BBC Studios has announced a first look and development deal with talent and entertainment company Diving Bell Group, whose roster includes authors, digital creators and broadcasters.
Founded by Kim Butler and Justin Girdler in 2017, Diving Bell talent includes model, trans activist and cultural figure Munroe Bergdorf; feminist author, illustrator and influencer Florence Given (Women Don’t Owe You Pretty, Octopus); Gina Martin, who successfully led the national campaign to make upskirting illegal; and Emma Gannon whose careers podcast Ctrl Alt Delete has amassed over 10 million downloads.
BBC Studios teamed up with industry expert Kelly Webb-Lamb, formerly Channel 4’s deputy director of Programmes, who has worked with Diving Bell’s talent on a one-to-one basis to identify opportunities for further development by the talent and the BBC Studios Digital Originals team.
The deal gives BBC Studios a first look at content ideas from Diving Bell clients, for the purpose of collaborating to develop these ideas and pitch for commissions.
BBC Studios TalentWorks director of Talent Paul Hembury said: “BBC Studios TalentWorks seeks to work with innovative new storytellers, and that’s why we’re delighted to be partnering with Diving Bell and supporting them and their impressive talent to develop ideas, enabling them tell even bigger, bolder stories.”
Justin Girdler, Diving Bell cofounder and ceo, said: “As a young business we’re really proud to have already contributed to the significant success of several prominent individuals and to their incredible work. We’re attracted to talent and partners who are bold, compassionate and creative – all of which we find the team at TalentWorks to be.”
Pippa Considine
Share this story
