BBC Studios Secures First-Look Deal with Hungry Jay Media

BBC Studios has signed a one-year first-look development deal with Hungry Jay Media, the joint venture between presenter Jay Blades (BBC One’s The Repair Shop, Jay and Dom’s Home Fix) and production company Hungry Bear.

The agreement will give BBC Studios priority access to Hungry Jay’s slate, with a focus on factual-entertainment formats for the U.K. market that can travel around the world. The deal will also help Hungry Jay expand its development team and build on recent successes such as Jay Blades: Learning to Read at 51.

Hungry Jay Media was established in November 2020 between Dan Baldwin and Juliet Denison Gay’s Hungry Bear, known for shows such as Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel (BBC One) and Bradley & Barney Walsh: Breaking Dad (ITV), and furniture restorer and designer Blades. The joint company focuses on developing and producing formats while bringing in fresh talent.

“Hungry Jay combines one of the most credible and authentic presenters currently on television with a brilliant team of creatives that deliver much-loved, hit shows,” said Emma Hardie, BBC Studios’ commercial director of international production and formats. “Their commitment to supporting new and diverse talent is a value we passionately support. We’re really excited to be able to partner with them on this next phase of creative growth to make fantastic formats that will resonate with the international market.”

“Hungry Jay are delighted to be partnering with BBC Studios on a first-look deal because they share our values and support our vision to make a real difference both on- and offscreen,” Denison Gay said. “BBC Studios’ investment in development means we can grow our team and nurture new talent and, together with their help and expertise, we can create popular formats with global appeal.”

Blades added, “I’m really looking forward to working with the team at BBC Studios and creating formats they can sell around the world.”