Tag Archive: Zeppotron

1. Zeppotron signs development deal with David Earl and Joe Wilkinson

   28th March 2024 6:11 pm Comments Off on Zeppotron signs development deal with David Earl and Joe Wilkinson

   Zeppotron, a Banijay UK company, has signed an exclusive development deal with David Earl and Joe Wilkinson’s production company, Big Oval Plate. The two-year deal will see the comedians work with Zeppotron to develop new unscripted television formats.

   David and Joe are frequent collaborators having created, written and starred in the sitcoms Rovers (Sky One), The Cockfields (Gold & BBC2) and working together on screen in 3 series of Ricky Gervais’ After Life (Netflix).  David also co-wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed 2022 comedy drama film Brian and Charles, while Joe’s numerous acting credits include both Sex Education(Netflix) and Him and Her (BBC3).

   In 2020 the pair launched their production company Big Oval Plate, through which they produce and host their successful podcast series Chatabix.

   Working with the team at Zeppotron, David and Joe will develop funny non-scripted formats from travelogues to factual entertainment and reality shows.  Joe has a long-standing relationship with Zeppotron, having first appeared on 8 Out of 10 Cats in 2011 and been a key cast member on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown since its inception.

   Ruth Phillips, Co-Managing Director of Zeppotron said; “As well as being brilliant comedic performers and writers, Joe and David are also blessed with wonderfully inventive minds and an astute knack for coming up with unusual, funny ideas that nevertheless have a big, mainstream sensibility.   We’ve loved working with (and laughing with) Joe for many years on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and can’t wait to now join forces with both him and David to make great programmes together.”

   David Earl said: “I’m very chuffed to be working with Zeppotron. The fact that me and Joe can now come up with stupid ideas for TV and they have to at least be polite and listen to them is a lovely feeling. I do hope they remain patient with us though.”

   Joe Wilkinson added; “I am very very very excited to be collaborating with the Zeppotron. It’s been a joy to work with them over the last ten years on some of their brilliant shows. They are so fantastic at making ideas come to life and I’m really looking forward to having more fun with them on some new ideas.”

2. Banijay UK Appoints Leon Wilson as CEO of Shine and Zeppotron

   16th November 2023 10:10 am Comments Off on Banijay UK Appoints Leon Wilson as CEO of Shine and Zeppotron

   Ex Talkback and Thames Managing Director and Co-Founder of Great Scott Media, Leon Wilson, has been appointed by Banijay UK CEO Patrick Holland as CEO of Shine and Zeppotron.

   This announcement follows the news earlier this month regarding Shine TV’s Managing Director Jon Swain’s decision to step down from his role at the end of the year.

   This overarching, executive role is tasked with the management of Shine, developing and broadening the range of its original IP, as well as overseeing its established slate including BBC’s MasterChef super-brands, Hunted and Celebrity Hunted and new Channel 4 streaming hit, Banged Up.

   Leon will work with Creative Director Tim Whitwell, MasterChef Executive Producer David Ambler and the wider Shine team as the company continues to expand across streamers and broadcasters within factual, reality and entertainment.

    Meanwhile, Zeppotron Managing Directors Ruth Phillips and Peter Holmes will work closely with Leon as they push into the streamer market and establish their exciting new slate of comedy/ents/reality formats to sit alongside their existing much loved brands such as BBC One’s Would I Lie to You? and Channel 4’s 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.

   Patrick Holland, CEO Banijay UK said of the appointment; “As well as being a brilliant creative, Leon has phenomenal amounts of energy, enthusiasm, and insight.  I’m so delighted that he’s chosen Banijay for the next chapter of his impressive career and I know that the teams in Shine and Zeppotron will benefit greatly from his expertise.”

   Leon Wilson added; “I can’t wait to start in this new role and work with the fantastically talented teams at Shine and Zeppotron. I love prisons, being hunted, eating, lying and four fifths of cats … as well as winning new commissions. It’s literally a dream come true.”

   Leon was Managing Director of Talkback, followed by Managing Director of a combined Talkback and Thames between 2013 and 2019.

   During this time, he consistently grew the businesses’ turnover and won a raft of new business;  creating, selling and overseeing shows including Too Hot to Handle (Netflix), Harry’s Heroes: The Full English (ITV1), multiple Leigh Francis projects (Celebrity Juice, Through The Keyhole, and The Keith & Paddy Picture Show), Alan Carr’s Epic Gameshow (ITV), Jon Richardson’s Ultimate Worrier (Dave) and Your Face or Mine (Comedy Central).

   Most recently, Leon founded Great Scott Media with Ed Sleeman backed by All3 Media. The indie quickly grew a yearly turnover to £14m, with commissions including Love Trap (C4) and 10-part Netflix reality series Dated & Related. Earlier in his career, Leon worked on The Graham Norton Show, Dame Edna, Fantasy Football and The Friday Night Project.

   Leon takes up the role at the end of the month and will report to Patrick Holland.

3. Banijay’s Pineapple Entertainment Gets Ready to Spend One Night In…

   28th February 2022 5:05 pm Comments Off on Banijay’s Pineapple Entertainment Gets Ready to Spend One Night In…

   Pineapple Entertainment, part of Banijay Nordic, today announces it will produce the first international version of One Night In… for TV 2 Zulu.

    

   Created by Banijay UK label Zeppotron, One Night In… sees comedians given the opportunity to run wild for one night in an iconic location, with no other visitors around. Completely unsupervised, the talent can roam free in some of the country’s best-known department stores and theme parks.

    

   There won’t be security guards or grown-ups to reign in the fun. And there’s only a few rules: no sleeping and if they must leave the location the same as how they found it, whilst completing a few challenges along the way.  The talent can do anything they like, just as long as they’re out of the location before the cleaners arrive and the shutters go up the next morning.

    

   Ole Rahbek, CEO of Pineapple Entertainment says: “We can’t wait to get audiences laughing as celebrities run amok and invent off-the-wall games at brilliant Danish tourist spots. With the very best talent on board, both on and off-screen, we are excited to put our own spin on One Night In… Comedy is at the heart of what we do and so this show is the perfect format for us to adapt.”

    

   Ruth Phillips, Joint-Managing Director of Zeppotron comments: “We loved creating and producing this charming, escapist and above all, funny format. Our comics were so excited to be let loose for the night in such iconic venues – they were like kids in a sweet shop, and their enthusiasm was infectious.  We’re very excited to see the fun that Pineapple Entertainment will now have with the format in Denmark.”

    

   Zeppotron’s credits include 8 Out of 10 Cats, The Ranganation and Would I Lie to You?,  which was recently commissioned for broadcasters in Australia and the US. First airing on UK broadcaster, Channel 4, One Night In… proved a ratings hit and was the channel’s highest rating new title of 2020, more than doubling the slot average for Adults 16 – 34 years old.

    

   Pineapple Entertainment produces a wide remit of fun, relevant and powerful content across all platforms. This includes the Zulu Awards, late-night comedy talk show Natholdet (The Nightshift)hosted by Anders Breinholt and long running reality show, Dimantfamilien (The Diamond Family).