Independent Production Business Founded

Former Tiger Aspect Executive Producer, Jago Lee and John Farrar, Broadcast Hotshot and former Head of Development for Raw Television, have joined forces to found independent production company New Entertainment Research & Design (NERD).
NERD will specialise in developing and producing documentary and entertainment formats as well as a number of scripted projects in comedy and factual drama.
The new company has also set up co-production partnerships for its most ambitious and large scale productions currently in development.
Commenting on the decision to form NERD, Jago Lee said: "We feel there is a hunger in the industry for a new, more collaborative approach to ideas.
"NERD is built on a tailored approach to development and production - we're aiming to achieve a perfect match of idea, talent and funding model project by project, and to create shows that are as irresistible in terms of value as they are in content.
"Above all, it is driven by a passion for distinctive ideas for television and beyond," he said.
Jago Lee's recent credits include the Grierson nominated documentary The Lion Cub from Harrods (Five) and drama-doc When Boris Met Dave (C4), which he conceived and executive produced for Blink Films.
Prior to this he spent three years at Tiger Aspect, joining as Head of Development in 2004 before being promoted to Director of Documentaries in 2005.
Before joining Raw Television, where his credits included After Armageddon (The History Channel) and Wild Things (C4), John Farrar held the role of Senior Development Producer at Somethin' Else, where he was responsible for commissions such as Dangerous Seas for Boys (C4) and The Rainman Twins (Five).
Before that he was at the creative heart of super-indies TalkbackThames and Tiger Aspect where he developed shock doc Nazi Pop Twins (TLC/C4), and produced and directed The Rules of Seduction (C4).
(BMcC/GK)