The Masked Singer UK producer Bandicoot TV has appointed former BBC Studios, Renowned Films and Cactus TV execs as it looks to expand its operations domestically and in the US. James Lessell has been named head of entertainment, with a remit to seek new UK formats and content. He will oversee all new UK entertainment […]
UK-US prodco Renowned Films and TV accelerator programme Indielab have partnered to create 30 apprenticeship placements at indie studios, for young people at risk of long-term unemployment. The placements will be for people aged 16-24 who are claiming Universal Credit – a payment from the UK government to help cover basic living costs – and […]
London and LA-based Renowned Films has hired former ITV and Channel 4 commissioner Kate Maddigan as head of studios, and promoted chief operating officer Mark Raeburn. Maddigan was most recently head of entertainment at London-based indie Little Gem. At ITV, Maddigan worked on the reboot of Love Island, as well as working on X Factor […]
Renowned Films and The Story Lab’s social experiment format You Are Not A Loan has been optioned in the Netherlands and Denmark. Dutch producer Wise Monkeys and Danish indie Monday TV have optioned The Story Lab-distributed format, which finds a town’s collective debt being pooled for the greater good. Filmed over the course of a […]
UK- and US-based production outfit Renowned Films has appointed former Gobstopper Television executive Chris Broughall as its head of development. Broughall will be responsible for overseeing the company’s development strategy with a focus to expand its factual-entertainment formats. He takes up the position immediately and is based in the company’s London office, reporting to Renowned’s […]
Game of Clones distributor The Story Lab has struck a development deal with London- and LA-based producer Renowned Films, with the first project already on the slate. The deal will see the companies develop and co-create factual entertainment content for global audiences across platforms and brands, with a focus on returnable entertainment and factual […]
Viacom’s BET has commissioned 10-part docu-series Copwatch America from London-LA based prodco Renowned Films and Critical Content. Copwatch America is a high-stakes, controversial dive into the men and women on the front lines fighting police brutality and injustice. This character-centric series gives viewers exclusive access to America’s fearless and distinct copwatch crews across two US […]
The co-founder of US producer Critical Content, Andrew Marcus, has exited. The move means Critical will now focus primarily on unscripted programming, with scripted chief Marcus focus on pursuing drama and comedy ambitions elsewhere. Critical launched in January 2016 out of the ashes of Relativity Television, which was sold off after Relativity Media went under. […]
LA-based Critical Content has made its firsat acquisitions move by taking a stake in UK producer Renowned Films. Five-year-old Renowned had previously received investment from Channel 4’s Growth Fund, and terms of the agreement see Critical taking over this stake plus an additional shareholding. Forman and Marcus launched Critical out of the ashes of Relativity […]
UK broadcaster Channel 4 has bought a stake in sports programming-focused indie Whisper Films. Former Formula One driver David Coulthard, sports presenter Jake Humphrey and BBC Sports producer Sunil Patel (pictured) set up Whisper in 2010, and have since produce shows for the BBC and ITV and international documentaries that have aired on NBC in […]
