Fremantle buys a portion of Duck Soup

FremantleMedia has taken a 25% stake in Duck Soup Films, the UK film and TV indie set up by the producers of This is England and Utopia.

Seasoned producers Libby Durdy, Bekki Wray-Rogers and Jessica Holyland set up Duck Soup in 2015.

“Duck Soup is an exciting business with three incredibly talented founders at its helm,” said Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO FremantleMedia.

“They have a refreshing determination to portray a broad range of perspectives through creative storytelling, and we’re looking forward to being part of their success.”

Durdy said: “We pride ourselves on being able to find and nurture incredible talent that shares our distinct vision and to support them in creating high-quality content.”

Channel 4 has invested in the company’s slate through its Alpha Fund, which is designed to back projects with new and emerging talent. Not-for-profit group Creative England has also backed the prodco’s projects.

Duck Soup is based in Leeds, Yorkshire, and Holyland said: “This is a huge statement of confidence in a UK voice outside of London and we are thrilled to be embarking on this journey together.”

The start-up prodco hasn’t yet got any TV series away, but a spokesman said commissioning news is expected soon.

Fremantle has been actively investing in international prodcos in the past couple of years.

It recently bought into Gurinder Chadha’s Bend It TV and has also backed Israeli formats firm Abot Hameiri, Simon Andreae’s Naked Entertainment and Laurence Bowen’s drama producer Dancing Ledge among others.