Clerkenwell Films


BBC Studios takes full ownership of Clerkenwell Films, Murray Ferguson to exit

BBC Studios (BBCS) has taken full ownership of The End Of The F***ing World producer Clerkenwell Films, in a deal that will see the company’s founder Murray Ferguson depart.  The BBC’s commercial arm initially took a minority stake in the company in 2008 before increasing its shareholding to 48% in 2017, with an option to move to […]

Why regional SVOD’s can offer a tonic in a crowded drama market

Ben Donald, the former BBC Studios drama executive behind shows such as Death In Paradise and Amazon’s revival of Ripper Street, knows a thing or two about the value of TV drama. He is also a rare example of a largely commercially focused exec who has successfully turned his hand to creative, most recently with […]

BBC Studios in scripted commissioning first with ‘Cheaters’

BBC Studios (BBCS) has made its first move into commissioning scripted series without other broadcasters or streamers attached, with a short-form comedy to be produced by the company behind The End of the F***ing World. Cheaters is from UK-based Clerkenwell Films, in which BBCS owns a 48% stake, and follows a funding and production deal […]

Show of the Week: ‘The Mallorca Files’

BBC Daytime crime drama The Mallorca Files (10 x 45 minutes) centres on the clash of personalities between a British and German detective who have very different approaches to policing. Elen Rhys plays self-confessed British introvert Miranda Blake, while Julian Looman is her German partner-in-crime Max Winter – a classic extrovert. Both seek to solve […]

BBC Studios teams with indies for short-form scripted

BBC Studios, Clerkenwell Films and Anton are partnering on premium, short-form scripted content. BBC Studios boss Tim Davie revealed during a keynote speech at the IBC conference in Amsterdam today (13 September) that the trio will develop and fund a slate of high-end, short-form drama and comedy projects. The End Of The F***ing World (right) […]

Clerkenwell to make series based on entrepreneur Jamal Edwards

Indie producer Clerkenwell Films is developing a scripted series based on the life of British music and media entrepreneur Jamal Edwards, the founder of online video channel SBTV. The project was revealed at Sheffield Doc/Fest, where Edwards was participating in a session titled Jamal Edwards MBE: SBTV, Music and Mental Health. Speaking at the event, […]

Netflix, E4 prep for The End of the F***ing World

Streaming service Netflix and UK youth-skewed network E4 have co-commissioned a dark comedy-drama about a twisted road trip. The End of the F***ing World is based on comic books from Charles Forsman, and follows the confusing lives of two teen outsiders (Alex Lawther and Jessica Barden). Channel 4 commissioning editor Roberto Troni described the series’ […]

BBC Worldwide’s Ben Donald launching drama indie

BBC Worldwide drama boss Ben Donald is launching Cosmopolitan Pictures, a new UK-based indie. The prodco will be partnership between Donald, Clerkenwell Films and Worldwide, the commercial arm of the UK public broadcaster. It will make scripted shows for the UK and international markets. Clerkenwell is the producer of UK-originated drama Misfits and will coproduce […]

Channel 4 comedy drama makes the Cut

UK broadcaster Channel 4 has commissioned a six-part comedy drama about dysfunctional civil servants. Cut comes from UK indie Clerkenwell Films and will be a 6x45mins run. D.C. Moore, who was part of Channel 4’s talent strand Coming Up, wrote the series, which follows the personal and professional lives of a group of civil servants […]