ITV Studios label scores comedy writer deal

ITV Studios’ new label Cats on the Roof Media has signed a first-look deal with comedy writer and producer Lee Hupfield.

This will see The Friday Night Project co-creator Hupfield (Balls of Steel, Meet the Parents) write, direct and produce in the UK exclusively through Cats on the Roof subsidiary Second Act Productions.

Most recently, Hupfield has been working as show runner on NBC’s US version of Benidorm Bastards, Betty White’s Off Their Rockers. He also worked on the first season of the UK’s Big Brother, executive-produced sitcom The Toast of London and co-write cult Channel 4 hit Banzai.

Hupfield will work closely with Andrew O’Connor, who recently launched Cats on the Roof with ITV Studios after he and a number of senior colleagues left All3Media-owned Objective Productions.

Cats on the Roof Media also includes game show arm Gameface Productions and Matt Crook’s Crook Productions.