuing drama.

In her leadership role at the Liverpool-based Banijay Entertainment scripted label, Cheers will be tasked with IP creation, particularly championing northern female-skewed stories.

In her three-plus years overseeing Hollyoaks, including the 30th anniversary episodes and Brookside crossover last year, she tackled storylines exploring bowel and ovarian cancers, sibling sexual abuse and abuse of power. She was also in the role when the show was made available to international audiences for the first time via its YouTube channel.

Cheers previously worked at Coronation Street as a story producer.

Managing director of Lime Pictures John Whittle said: “Hannah is an exceptional creative with a deep understanding of her audience and a passion for telling stories that connect.

“Her ambition to develop warmth-filled and hook driven drama with authentic regional voices, particularly female skewing series rooted in the North-West, builds on Lime’s rich scripted heritage. I’m excited to see that vision brought to this new role.”

Cheers said: “Lime is proudly rooted in Liverpool, with an appetite for stories and voices from everywhere. As creative director, I want to make space for brilliant talent, bold ideas and conversations that start with ‘what if?’.

“From original stories to fresh takes on much loved IP, there’s so much opportunity to take creative risks, challenge convention and find new ways to connect with audiences.

“Watching your favourite shows should be a treat. I love big characters, messy lives and addictive hooks. Programmes that are warm, bold, funny, heartbreaking and completely compelling. I want to make unapologetically popular television, full of humanity, that makes you feel joy and desperate to share it with your friends.”

Wall has worked at Lime since 2018, starting out as a trainee storyliner and moving on to become a story editor on more than 300 episodes of the show, and a producer for more than 700 episodes.

He said: “I want to bring new audiences to Hollyoaks with urgent stories that speak to young people, while honouring the fans who’ve been with us for years. We have some of the best families in soap, with a strong track record of paring established actors with new and emerging talent.

“Hollyoaks is known for rug-pull twists and salacious turns, which work because they affect characters we care about and are relatable. They might make more daring choices than we would, but we recognise their hopes and dreams. That’s what makes Hollyoaks so exciting: the freedom to go big, with real people at the heart of it and I am looking forward to delivering that magic to viewers.”

Whittle added: “Si has been central to Hollyoaks’ success, and I’m delighted to see him step up as executive producer.”

Lime Pictures, which supercharged its digital team earlier this year, also produces kids and family scripted programming such as CBBC’s Girl Troop vs Aliens and Netflix’s Wolf King, Zero Chill and Free Rein. It is also behind two vertical dramas, Revenge Is a Dish and Make Me A Match.

In August, the label struck a strategic partnership with Benidorm Is Murder indie Clapperboard Studios to produce more content in the UK, and giving Clapperboard access to Lime’s production facilities at L16 Studios.