Banijay Group is backing new scripted label BlackLight Television.
BlackLight is founded by Phil Trethowan and Ben Bickerton who have produced shows such as Being Human, The Curse of Steptoe and most recently Ellen for Channel 4/Touchpaper.
Banijay said the deal marked a renewed focus on the scripted genre, with further announcements to come from the superindie in the coming months.
Trethowan and Bickerton will be developing ideas for the UK and International market with the UK. BlackLight Television are also running Channel 4’s Coming Up scheme, as well as producing the new talent scheme 4 Stories.
Bickerton started his career at Company Television before joining the BBC where he became a producer. After leaving the BBC,he worked on dramas as both script consultant and creator, including An Englishman in New York (John Hurt) and Excluded (BBC2), before joining Touchpaper in 2014.
Trethowan was executive producer of Being Human, which ran for five series (BBC Three/Touchpaper), and last year executive produced Ellen for Touchpaper, where he was Head of Touchpaper Wales.
Peter Langenberg, COO Banijay Group said: “We’re thrilled to help bring BlackLight TV into existence as we expand the Banijay UK scripted family; our ambition is to create a thriving entrepreneurial environment for talented people and we are absolutely delighted that Ben and Phil, two of the UK’s leading scripted producers, have decided to be a part of our vision.”
Tim Dams
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