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Plimsoll Studios appoints Nathan Small as Creative Director while Alex Ranken joins National Geographic

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Plimsoll Studios appointed filmmaker Nathan Small as its Creative Director, Natural History and Kids & Family, on 13 October 2026. Small will work across both slates and report to Head of Natural History Mark Brownlow. The appointment follows Alex Ranken’s move to National Geographic, where he has taken a commissioning-editor role. Small’s promotion brings a cinematographer and producer known for cinematic wildlife programming into Plimsoll’s expanded five-division structure.

Who is Nathan Small?

Nathan Small is a director, producer and cinematographer whose work combines natural-history observation with highly designed, cinematic imagery. His cited credits include Apple TV+’s Tiny World, A Real Bug’s Life for National Geographic and Disney+, Netflix’s Nightmares of Nature, and ITV’s World’s Wildest Cities.

Small began in advertising photography before completing an MA in Directing and Producing Science and Natural History at the National Film and Television School. The Television Academy’s 2025 credits list also identifies him among the photographers on A Real Bug’s Life, independently supporting his production credit.

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What is Nathan Small’s new role at Plimsoll Studios?

Small is now Creative Director, Natural History and Kids & Family. That remit spans two audience areas rather than a single series or production unit, giving him a creative role across Plimsoll’s wildlife, science and family programming. He reports to Mark Brownlow, the company’s Head of Natural History.

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Brownlow described Small as an “exceptional filmmaker” with a distinctive creative voice and an ability to make natural history feel “fresh, cinematic and surprising.” Small said Plimsoll’s appetite for ambitious and innovative storytelling attracted him and that he wants to help teams find new ways to connect audiences with the natural world.

Why did Alex Ranken leave for National Geographic?

Ranken, who previously held the Plimsoll creative-director post, has moved to National Geographic as a commissioning editor. A commissioning editor’s job is primarily to develop, select and oversee projects for a network or platform, while Small’s new position is rooted in creative production and the shaping of Plimsoll’s own slates.

The announcement establishes Ranken’s destination and new responsibility, but it does not identify a specific reason for the move, a replacement commissioning portfolio or any future National Geographic commissions. It is therefore best understood as a change of role and employer rather than evidence of a dispute or a cancellation.

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How do Small’s and Ranken’s roles differ?

Comparison Nathan Small Alex Ranken
Primary responsibility Creative leadership and production across Plimsoll’s natural-history and kids-and-family slates Commissioning and editorial oversight at National Geographic
Organisation Plimsoll Studios, owned by ITV Studios National Geographic
Reporting or commissioning line Reports to Mark Brownlow, Head of Natural History New reporting structure not stated
Recent work associated with the role Tiny World, A Real Bug’s Life, Nightmares of Nature and World’s Wildest Cities Previous Plimsoll role; no new programme slate announced
Audience remit Natural history plus kids and family National Geographic commissioning; precise remit not stated

Which programmes establish Small’s credentials?

A Real Bug’s Life

A Real Bug’s Life received six Emmys across its two seasons, including an award recognising Small’s cinematography. The series is associated with National Geographic and Disney+, and its success is the clearest awards evidence attached to his promotion.

Tiny World

Apple TV+’s Tiny World is among Small’s cited credits. Its miniature-animal perspective illustrates the kind of close-range, visually ambitious natural-history storytelling that defines his screen work.

Nightmares of Nature

Small is also credited on Netflix’s Nightmares of Nature, a natural-history title that extends his work into darker and more dramatic wildlife storytelling.

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World’s Wildest Cities

ITV’s World’s Wildest Cities rounds out the cited credits with a focus on wildlife adapting to urban environments.

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What does the appointment say about Plimsoll Studios?

Plimsoll is owned by ITV Studios and announced the appointment after a run of launches that included Skyscraper Live for Netflix, Secret Garden for the BBC and Pompeii: Out of Time for Disney+. The company has also reorganised into five divisions. Small’s combined natural-history and family remit fits that broader structure, but Plimsoll has not published a future-project slate for him.

The change may give Plimsoll a leader whose background covers filming, producing and visual design, while Brownlow retains overall natural-history leadership. It does not, by itself, confirm a new series, platform deal or change to the release plans for any existing programme.

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Where can viewers watch Small’s programmes?

Availability depends on territory, licensing and the date of access. The cited programmes are associated with Apple TV+, National Geographic and Disney+, Netflix and ITV, but catalogues can differ by country and change without notice. Check the relevant service’s current listing for your region before assuming that a title is included with a subscription or available as a standalone purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Plimsoll Studios announce Nathan Small’s appointment?

The announcement was published on 13 October 2026. Plimsoll’s current team information lists Small under the title Creative Director, Natural History and Kids & Family.

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Who does Nathan Small report to at Plimsoll?

He reports to Mark Brownlow, Plimsoll’s Head of Natural History. Brownlow publicly welcomed Small’s visual and storytelling approach in the appointment statement.

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How many Emmys did A Real Bug’s Life win?

The programme won six Emmys across two seasons. One of those awards recognised Nathan Small’s cinematography.

Is Nathan Small directing a new Plimsoll series?

No future project has been announced alongside the appointment. The available announcement defines his remit and reporting line but does not name a new commission.

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documentary industryNathan SmallNational Geographicnatural history documentariesPlimsoll Studioswildlife television

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