Weakest Link and Millionaire creators team for formats

Fintan Coyle, creator of hit quiz show The Weakest Link, has joined forces with Boxatricks, the fledgling formats business created by the people behind Who Wants to be a Millionaire?.

He will work with the Boxatricks execs on new formats for the international market and bring some of his existing formats to the firm for co-development.

Coyle (pictured) developed The Weakest Link with Cathy Dunning and the gameshow went on to be a big hit, running to 1,600 episodes in the UK and selling to 70 countries around the world.

Boxatricks was formed in September by Michael Whitehill and David Briggs, the pair that created Millionaire and former Celador execs Colman Hutchinson and Steve Springford. It is not a production company, but aims to devise gameshow, quiz and fact-ent formats for producer and broadcaster partners.

Colman Hutchinson, creative director, Boxatricks, says: “Fintan has one of the most creative brains in the industry and we are delighted to be working with him in this way. Together, we are aiming to fast-track the development of a range of formats with global appeal.”