Baboon Gets Nuts
Baboon Animation and Tokyo and Los Angeles-based indie studio Custom Nuts are joining forces in a toon development pact that pools the companies’ writing and visual talent.
Custom Nuts founder Silas Hickey developed a number of hit Asian animated series, including “Chhota Bheem,” while serving as senior development director at Turner International, Asia Pacific.
Hickey and fellow Custom Nuts exec Matthew Howison signed the deal with Baboon CEO Mike de Seve at Mipcom.
“Silas and Matthew bring absolute top-class expertise, deep, first-hand experience in IPs from countries across Asia, and funny, funny cartoon comedy,” said de Seve.
“There are no better writers anywhere than Baboon,” added Hickey.
Baboon’s credits include more than 20 series that have been distributed globally, including “Angry Birds Toons,” “Gigantosaurus” and “Pocoyo.” The company boasts 31 Emmys collectively.
“Expect some extremely funny cartoons to come out of this partnership,” said Baboon head of series Joe Vitale.
Baboon Animation and Tokyo and Los Angeles-based indie studio Custom Nuts are joining forces in a toon development pact that pools the companies’ writing and visual talent.
Custom Nuts founder Silas Hickey developed a number of hit Asian animated series, including “Chhota Bheem,” while serving as senior development director at Turner International, Asia Pacific.
Hickey and fellow Custom Nuts exec Matthew Howison signed the deal with Baboon CEO Mike de Seve at Mipcom.
“Silas and Matthew bring absolute top-class expertise, deep, first-hand experience in IPs from countries across Asia, and funny, funny cartoon comedy,” said de Seve.
“There are no better writers anywhere than Baboon,” added Hickey.
Baboon’s credits include more than 20 series that have been distributed globally, including “Angry Birds Toons,” “Gigantosaurus” and “Pocoyo.” The company boasts 31 Emmys collectively.
“Expect some extremely funny cartoons to come out of this partnership,” said Baboon head of series Joe Vitale.
- 10/18/2023
- by Ed Meza
- Variety Film + TV
BBC Studios has merged three areas of its formats business to create a new global entertainment division led by Matt Forde.
International productions and formats (already led by Forde), factual entertainment and events (led by Hannah Wyatt) and entertainment and music (led by Suzy Lamb) are set to be united under the banner of Global Entertainment, which will also oversee BBC Studios’ network of production bases in L.A., India, Australia, South Africa and Europe.
In addition to his new role Forde will stay on as managing director of international production and formats, having doubled the department’s business over the last three years, while also putting together a leadership board for the new umbrella division.
Wyatt and Lamb will also stay on as MDs of their respective areas, reporting in to Forde.
Global Entertainment is set to launch on Oct. 1. As well as offering a single face to the...
International productions and formats (already led by Forde), factual entertainment and events (led by Hannah Wyatt) and entertainment and music (led by Suzy Lamb) are set to be united under the banner of Global Entertainment, which will also oversee BBC Studios’ network of production bases in L.A., India, Australia, South Africa and Europe.
In addition to his new role Forde will stay on as managing director of international production and formats, having doubled the department’s business over the last three years, while also putting together a leadership board for the new umbrella division.
Wyatt and Lamb will also stay on as MDs of their respective areas, reporting in to Forde.
Global Entertainment is set to launch on Oct. 1. As well as offering a single face to the...
- 9/19/2023
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Dean Jones, the director of production on juggernaut UK entertainment shows including Britain’s Got Talent, has died. He was 56.
Jones died on July 6 after a short battle with cancer. He was director of production at Fremantle UK, where his credits included The X Factor, Game of Talents, and Take Me Out.
Jones got a taste for the entertainment industry as a production assistant at the Noel Gay Theatre and moved over to Noel Gay Television.
He later joined Talbot Television, which was eventually folded into Fremantle, bringing with it the rights to shows including Family Fortunes and The Price Is Right.
Former colleagues paid tribute to Jones’ professional skill and personal qualities, saying he will be a much-missed colleague and friend.
Fremantle UK CEO Amelia Brown said: “Dean Jones was someone that everyone in our industry should aspire to be like. He was a master of our industry as well as a mentor,...
Jones died on July 6 after a short battle with cancer. He was director of production at Fremantle UK, where his credits included The X Factor, Game of Talents, and Take Me Out.
Jones got a taste for the entertainment industry as a production assistant at the Noel Gay Theatre and moved over to Noel Gay Television.
He later joined Talbot Television, which was eventually folded into Fremantle, bringing with it the rights to shows including Family Fortunes and The Price Is Right.
Former colleagues paid tribute to Jones’ professional skill and personal qualities, saying he will be a much-missed colleague and friend.
Fremantle UK CEO Amelia Brown said: “Dean Jones was someone that everyone in our industry should aspire to be like. He was a master of our industry as well as a mentor,...
- 9/14/2023
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
BBC Studios has consolidated its production and content teams under the banner BBC Studios Productions.
The move is intended to “create a single content powerhouse for all the commercial arm’s productions, talent relationships, and content investment.”
BBC Studios Productions will oversee four genres – scripted, factual, global formats group and children’s – which will apply across all of BBC Studios’ wholly and partly owned labels as well as BBC Studios Productions and indies with which BBC Studios partners for content sales.
CEO of BBC Studios Productions, Ralph Lee, will oversee the company’s productions and content investment, supported by COO Martha Brass, whose purview is business development, production operations and strategy. Brass will also have overall responsibility for “content investment into distribution rights” for which she’ll collaborate closely across BBC Studios.
The managing directors for each genre, who will all report to Lee, will be Mark Linsey, who will oversee scripted,...
The move is intended to “create a single content powerhouse for all the commercial arm’s productions, talent relationships, and content investment.”
BBC Studios Productions will oversee four genres – scripted, factual, global formats group and children’s – which will apply across all of BBC Studios’ wholly and partly owned labels as well as BBC Studios Productions and indies with which BBC Studios partners for content sales.
CEO of BBC Studios Productions, Ralph Lee, will oversee the company’s productions and content investment, supported by COO Martha Brass, whose purview is business development, production operations and strategy. Brass will also have overall responsibility for “content investment into distribution rights” for which she’ll collaborate closely across BBC Studios.
The managing directors for each genre, who will all report to Lee, will be Mark Linsey, who will oversee scripted,...
- 2/3/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
The BBC and BBC Studios have revealed that U.K. television coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest will be produced and broadcast from their broadcast center at Salford, Greater Manchester.
From this year the points awarded by the U.K. professional jury will be announced by the spokesperson from a North West of England location for the first time ever. This result will be beamed live to the Eurovision 2022 Grand Final hosts in Turin, Italy and to a global audience.
With an audience in excess of 180 million viewers, Eurovision is the world’s biggest and most watched song competition. The U.K. has participated in the contest 63 times but in recent years has an abysmal record, finishing last in 2021. Along with France, Germany, Spain and Italy, the U.K. is one of the so-called ‘Big Five’ countries that automatically qualify for the finals every year.
Salford will be the permanent production base for the U.
From this year the points awarded by the U.K. professional jury will be announced by the spokesperson from a North West of England location for the first time ever. This result will be beamed live to the Eurovision 2022 Grand Final hosts in Turin, Italy and to a global audience.
With an audience in excess of 180 million viewers, Eurovision is the world’s biggest and most watched song competition. The U.K. has participated in the contest 63 times but in recent years has an abysmal record, finishing last in 2021. Along with France, Germany, Spain and Italy, the U.K. is one of the so-called ‘Big Five’ countries that automatically qualify for the finals every year.
Salford will be the permanent production base for the U.
- 1/20/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
BBC is rebooting its famed quiz show “The Weakest Link” with host Romesh Ranganathan and a line-up of celebrity contestants.
The show, a BBC Studios Entertainment production, will return to BBC One with 12 episodes of 45 minutes each, filmed in Glasgow, Scotland. Celebrities will need to answer a variety of general knowledge questions in the quick-fire quiz before two are left to go head to head — all in aid of their chosen charity.
“The Weakest Link” first aired in 2000 with acerbic host Anne Robinson (who has recently been appointed the first female presenter of Channel 4’s “Countdown”) and members of the general public as contestants. Robinson gained a reputation for her vitriolic put-downs.
The show became one of the BBC’s most successful formats, eventually airing in over 100 countries worldwide, including the U.S. In the U.S., “Glee” alum Jane Lynch is currently hosting a revival version.
The last...
The show, a BBC Studios Entertainment production, will return to BBC One with 12 episodes of 45 minutes each, filmed in Glasgow, Scotland. Celebrities will need to answer a variety of general knowledge questions in the quick-fire quiz before two are left to go head to head — all in aid of their chosen charity.
“The Weakest Link” first aired in 2000 with acerbic host Anne Robinson (who has recently been appointed the first female presenter of Channel 4’s “Countdown”) and members of the general public as contestants. Robinson gained a reputation for her vitriolic put-downs.
The show became one of the BBC’s most successful formats, eventually airing in over 100 countries worldwide, including the U.S. In the U.S., “Glee” alum Jane Lynch is currently hosting a revival version.
The last...
- 6/28/2021
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
In today’s Global Bulletin, Vice Distribution announces its spring slate; Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson doc gets theatrical launch dates ahead of its Amazon Prime Video premiere; Channel 4 commissions Covid lockdown-inspired docu-series “Sex Odyssey” with Alice Levine; South African streamer Showmax commissions a local version of “Temptation Island” and Fremantle promotes several execs in Emea.
Distribution
Following its launch in summer 2020, Vice Distribution has announced its first slate of spring programming featuring 250 hours of new non-scripted programming from across Vice Media Group.
Upcoming true crime titles include in-house produced series “Criminal Planet,” a three-part series about Jack the Ripper, and, “Point Blank,” examining gun ownership in the Asia-Pacific region. Several pop culture and entertainment series will be coming this spring, including Crave-produced wrestling series “Dark Side of the Ring,” “Dark Side of (American) Football” from 44 Blue Productions, “Dark Side of the ‘90s” from Railsplitter Pictures and Insight Productions,...
Distribution
Following its launch in summer 2020, Vice Distribution has announced its first slate of spring programming featuring 250 hours of new non-scripted programming from across Vice Media Group.
Upcoming true crime titles include in-house produced series “Criminal Planet,” a three-part series about Jack the Ripper, and, “Point Blank,” examining gun ownership in the Asia-Pacific region. Several pop culture and entertainment series will be coming this spring, including Crave-produced wrestling series “Dark Side of the Ring,” “Dark Side of (American) Football” from 44 Blue Productions, “Dark Side of the ‘90s” from Railsplitter Pictures and Insight Productions,...
- 2/17/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: BBC Studios has hired Amanda Wilson and Elliot Johnson, the co-founders of Banijay-owned production company Sharp Jack, who have been responsible for co-creating international hits including The Chase and Strictly Come Dancing.
Wilson and Johnson will join managing director Suzy Lamb’s entertainment and music production department as development creative directors, helping the BBC’s commercial arm devise and develop entertainment formats that can be sold around the world.
They will work alongside existing entertainment creative directors, Mel Balac, Pete Ogden and James Payne, to provide editorial direction and strategic business leadership for the development team.
The duo launched Sharp Jack Media in 2011 before joining forces with Banijay (then Endemol Shine UK) in 2017 to become the joint managing directors of Sharp Jack TV. During their time with the outfit, they created shows including TLC UK’s Always The Bridesmaid and E4’s Darling, What Have You Done to Your Hair?...
Wilson and Johnson will join managing director Suzy Lamb’s entertainment and music production department as development creative directors, helping the BBC’s commercial arm devise and develop entertainment formats that can be sold around the world.
They will work alongside existing entertainment creative directors, Mel Balac, Pete Ogden and James Payne, to provide editorial direction and strategic business leadership for the development team.
The duo launched Sharp Jack Media in 2011 before joining forces with Banijay (then Endemol Shine UK) in 2017 to become the joint managing directors of Sharp Jack TV. During their time with the outfit, they created shows including TLC UK’s Always The Bridesmaid and E4’s Darling, What Have You Done to Your Hair?...
- 2/17/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s known as the “Strictly curse” — Strictly Come Dancing’s record for disrupting relationships because celebrities fall for their professional partners. Now, the BBC is going to fully embrace the chemistry-creating element of its famous dance show in a new BBC Three format, working titled Dance Crush.
BBC Studios will make the show, which will pair up professional dancers with novices to see if the connection they form on the dance floor translates into chemistry off the dance floor in a bid to score a hot date and avoid elimination from the show. The BBC said there will be a series of weekly challenges, stunning routines, and dramatic eliminations.
Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival on Wednesday, BBC Three controller Fiona Campbell said a pilot has been filmed overseas and the format “tested really positively” with viewers. Dance Crush will be executive produced for BBC Studios by Kelly Lynn,...
BBC Studios will make the show, which will pair up professional dancers with novices to see if the connection they form on the dance floor translates into chemistry off the dance floor in a bid to score a hot date and avoid elimination from the show. The BBC said there will be a series of weekly challenges, stunning routines, and dramatic eliminations.
Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival on Wednesday, BBC Three controller Fiona Campbell said a pilot has been filmed overseas and the format “tested really positively” with viewers. Dance Crush will be executive produced for BBC Studios by Kelly Lynn,...
- 8/26/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
BBC Studios has raided rival ITV Studios for the executive producer of one of its tent-pole brands, Ant And Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway. Pete Ogden will join the BBC’s commercial production arm in early May as the creative director of entertainment North, having been at ITV Studios for the past eight years. He is overseeing the current season of Saturday Night Takeaway, while his other credits include I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! and before joining ITV Studios, he worked on shows including The X Factor. Ogden will report to Suzy Lamb, BBC Studios’ managing director of entertainment and music production.
Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn’s production company Lightbox has hired Nicole Laufer, Lionsgate’s vice president of alternative programming, as its vice president of development. Laufer will report to development creative director Ben Samuel and be responsible for growing Lightbox’s U.S. slate,...
Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn’s production company Lightbox has hired Nicole Laufer, Lionsgate’s vice president of alternative programming, as its vice president of development. Laufer will report to development creative director Ben Samuel and be responsible for growing Lightbox’s U.S. slate,...
- 2/25/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Elton John will open up about his struggles with addiction in a BBC One documentary, in which he will be interviewed by Graham Norton.
BBC Studios is making the special, titled Elton John: Uncensored, which was recorded in the south of France in August. John will reflect on his career and performances, as well as talk about addiction and how fatherhood has changed his life.
The documentary is timed to coincide with the rock star’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour and the release of his autobiography, Me.
Norton said: “Like the rest of the nation I’m a massive fan of Sir Elton John’s music, but to sit down with him in his home to ask him about his life, career and family was a huge privilege. Funny, frank and fearless, I can’t wait for people to hear him tell his story.”
John added: “The past two...
BBC Studios is making the special, titled Elton John: Uncensored, which was recorded in the south of France in August. John will reflect on his career and performances, as well as talk about addiction and how fatherhood has changed his life.
The documentary is timed to coincide with the rock star’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour and the release of his autobiography, Me.
Norton said: “Like the rest of the nation I’m a massive fan of Sir Elton John’s music, but to sit down with him in his home to ask him about his life, career and family was a huge privilege. Funny, frank and fearless, I can’t wait for people to hear him tell his story.”
John added: “The past two...
- 9/27/2019
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Elton John opens up to the BBC in a new TV special, “Elton John: Uncensored,” about his childhood, stardom and battles with addiction. BBC Studios, the commercial and production arm of the British pubcaster, has the exclusive distribution rights and will bring the TV special to the international market.
In a separate BBC radio show, the superstar musician also selects the tracks that have shaped him. Both the TV and radio programs will go out in the U.K. this fall.
For the TV special, John was interviewed by talk-show host Graham Norton in August, in the south of France, during a break in his marathon Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour.
“The past two years have felt truly monumental for me, and with the release of ‘Rocketman,’ the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour and my autobiography coming up, it felt like the perfect opportunity to reflect on it all with Graham,...
In a separate BBC radio show, the superstar musician also selects the tracks that have shaped him. Both the TV and radio programs will go out in the U.K. this fall.
For the TV special, John was interviewed by talk-show host Graham Norton in August, in the south of France, during a break in his marathon Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour.
“The past two years have felt truly monumental for me, and with the release of ‘Rocketman,’ the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour and my autobiography coming up, it felt like the perfect opportunity to reflect on it all with Graham,...
- 9/26/2019
- by Stewart Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
Strictly Come Dancing, the British entertainment smash that was the basis for Dancing With The Stars, is getting a new showrunner. Louise Rainbow is stepping down from the BBC One series to be replaced by series editor Sarah James.
Rainbow leaves after six years with the current series to be her last. She will continue as an exec producer on the Strictly live tour in 2019 and will consult on 2019’s version of the show.
James has been series editor of the BBC Studios-produced format for the last two years and was series producer before that. She has previously worked on shows including Big Brother, The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent.
Strictly Come Dancing, which is hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, is set to celebrate its 15th anniversary next May.
Rainbow said, “Working on Strictly has been the most amazing six years of my career and...
Rainbow leaves after six years with the current series to be her last. She will continue as an exec producer on the Strictly live tour in 2019 and will consult on 2019’s version of the show.
James has been series editor of the BBC Studios-produced format for the last two years and was series producer before that. She has previously worked on shows including Big Brother, The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent.
Strictly Come Dancing, which is hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, is set to celebrate its 15th anniversary next May.
Rainbow said, “Working on Strictly has been the most amazing six years of my career and...
- 12/4/2018
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
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