Studio Lambert: A Powerhouse of Global Television Production
Founded in 2008 by Stephen Lambert, Studio Lambert has rapidly ascended to become one of the most influential independent production companies in the world. Operating from hubs in London and Los Angeles, the company has redefined the landscape of both unscripted and scripted television through innovative formats and high-stakes storytelling.
The company's scale and influence are well-documented. In the 2024 Broadcast survey of independent UK production companies, Studio Lambert ranked third in terms of turnover size. Its commitment to quality has been recognized repeatedly, earning the title of Best Independent Production Company three times at the Broadcast Awards and being named Production Company of the Year at the 2024 Edinburgh TV Awards.
Key Facts
- Founded: 2008 by Stephen Lambert.
- Locations: London and Los Angeles.
- Industry Rank: #3 by turnover among UK independent production companies (2024 Broadcast survey).
- Major Accolades: Three-time Broadcast Awards winner for Best Independent Production Company and 2024 Edinburgh TV Awards Production Company of the Year.
- Global Reach: Formats like Undercover Boss and Gogglebox have been produced in dozens of countries.
The Rise of Global Formats
Studio Lambert first gained international prominence with Undercover Boss, which debuted on Britain's Channel 4 in 2009. The format, where executives disguise themselves to work alongside their employees, became a global phenomenon produced in numerous countries.
The American version of Undercover Boss premiered on CBS in February 2010, immediately following the Super Bowl. It attracted a record-breaking audience of nearly 40 million viewers and became the highest-rated new show of the 2009-10 season, averaging 17 million viewers. The series earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Reality Program every year from 2010 to 2016, winning the award in 2012 and 2013.
In March 2013, the company launched Gogglebox on Channel 4. This unique format observes ordinary people watching and reviewing the week's television. Gogglebox has since become one of Britain's most popular shows, winning a BAFTA and five National Television Awards, with local versions now appearing in over thirty countries.
Expanding into Scripted Content
While primarily known for unscripted hits, Studio Lambert expanded its capabilities by launching a scripted division in 2015. This move allowed the company to produce narrative-driven content, starting with Three Girls, which earned five BAFTA awards.
The company's scripted portfolio has since grown to include The Feed for Amazon Prime, as well as The Nest and Three Families for BBC One. More recently, they produced three seasons of Boarders for BBC Three.
Modern Successes and Streaming Hits
In recent years, Studio Lambert has continued to dominate the unscripted market with The Traitors and Race Across the World. Both series have won BAFTA Awards, with The Traitors seeing nearly 10 million viewers tune in for its 2025 finale. Race Across the World currently stands as the BBC's largest factual title of 2025.
The company's reach extends to global streaming platforms. In 2023, Stephen Lambert served as an executive producer for Squid Game: The Challenge on Netflix. The series dominated the charts, ranking as the No. 1 English-language show for its first two weeks and accumulating over 224 million hours of watch time within 21 days. Due to this success, Netflix ordered a second season on December 6, 2023.
Other notable productions from the studio include The Circle, Naked Attraction, and Four in a Bed.
Production Portfolio Summary
| Show Title | Genre | Key Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Undercover Boss | Unscripted/Reality | Emmy Winner (2012, 2013) |
| Gogglebox | Unscripted/Observation | BAFTA & 5 National TV Awards |
| Three Girls | Scripted | 5 BAFTA Awards |
| The Traitors | Unscripted/Competition | BAFTA Winner; ~10M finale viewers (2025) |
| Squid Game: The Challenge | Unscripted/Competition | 224M+ hours watched in 21 days |
| Race Across the World | Unscripted/Factual | BAFTA Winner; BBC's biggest factual title (2025) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Studio Lambert based?
Studio Lambert operates as an independent production company with offices located in London and Los Angeles.
What was Studio Lambert's first major formatted show?
The company's first major formatted success was Undercover Boss, which premiered on Channel 4 in 2009 before expanding globally.
Does Studio Lambert produce scripted television?
Yes, the company launched a scripted division in 2015, producing award-winning series such as Three Girls, as well as Boarders and The Feed.
How successful was Squid Game: The Challenge on Netflix?
The show was the No. 1 English-language show on Netflix for its first two weeks and recorded over 224 million hours watched within the first 21 days of release.
Which Studio Lambert shows have won BAFTA awards?
Several productions have won BAFTAs, including Gogglebox, Three Girls, The Traitors, and Race Across the World.