Sony Pictures Television Buys into Sex Education Producer

Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is acquiring a majority stake in the London-based production company Eleven, producer of the Netflix hit series Sex Education.

Eleven is also behind Glue on E4 and The Enfield Haunting on Sky Living. Eleven’s new commissions include White Stork for Netflix, a political thriller from writer Christopher Dunlop starring Tom Hiddleston as a charismatic young political candidate who is on the fast-track to becoming Prime Minister; and Red Rose for the BBC from Michael and Paul Clarkson, a young adult horror series following a group of 16 year-olds who encounter a supernatural presence on social media.

The acquisition brings to an end the Channel 4 Indie Growth Fund’s involvement in Eleven.

Wayne Garvie, president of international production at Sony Pictures Television, said, “For some time, we have watched on as Jamie and Joel built one of the most exciting drama companies in the U.K. Their ability to spot and develop new writing and acting talent and their eye for a unique and compelling idea make them an irresistible pairing.  We are thrilled they see Sony as their ideal partner to grow Eleven and I know that our existing production companies in the U.K. and beyond are thrilled that they are going to join our merry little family. In the midst of the COVID crisis, this acquisition also demonstrates Sony’s underlying faith in the future success of British production and desire to keep on entertaining the world.”

Eleven’s Jamie Campbell and Joel Wilson commented, “Joining Wayne, Richard and the rest of Sony’s extraordinary team in the U.S. and U.K. is a hugely exciting step for us.  We are deeply proud of the world-class slate of scripted shows we have in development; and no one in the world is better positioned than Sony to help us convert it. Together, we have absolute conviction that we can build on the series we have in production (Sex Education, Red Rose, White Stork), and realize our ambition to become a pre-eminent global drama producer.”