Simon Ellse


Banijay buys My Kitchen Rules UK producer

Banijay Group has acquired 7Wonder, the UK-based unscripted producer behind the British remake of My Kitchen Rules. The deal, financial terms of which were not revealed, marks a first non-scripted acquisition for the superindie since Banijay and Zodiak Media Group merged in February 2016. Banijay has made a number of additions to its scripted ranks, […]

7 Wonder poaches Betty programming chief

Seven Network-backed producer 7 Wonder has poached the director of programming at Discovery Communications-owned Betty. Duncan Coates joins Betty as creative director, a newly-created role, to help the company accelerate its production output. At Betty, Coates has overseen development and production of shows such as The Undateables, Ugly House to Lovely House with George Clark, […]

BBC Two taps 7 Wonder for consumer format

UK pubcaster BBC Two has commissioned a multi-strand, family-friendly consumer-focused series from Seven Network venture 7 Wonder. Don’t Buy That, Buy This? (WT) marks the first time 7 Wonder has secured a series with BBC Two. Presenter Cherry Healey will front the 6x30mins show, which will combine “rigorous journalism with a healthy sense of mischief”. […]

Seven’s UK JV prodco staffs up

Recently-launched producer 7 Wonder has made its first hires, recruiting a factual boss from BSkyB and a head of development. It has hired Chris Wilson as head of popular factual and Mish Mayer for the development role. The London-based prodco is a joint venture between Australian free-to-air broadcaster Seven Network and former Maverick TV execs […]

Seven moves into UK production

Australia’s Seven Network is moving into UK production by setting up a local indie with a trio of former Maverick Television execs. 7Wonder will be based in London and helmed by Alexandra Fraser, Liza Abbott and Simon Ellse, who previously worked at Embarrassing Bodies prodco Maverick. Our success is built on our ability to create […]