The Garden Hires New Executive Producers

The Garden Productions has appointed Helen Bart and Jo Harcourt-Smith as executive producers.

Bart, who took up her role earlier this month, has just series-produced Fight the Power for the BBC and PBS. Harcourt-Smith, who will join at the start of the new year, is currently executive producing Celebrity Race Across the World for BBC One.

John Hay, joint CEO of The Garden, said: “Helen and Jo exemplify the breadth of a slate that now stretches from formats to box sets via a renewed docs heartland and that sees us making premium shows of scale both in the U.K. and internationally. They’re both super-talented creatives and team leaders whose work we’ve admired for many years and who care passionately about making the kind of quality, popular, purposeful television we all believe in too. Their arrival will help us extend our ambitions still further, and we’re very lucky to have them as part of The Garden family.”

“I consider myself incredibly blessed with all the talented people I’ve been able to work with throughout my career, so joining The Garden feels like a natural progression,” said Bart. “I’ve long admired their incredible slate of programs, and I’m impressed by their imaginative and creative approach to new ideas—so am looking forward to joining forces and hoping to make more ground-breaking and award-winning documentaries in the years to come.”

“I’ve always been impressed by the high quality of The Garden’s shows and the talent for deft, brilliant storytelling that runs through everything they make, so it’s a privilege to join their fantastic team,” said Harcourt-Smith. “I can’t wait to get my feet under the table and bring my own experience into the mix at this key moment for the company.”