Exec producer Patrick Spence is to set up and run a new scripted label for ITV Studios.
Currently md of Fifty Fathoms, Spence is the executive producer behind dramas including Fortitude for Sky Atlantic; Marvellous, The A Word, Five Minutes of Heaven and Silent Witness for the BBC; the upcoming Adult Material for C4 and The Eddy for Netflix.
This new Studio will include an investment fund to enable Spence, as Creative Director, to invest in some of his own projects, alongside ITV Studios Global Entertainment. Spence will also work closely with Julian Bellamy and his senior team to advise on future growth opportunities for ITV Studios.
He will join in early 2020 (date to be confirmed) and be based at ITV Studios headquarters in Chancery Lane.
Julian Bellamy, MD ITV Studios, said: “Patrick is without doubt one of the UK’s most renowned and prolific drama producers. He has an incredible ability to work with world class talent and a fantastic track record in delivering great drama with scale and ambition. We’re always looking for bold and new ways to grow our scripted business and Patrick’s new scripted Studio fits this bill perfectly.”
Patrick Spence said: “This has long been my dream, to build a genuine Studio with an ambitious and committed partner. In setting this up, Julian and his team have proven they are absolutely determined to compete for the best talent and the best projects. I cannot wait to talk writers and directors through how we can make this Studio work for them.”
Spence set up Fifty Fathoms in 2010 under the umbrella of Endemol Shine. Since 2018, he has also been Director of Drama for Tiger Aspect.
Current productions as executive producer include; the third seasons of both Peter Bowker’s The A Word for BBC1/Sundance and Simon Donald’s Fortitude for Sky Atlantic; Jack Thorne’s The Eddy for Netflix, being directed by the Academy Award winning Damien Chazelle; Lucy Kirkwood’s Adult Material for C4 and the fifth season of Steven Knight’s Bafta award winning Peaky Blinders for BBC1/Netflix.
Spence’s previous credits include Peter Bowker’s Marvellous, directed by Julian Farino, starring Toby Jones and Occupation, directed by Nick Murphy and starring James Nesbitt and Stephen Graham; John Ridley’s limited series Guerrilla for Sky Atlantic/Showtime, starring Frieda Pinto, Babou Ceesay and Idris Elba; and Guy Hibbert’s film Five Minutes of Heaven, starring Liam Neeson and Jimmy Nesbitt.
Patrick worked for eight years as Head of Drama for BBC Northern Ireland, and before that as Head of Development and executive producer for BBC Series, where he developed and executive produced Waking the Dead and Silent Witness; executive produced Murphy’s Law and Messiah and alongside Mal Young, developed both Holby City and Doctors. His first job was as script editor on Cracker, for ITV.
Staff Reporter
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