BBC Worldwide Takes Stake in New U.K. Indie Mighty Productions

LONDON: Lynn Sutcliffe and Hugh Rycroft have teamed up to establish Mighty Productions, with BBC Worldwide backing the launch.

BBC Worldwide has acquired a 25 percent stake in the new venture. As part of the deal, it also gains the global distribution rights to all programs produced by Mighty during an initial five-year output pact.

Sutcliffe will serve as managing director, with Rycroft as creative director. The pair have previously collaborated on several projects, including the long-running ITV quiz format Tipping Point.

Mighty is already developing several projects for major broadcasters, with a slate ranging from daytime quiz formats to shiny-floor entertainment shows. The pair are also committed to nurturing new talent from the industry as the business grows.

Sutcliffe said, “We will strive to make programs that we are genuinely proud of. Regardless of the genre we want to make innovative TV that has a heart. Mighty will be a harmonious and creative environment where the whole team is respected and listened to. We will never forget that our runner has much more chance of ending up as director-general of the BBC than either of us.”

Rycroft said, “Having worked closely with Lynn for 15 years, I know we bring out the best in each other, and so relish the prospect of strengthening our creative partnership in Mighty.”

Tracy Forsyth, BBC Worldwide’s genre director of factual entertainment and entertainment, commented: “Lynn and Hugh have a fantastic track record in creating clever, catchy ideas that appeal to a wonderfully broad audience. This, along with their expertise in delivering shows from quizzes to shiny floor to fact-ent formats, means we are very excited to be working with them.”