Storied UK labels Talkback and Thames are merging as soon as once more.
Deadline revealed last year that plans had been in place from super-indie proprietor Fremantle to carry the 2 collectively beneath a restructure that has now been rubberstamped with the exit of Talkback boss Jonno Richards.
The brand new TalkbackThames outfit will probably be led by present Thames MD Charlie Irwin. Fremantle mentioned it can create a “single leisure super-label.” Between them, the 2 produce the likes of Britain’s Bought Expertise, Too Scorching to Deal with, Blankety Clean, Household Fortunes, QI and By no means Thoughts the Buzzcocks. Upcoming exhibits embody Netflix double Bear Hunt with Bear Grylls and Holly Willoughby, and Battle Camp.
Fremantle UK CEO Amelia Brown mentioned: “Thames and Talkback have loved a robust partnership for over twenty years and when mixed, they’ve been instrumental in launching among the UK’s most iconic exhibits. Now, as the worldwide unscripted panorama continues to increase, there isn’t any higher time to reunite their experience right into a single super-label to harness their mixed energy and creativity as soon as once more and to kind a unified construction and identification recognised internationally throughout the business.”
Irwin added: “I’m thrilled to be given this chance to steer the brand new unified label, constructing on the legacy and success of each Thames and Talkback in creating beloved leisure, actuality and comedy codecs.” Irwin labored on the primary sequence of The X Issue 20 years in the past and has labored his method up, working throughout numerous UK leisure juggernauts alongside the best way.
The transfer comes after a long-gestating plan solid firstly of 2023, which was delayed a few occasions for numerous causes. That is the third time Thames has been mixed with Talkback. They had been first introduced collectively in 2003 earlier than being de-merged a decade on. One other merger then passed off in 2017 however was reversed simply two years later.
The merger comes amid a flurry of modifications at RTL-owned Fremantle. Final week, we revealed vet unscripted gross sales boss Angela Neillis was exiting, whereas Cinecittà boss Nicola Maccanico was employed to run Fremantle Italy. U.S. and European scripted operations had been additionally mixed beneath Christian Vesper, with Dante Di Loreto shifting to a producer deal. These strikes preceded Deadline revealing that Fremantle was laying off all staff at Nightsleeper producer Euston Movies and Mandy Chang’s Simple, with the likes of Chang and Kate Harwood exiting.
Fremantle additionally owns the likes of The Apprentice producer Bare, Regular Individuals outfit Factor Photos and docs maker 72 Movies.
