BBC Worldwide Acquires Stake in Cliffhanger

LONDON, November 26: BBC
Worldwide has teamed up with the former head of drama at Thames Television,
Paul Marquess, to launch a new independent production company, Cliffhanger
Productions.

The new company will focus
on dramatic content for networks in the U.K. and is already in talks with
commissioners on several projects.

Marquess will hold a
75-percent stake in the new company, with BBC Worldwide holding the remaining
share. BBC Worldwide will be responsible for commercializing Cliffhanger
content though its global sales and marketing network, as well as its local
production bases.

This is BBC Worldwide’s
second venture with an independent British producer, following a deal with
Leftbank earlier this year.

Claire Fryer and Marianna
Abbotts have been tapped as development producers for the new company. Donna
Wiffen, who was the head of production at Endemol subsidiary Showrunner and
talkbackThames, will take up the same role at Cliffhanger Productions, working
along side Marquess, who will serve as Cliffhanger’s managing director. Marquess
is the creator of Footballers’ Wives and has spent the last few years developing drama for Showrunner. His
other credits include serving as the executive producer of Family Affairs and Murder Investigation Team and a two-year run as series producer on Brookside.

Announcing the new
venture, Marquess said: “BBC Worldwide is the perfect partner—especially
the dedicated Indie Unit who will work with us to develop and exploit our
television projects and help us push into other areas such as digital and DVD.
Our creative team is bursting with ideas and BBC Worldwide brings a wealth of
commercial expertise and phenomenal global presence to the venture.”

BBC Worldwide’s director
of independents, Helen Jackson, added: “Working with outstanding production
talent like Paul is crucial to our investment strategy. Not only does it give
upcoming indies a chance to break though, but it also ensures we secure the
best content for our global distribution business. We are really looking
forward to working with Paul and his team to generate commercial returns around
the world for Cliffhanger.”

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski