Launched in 2015 and based in Sydney, LINGO PICTURES is owned by Helen Bowden and Jason Stephens, two of Australia’s most prolific and highly awarded drama producers. In 2022, ITV Studios acquired a majority stake in Lingo Pictures, making it their first ever Australian scripted label.
Nimble and passionate, we work with the best writing, directing and on screen talent to create innovative and ambitious scripted content.
HELEN BOWDEN / Managing Director is one of Australia’s most prolific and highly awarded television drama producers. She has Produced or Executive Produced fifteen high-end dramas since 2011. Shows include: After the Party, winner of 9 New Zealand TV Awards, nominated for a BAFTA in 2025 and screening on Channel Four in the UK; Prosper for Stan and Roku; two seasons of The Secrets She Keeps starring Laura Carmichael and Jessica de Gouw for BBC1 and Paramount+; and two seasons of Upright starring Tim Minchin for Sky UK and Foxtel. The Slap was also BAFTA nominated and along with The Devils Playground won Helen the AACTA and the Logie for Best TV drama in the same year.
Helen was a founder and the Managing Director of Matchbox Pictures, which sold to NBCUniversal in early 2014. In 2015 she formed Lingo Pictures with Jason Stephens and in late 2022 Helen and Jason sold a majority stake in Lingo to ITV Studios (UK).
Lingo’s 2025 show Watching You, is a thriller screening on Stan starring Aisha Dee, which has sold to Disney/Hulu for the rest of the world.
While Shakedown, Lingo’s most recent show, is in post-production for the ABC in Sydney.
JASON STEPHENS / Creative Director was the Director of Development at FremantleMedia from 2006 and Creative Director from 2010. He has Executive Produced / Produced 14 drama series. Under the Lingo banner, he has produced two seasons of the critically acclaimed series Upright, an international co-production between Foxtel Australia and Sky UK, starring Tim Minchin and Milly Alcock which won Best Comedy Series and Best Comedy Actor at the 2020 AACTA Awards; and Lambs of God, starring Emmy Award-winning actress Ann Dowd, Essie Davis and Jessica Barden. Lambs of God received a record-breaking 18 nominations and 9 wins at the AACTA Awards.
In 2023, Jason delivered two productions: The Messenger, a drama for ABC adapted from Markus Zusak's novel; and Prosper, an original series he co-created starring Richard Roxburgh and Rebecca Gibney for Stan Australia and Lionsgate.
Most recently, Jason produced Watching You for Stan, based on the novel The Last Guests by JP Pomare. Starring Aisha Dee, Josh Helman, and Luke Cook, the series secured a major multi-territory distribution deal with Disney+ and Hulu, including the US, UK, and Europe.
TESS NOVAK / General Manager joined Lingo Pictures in 2016, after previously working in factual at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. As Lingo’s Development Manager, she worked across Wake in Fright, Lambs of God, On the Ropes, Upright, and The Secrets She Keeps. For the latter three, Tess was also part of the production team, in the role of Associate Producer. At the beginning of 2020, Tess was promoted to General Manager where she oversees the running of the company, whilst continuing to work across Lingo’s projects in development and production. She was also the Co-Producer on The Secrets She Keeps S2.
BEC CUBITT / Head of Development first joined Lingo as a Development Producer. Now after some years working in London with companies including New Regency, she has returned to the role of Head of Development. Before joining Lingo, Bec was Head of Development at Aquarius Films and worked in development in London for Scott Free Films and Rooks Nest Entertainment. She has produced award winning short films such as Bat Eyes, Boot, and Red, which starred Cate Blanchett and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Bec oversees the development slate and is responsible for scouting projects for development.