ITV Studios Enters Partnership with Ruby TV

LONDON: ITV Studios Global Entertainment has signed a first-look development and distribution agreement with British indie producer Ruby Television. 

The multi-year agreement provides ITV Studios Global Entertainment with exclusive international TV distribution rights on all-new productions created by Ruby Television, which is led by Alison Owen and Paul Trijbits. The first script for development, Case Histories, comes from Life On Mars creators Ashley Pharoah and Matthew Graham. Ruby Television’s recent productions include Small Island, starring Naomie Harris (Pirates of the Caribbean) and Ruth Wilson (The Prisoner). Previous production highlights include The Bad Mother’s Handbook, starring Catherine Tate (Dr Who).

Noel Hedges, the head of drama at ITV Studios Global Entertainment, said, “We’re delight to be announcing our new partnership with Ruby TV. Alison and Paul are both hugely respected figures in the film business and are already finding this expertise and respect is paying dividends in the TV arena. We believe that by working together our partnership will develop and drive many exciting new projects for the U.K. and international television markets.” Hedges added, “We’re incredibly excited that our first Ruby Television venture will be Case Histories from a script by Ashley Pharoah and Matthew Graham and based on the books by Kate Atkinson."

Owen and Trijbits of Ruby Television commented, “Coming hot on the heels of our success with Small Island for BBC One, this investment by ITV Studios Global Entertainment will enable us to really expand our business in the television space with huge confidence. We are already developing a range of exciting new drama productions for the small screen and by combining our extensive film and television production and financing experience with one of the world’s leading international television distributors, we will create more programming that has both wide U.K. and international appeal.”