Team - Orchard Studios

Dan Grabiner

Chief Executive Officer

Dan is a creative executive with unique experience launching bold, large-scale hits for both linear and streaming television. Prior to creating Orchard Studios in 2024, he was the Head of Amazon Studios, UK & Northern Europe, responsible for documentary and entertainment series such as ‘Clarkson’s Farm’, '007: Road to a Million' and 'The Grand Tour’, and global franchises such as the ‘All or Nothing' sports documentary series, and comedy-entertainment format ‘Last One Laughing’.

Prior to Amazon, his credits as a creator/producer include 'Interview with a Murderer', 'Inside the Cockpit' and 'Michael Palin in North Korea'. Outside of programme-making, Dan is a passionate advocate for access and training in the creative industries, founding apprenticeship schemes at Amazon and ITN, and creating the £10million Prime Video Pathway skills initiative.

Nicola Hill

Managing Director

Nicola oversees Orchard's day-to-day operations, including production management, legal and business affairs. Having started out in scripted production, Nicola was converted to the world of factual programming and helped build the Garden Productions into an unscripted powerhouse during her decade-long tenure as Director of Production, MD and co-CEO.

During this time, she oversaw the company's expansion and ground-breaking productions such as '24 Hours in Police Custody', 'Real PD', '24 Hours in A&E' and 'Squid Game: The Challenge'.

Nat Lippiett

Head of Programmes

Nat is responsible for overseeing and delivering Orchard’s slate of programmes, as well as creating and Executive Producing key projects. With a background in journalism and programme-making in both the UK and US, Nat has wide-ranging experience as a Director and Executive Producer of major documentaries and popular factual television. Previously he steered ITN’s move into premium TV, with award-winning series and films for all the major networks and streamers.

A specialist in building creative relationships, Nat has worked with Buckingham Palace and the Court of Appeal, filmed with Prince Harry and Angelina Jolie, secured and managed access to hospital wards, high-profile weddings and active war zones. Recent credits include the explosive 'Harry: The Interview', award-winning Prime Video documentary series 'The Confession' and the landmark 'The Queen’s Green Planet', starring Sir David Attenborough and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Dani Carpanen

Series Producer

Dani is Orchard’s Series Producer, working across a range of projects in both production and development. An established unscripted Series Producer and Director, Dani cut her teeth on hit UK factual formats such as 'The Baby Borrowers', 'The Restaurant', 'The Call Centre' and 'Hospital'.

In recent years, she has moved into large-scale global unscripted, working on titles such as 'Save Our Squad with David Beckham' for Disney+ and NatGeo’s 'One Day in America'.

Clare Mottershead

Head of Factual & Formats

Clare oversees Orchard’s factual and formats slate, leading projects in development and production, and Executive Producing key titles. Before joining Orchard she was the BBC’s Lead Commissioner in the Factual-Entertainment and Events team where she oversaw more than 30 titles including 'Interior Design Masters', 'The Speedshop' and 'Amanda and Alan’s Italian Job'. She also ran juggernaut heritage brands including 'The Antiques Roadshow' and 'Countryfile'.

Before joining the BBC in 2017 she was an Executive Producer across development and production at Dragonfly where her credits included 'Kill It, Cook It, Eat It', 'One Born Every Minute' and 'The Human Power Station'.

Jordan Davis-Smith

Financial Controller

Jordan is Orchard’s Financial Controller, overseeing the company’s day-to-day finances and accounting function. She joined Orchard in 2024 following a 10+ year career in finance roles at a variety of media companies.

Prior to joining Orchard, Jordan oversaw production accounts teams in the UK, Singapore and LA at global children’s media company Moonbug Entertainment, and before this held a range of finance management and production accountancy roles at production companies such as Tin Roof Media and the Garden.

Katie Burnetts

Development Executive

Katie is Orchard’s Development Executive, working on a broad range of documentary and popular factual formats. Her past credits include the BBC’s BAFTA-nominated ‘Our Dementia Choir with Vicky McClure’, and Channel 4 true crime docuseries ‘The Killer Nanny’.

Having started out as a journalist writing for titles including The Guardian, Grazia and Stylist, Katie has worked in unscripted television at production companies including Dragonfly, Raw, Love Productions and Naked Entertainment, where she led the premium factual slate.

Anna Mayers

Team Assistant

Anna is Orchard’s Team Assistant, supporting the senior team, running the dynamic King’s Cross office, and playing a key role in the development team.

She joined Orchard in 2024 having started her career at Prime Video, initially as an Apprentice in the UK Originals team, before going on to oversee the Prime Video Pathway training scheme in partnership with institutions like the NFTS, The Grierson Trust, The London Screen Academy and The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, plus global training initiatives for Amazon MGM Studios.

Max Hague

Development Editor

Max is part of Orchard's development team, creating sizzle reels, pilots, taster tapes and decks for upcoming projects, while also supporting Orchard's production slate through the edit.

Prior to joining Orchard in 2025, Max held roles at production companies such as Blink Films, Yes Yes Media and Curve.

In addition to his development experience, he is an accomplished broadcast editor with credits for Discovery, Channel 4 and BBC 1.

Nyeem Ayshford

Finance Assistant

Nyeem is Orchard's Finance Assistant, supporting the Financial Controller across the company's day-today finances and accounting, with responsibility for the purchase ledger.

A graduate of the London Screen Academy, Nyeem joined Orchard from NBCUniversal where he supported a range of film and television projects at Working Title, Monkey and CNBC.

Meet the team