Talkback


Banijay hires Great Scott co-founder Leon Wilson to lead Shine TV & Zeppotron

Former Talkback and Thames MD Leon Wilson has landed the top job at Banijay’s UK prodcos Shine and Zeppotron. Wilson, who also co-founded All3Media-backed Great Scott Media, is replacing outgoing Shine MD John Swain, who is stepping down having joined from BBC Studios in 2021. Former Fremantle exec Wilson, who was MD of the group’s […]

Ant & Dec’s Mitre Studios hires Talkback & BBC alum Ed Sleeman as managing director

Mitre Studios, the UK production company run by TV personalities Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, have appointed Great Scott Media co-founder and Talkback and BBC alum Ed Sleeman to the position of managing director. Sleeman will lead the team and drive content opportunities across multiple platforms and genres. Reporting directly to the board, he will […]

ITV to crack ‘Password’ with UK version of gameshow from Talkback

UK broadcaster ITV has ordered a UK adaptation of long-running US gameshow format Password for its ITV1 channel and ITVX streaming service. Produced by Fremantle label Talkback, Password is a word association game in which regular team captains pair up with contestants and give one-word clues to help their teammate guess a mystery “password”. The […]

‘Made In Chelsea’ prodco Monkey hires Talkback’s Laura Gibson as creative director

Laura Gibson, co-creator of Netflix reality show Too Hot To Handle, is joining Universal International Studios’ UK label Monkey as creative director.  In her new role, Gibson will be responsible for leading the development of entertainment formats with global appeal, encompassing the creation, development, and delivery of shows across an array of genres. She will […]

Sky orders Gary Neville & Jamie Carragher football show, pilots Talkback quizzer

Sky Max is extending its originals slate with a series following football pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville, as well as a new comedy quiz show that tests contemporary culture. Gary Neville’s The Overlap On Tour (w/t) follows Neville, Carragher and Roy Keane as they travel to different cities in Britain and Ireland as part […]

BBC Two returns to work with Talkback’s Sara Pascoe-fronted series

BBC Two in the UK has extended its Sara Pascoe-fronted employment show into a second season. Last Woman On Earth With Sara Pascoe is being produced by Fremantle-owned UK production firm Talkback and follows the host as she visits Greece, Denmark and Jordan to take on some unique jobs set for extinction. The 3 x 60-minute second run, […]

Show of the week: Dating Like The Stars

There is movie magic in the air in this innovative dating format that gives singletons the chance to woo three potential love matches – while also recreating some of the most famous scenes in Hollywood history. Before picking a prospective partner to date in real life, participants dive into the world of film by acting […]

Sky revives long-running BBC comedy panel show ‘Buzzcocks’

British comedy panel show Never Mind The Buzzcocks is to return after a six year break from the screen, with a new series on Sky and streaming service NOW. The music-themed comedy show will return this autumn as an 8 x 45-minute series, plus a one-off Christmas special, produced once again by Fremantle’s Talkback label. […]

TBI Tech & Analysis: How appealing to the basics translates to format success

With entertainment formats enjoying a pandemic- and streamer-led ‘golden age’, TBI deputy editor Mark Layton talks to Fremantle’s entertainment chief Rob Clark to analyse the best-selling genres – and explore what the future holds. Media giant Fremantle achieved some big wins in K7 Media’s recent annual format report, which highlighted the London-based company’s format distribution successes over […]

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