David Young leaving ITV’s 12 Yard

David Young, the co-founder of UK producer 12 Yard is leaving the company three years after it was acquired by UK free-to-air broadcaster ITV.

Fellow 12 Yard co-founder Andy Culpin will replace Young as managing director of the producer, which makes quiz shows Egg Heads, In It to Win It and Coach Trip. Michael Mannes is promoted to deputy managing director under the new management structure.

With Dawn Airey then at the helm, ITV bought 12 Yard for an initial £26 million in December 2007, with a further £9 million payment due, depending upon performance. It acquired the producer from Young and Culpin and UK indie Hat Trick. At the time Young said the deal would establish the company into one of the ‘leading creators and producers of entertainment formats in the world’.

“After almost ten years at the helm of 12 Yard Productions and three years with ITV Studios David Young has decided it is a natural time to move on to explore new opportunities,” ITV said in a statement.

ITV also said that its main channel, ITV1, has ordered a non-broadcast pilot from 12 Yard, Holding Out for a Hero.

Commissioned by Elaine Bedell for ITV1, the twist in the quiz show is the three contestants are playing for cash for a deserving person who has no idea they have someone competing on their behalf. 12 Yard is working with ITV Studios America with a view to interesting a US broadcaster.

The show is one of a new breed of altruistic gameshow formats. Deal or No Deal creator Dick de Rijk is currently shopping a show called You Deserve It to broadcasters. A pilot of the hour-long format has been made and in it contestant compete to win cash for a deserving third party. It is being sold by SevenOne International.