Kudos Launches Sister Company

Drama specialist Kudos, which is behind shows such as Broadchurch, Humans, Apple Tree Yard and Tin Star, is to launch a Manchester-based sister company, Kudos North.

Kudos North will be led by the new development producer hire Laura Conway (The Fall 3, My Mother and Other Strangers). The company will establish an open door to the north of England and strive to produce new dramas with international appeal from strong, original voices. It will be supported by the full Kudos development and production setup.

Salford-based actress and writer Maxine Peake has signed a first-look development deal with Kudos North via her production company Vexed Pixie to develop new television projects which sit alongside developments already in progress at Kudos with Danny Brocklehurst, Debbie Horsfield, Dominic Mitchell and Stephen Greenhorn.

Conway said: “Kudos North will focus on drama ideas, outside of London, that get under the skin of diverse lives across the United Kingdom and go some way to proving that it’s not grim up north—it’s magic!

“We will create a slate that combines the very best ideas from top writing talent with emerging, authored voices; building beautiful, trusting relationships that span writers’ careers and ultimately get cracking ideas onto global screens.

“I am delighted that Maxine will be joining us on this new venture. Maxine’s undeniable passion for the north, its people and their stories is beyond exciting.”

Peake said: “I am bursting with excitement about the possibilities teaming up with Kudos will bring and I’m absolutely delighted to be working with a company with such clout and vision.

“The very idea that Kudos has set up a northern sister company goes to show how slowly but surely the rest of the nation has woken up to the abundance of talent and creativity in the north.

“My goal is to encourage new and overlooked talent. To get those engaging stories out there, and to tap into the extraordinary diversity, vibrancy and magic that the north has to offer.

“It’s also important that building on the fantastic production companies that already exist in the north, we can make it a possibility that our future talent in acting, production and directing won’t have to make the expensive move to London. They can live and work here in the north, making it again a more inclusive and exciting industry, which we will all benefit from.”

Martin Haines, the COO of Kudos, said: “Kudos have made numerous shows outside London, including Life on Mars, Utopia and the forthcoming Gunpowder and The Boy with the Topknot. However, we feel it’s a great moment to build upon that success, to put down roots in Manchester, and to surface new voices and tell new stories from across the north, England and the whole of the U.K.”