Banijay Group is the world's largest independent content creation Group for television and multimedia platforms. Banijay Group is present in 16 territories.
Banijay Group is the world's largest independent content creation Group for television and multimedia platforms. Banijay Group is present in 16 territories.

Tag Archive: BritBox

  1. Banijay Rights Makes Fat Friends Deal With BritBox

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    Banijay Rights today announces BritBox UK, available as part of ITVX Premium, has acquired Fat Friends, the renowned Kay Mellor comedy-drama that first aired on British TV screens 23 years ago.

    Produced by Mellor’s Rollem Productions (The Syndicate, In the Club, A Passionate Woman) in association with Tiger Aspect Productions (a Banijay UK company) and Yorkshire Television, Fat Friends debuted on ITV1 in 2000 and follows the lives of a group of Leeds-based slimming club members and their attempts to lose weight.

    With an ensemble cast featuring Alison Steadman, Gaynor Faye, Ruth Jones, James Corden and Josie Lawrence, the series went on to be nominated for two BAFTA TV Awards: Best Drama Series and Best Actress for Steadman.

    Following a launch on BritBox Australia, BritBox UK has acquired all four seasons of Fat Friends from Banijay Rights, which handles global distribution for the series. The agreement was brokered just a year after Kay Mellor passed away, aged 71.

    Chris Stewart, SVP Sales, UK and Eire Banijay Rights, who negotiated the deal with BritBox UK, said:“With incredible writing from Kay Mellor and a cast featuring established actors and soon-to-be stars, Fat Friends was one of those once-in-a-generation shows that simply galvanised the UK nation. A year on from Kay’s untimely death, this deal with BritBox will ensure a whole new generation of viewers get to enjoy her work.”

     Yvonne Francas-Mellor, Managing Director, and Gaynor Mellor, Creative Director at Rollem Productions, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with Banijay Rights for the first time and have found the right home for the distribution of Fat Friends. It’s wonderful that Kay’s work continues to be enjoyed by audiences across the world, shining a spotlight on Leeds and Yorkshire where Rollem has its home and continues to produce content.”

     Kully Kaur-Bains, ITVX Editorial Manager, said: “We are very much looking forward to bringing this beloved series back to audiences in the UK, and continuing our relationship with the great team at Banijay.”

  2. Banijay Rights Lands First Screw Deals

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    Banijay Rights, the global distribution arm of Banijay, today announces the first sales of gripping new prison drama Screw.

    Following the six-part drama’s premiere on Channel 4 in the UK on 6th January, Screw has been acquired by SVOD service BritBox in Australia and public broadcaster TVNZ in New Zealand. Both BritBox and TNVZ will launch the series later this year.

     

    Produced by STV Studios for Channel 4 and from BAFTA-nominated writer Rob Williams (The Victim, Killing Eve), Screw (6 x 60’) is a prison drama like no other, told through the embattled, inspiring officers who work at Long Marsh men’s prison.

    In charge of C-Wing is Leigh Henry (Nina Sosanya), a career officer who’d do anything for her prisoners – but she has a secret that if discovered, could cost her the job – and even her liberty. With the arrival of fiery new recruit Rose Gill (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell), part of the Governor’s mission to replace long-time staff with fresh meat, Leigh must risk everything in her fight to hold onto the job that defines her.

     

    Kell Hoddinott, VP Sales, Australia and New Zealand, Banijay Rights, said: “Screw is one of those rare dramas that perfectly blends the tough reality of life behind bars with dark humour in abundance. With an exceptional cast and a stellar storyline from Rob Williams, we are thrilled to secure this series in Australia and New Zealand and take it to a wider audience.”

     

    Screw was commissioned by Caroline Hollick, Channel 4 Head of Drama, and overseen by Gemma Boswell, Channel 4 Commissioning Editor. Rob Williams is Creator, Lead Writer and Executive Producer, with Karla Crome and Roanne Bardsley completing the writing team. Sarah Brown is Executive Producer for STV Studios (The Victim, Elizabeth is Missing), Brian Kaczynski is Producer (The Cry, Peaky Blinders) while Tom Vaughan (Dr Foster) and Jordan Hogg (Ackley Bridge) are directing. 

     

    Banijay Rights handles international distribution for the series.