BBC Studios acquires Sid Gentle Films LTD

BBC Studios, the BBC’s commercial production-distribution arm, today announces that it has moved to full ownership of Sid Gentle Films Ltd, the production company behind BBC AMERICA’s multi-awarded scripted original Killing Eve.

Founded in 2013 by Sally Woodward Gentle, with Lee Morris and Henrietta Colvin, Sid Gentle Films has earned industry-wide recognition for its innovative, original and ambitious scripted series. BBC Studios has been a 51% investor in Sid Gentle Films since 2018.

Sid Gentle Films productions include BAFTA nominated hit series The Durrells for ITV, SS-GB for BBC One, Ragdoll for UKTV and AMC, Neil Gaiman’s Likely Stories for Sky Arts and four series of the critically acclaimed, BAFTA, Emmy and Golden Globe awarded Killing Eve.

Sid Gentle Films is currently in post-production with Rain Dogs, written by Cash Carraway and starring Daisy May Cooper, for the BBC and HBO, and Extraordinary, a distinctive comedy for Disney+, written by Emma Moran.

The move to full ownership speaks to BBC Studios’ ambition to grow its portfolio of the UK’s most creative scripted labels.

BBC Studios already wholly owns Lookout Point (Gentleman Jack, Happy Valley 3), Clerkenwell Films (Somewhere Boy, The End of the F***ing World), and House Productions (Sherwood, Brexit: An Uncivil War) and is the controlling shareholder in Baby Cow (Chivalry, The Witchfinder). Earlier this month BBC Studios moved to 100% ownership of Firebird Pictures, in production with Wilderness for Amazon Studios and Wahala for BBC One.

Speaking in BBC Studios’ keynote session at MIPCOM today, Tom Fussell, BBC Studios CEO, said: “I’m delighted to announce the full acquisition of Sid Gentle Films. Led by Sally Woodward Gentle and Lee Morris, Sid Gentle is home to unmissable returning hits. Best known for BAFTA, Emmy and Golden Globe-winning Killing Eve, the future slate is just as exciting.”

Sally Woodward Gentle, CEO and Founder, Sid Gentle Films, said: “We couldn’t be more delighted to continue our journey with BBC Studios. They have been the most supportive, collaborative and creative partner. It is an honour to work with the most wonderful team at Sid and to feel a shared ambition and outlook with BBC Studios.”

Taking our world-class portfolio of labels and units direct to the heart of the world’s largest English language scripted market is a natural next step."

BBC Studios is today also announcing that Mark Linsey, its most senior scripted executive, will relocate from London to work out of Los Angeles. This will place him geographically closer to key global content decision makers as BBC Studios seeks to build further co-production, investment and commissioning opportunities for its scripted offer.

Mark will retain his existing responsibilities and reports, and continue to report to BBC Studios Productions CEO Ralph Lee. He will work closely with both Janet Brown, BBC Studios’ newly appointed President of Content Distribution for North America and Latin America, and Valerie Bruce, General Manager and leader of BBC Studios’ successful Los Angeles Productions, and their teams, to grow BBC Studios’ presence together.

As Managing Director, Scripted for BBC Studios, Mark leads a drama and comedy group spanning premium labels and established and multi-awarded production units: BBC Studios Comedy Productions, makers of Good Omens for Amazon Studios, Trying for AppleTV+ and Inside No. 9 for BBC; BBC Studios Drama Productions, producers of BBC returning series Time, Doctor Who and Silent Witness; and BBC Studios Continuing Drama, the unit behind long-running BBC series EastEnders, Casualty and Father Brown.

In his MIPCOM keynote address, Tom Fussell announced: “Under the leadership of Mark Linsey, previously BBC Director of Television and BBC Studios Chief Creative Officer, we are investing in the UK’s most exciting talent and creative labels. I am thrilled to share today that Mark will relocate from London to LA to grow further BBC Studios’ commitment to the West Coast and our shared creative ambition.”

Mark Linsey, MD, Scripted, BBC Studios Productions, added: “Taking our world-class portfolio of labels and units direct to the heart of the world’s largest English language scripted market is a natural next step. I look forward to working closer than ever with US based colleagues and customers to fund and create unique new series for the world to enjoy.”