As the UK broadcaster’s commercial production-distribution arm seeks to ramp up global scripted ambitions, BBC Studios has acquired Sid Gentle Films, the production company behind multi award winning Killing Eve.
And to build further co-production, investment and commissioning opportunities it has also announced relocations and appoints of key executives.
Founded in 2013 by Sally Woodward Gentle, with Lee Morris and Henrietta Colvin, Sid Gentle Films has earned industry-wide recognition for its innovative, original and ambitious scripted series, Productions include BAFTA nominated hit series The Durrells for ITV; SS-GB for BBC One; Ragdoll for UKTV and AMC; Neil Gaiman’s Likely Stories for Sky Arts; and four series of the critically acclaimed, BAFTA, Emmy and Golden Globe awarded Killing Eve (pictured).
Sid Gentle Films is currently in post-production with Rain Dogs, written by Cash Carraway and starring Daisy May Cooper, for the BBC and HBO, and Extraordinary, a comedy for Disney+, written by Emma Moran.
BBC Studios has been a 51% investor in Sid Gentle Films since 2018 and the company says that its move to full ownership speaks to its ambition to grow its portfolio of the UK’s most creative scripted labels.
BBC Studios already wholly owns Lookout Point (Gentleman Jack, Happy Valley 3), Clerkenwell Films (Somewhere Boy, The End of the F***ing World), and House Productions (Sherwood, Brexit: An Uncivil War) and is the controlling shareholder in Baby Cow (Chivalry, The Witchfinder). Only weeks ago, BBC Studios moved to 100% ownership of Firebird Pictures, in production with Wilderness for Amazon Studios and Wahala for BBC One.
Commenting on the acquisition, Sid Gentle Films CEO and founder Sally Woodward Gentle, said: “We couldn’t be more delighted to continue our journey with BBC Studios. They have been the most supportive, collaborative and creative partner. It is an honour to work with the most wonderful team at Sid and to feel a shared ambition and outlook with BBC Studios.”
As it was announcing the acquisition, BBC Studios also announced that Mark Linsey, its most senior scripted executive, will relocate from London to work out of Los Angeles. This is designed to place him geographically closer to key global content decision makers as BBC Studios. It also BBC Studios announced the appointments of Fiona Wassenberg as head of BBC Studios Benelux Production and Isabel Durán as format sales director for Iberia and Latin America. The appointments are made as BBC Studios continues to grow its business in these markets and seeks opportunities to develop new IP for international audiences.
Founded in 2013 by Sally Woodward Gentle, with Lee Morris and Henrietta Colvin, Sid Gentle Films has earned industry-wide recognition for its innovative, original and ambitious scripted series, Productions include BAFTA nominated hit series The Durrells for ITV; SS-GB for BBC One; Ragdoll for UKTV and AMC; Neil Gaiman’s Likely Stories for Sky Arts; and four series of the critically acclaimed, BAFTA, Emmy and Golden Globe awarded Killing Eve (pictured).
Sid Gentle Films is currently in post-production with Rain Dogs, written by Cash Carraway and starring Daisy May Cooper, for the BBC and HBO, and Extraordinary, a comedy for Disney+, written by Emma Moran.
BBC Studios has been a 51% investor in Sid Gentle Films since 2018 and the company says that its move to full ownership speaks to its ambition to grow its portfolio of the UK’s most creative scripted labels.
BBC Studios already wholly owns Lookout Point (Gentleman Jack, Happy Valley 3), Clerkenwell Films (Somewhere Boy, The End of the F***ing World), and House Productions (Sherwood, Brexit: An Uncivil War) and is the controlling shareholder in Baby Cow (Chivalry, The Witchfinder). Only weeks ago, BBC Studios moved to 100% ownership of Firebird Pictures, in production with Wilderness for Amazon Studios and Wahala for BBC One.
Commenting on the acquisition, Sid Gentle Films CEO and founder Sally Woodward Gentle, said: “We couldn’t be more delighted to continue our journey with BBC Studios. They have been the most supportive, collaborative and creative partner. It is an honour to work with the most wonderful team at Sid and to feel a shared ambition and outlook with BBC Studios.”
As it was announcing the acquisition, BBC Studios also announced that Mark Linsey, its most senior scripted executive, will relocate from London to work out of Los Angeles. This is designed to place him geographically closer to key global content decision makers as BBC Studios. It also BBC Studios announced the appointments of Fiona Wassenberg as head of BBC Studios Benelux Production and Isabel Durán as format sales director for Iberia and Latin America. The appointments are made as BBC Studios continues to grow its business in these markets and seeks opportunities to develop new IP for international audiences.
