BBC Studios Acquires 25% Stake in Unscripted Formats Company Mettlemouse
In a strategic move, BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the UK’s public broadcaster BBC, has announced its investment in Mettlemouse Entertainment, an independent unscripted formats company founded by Sarah Tyekiff. The acquisition represents BBC Studios’ commitment to supporting exceptional creative talent and expanding its portfolio of new formats for global production. The deal includes a minority stake of 25% in Mettlemouse, although financial specifics were not disclosed.
Under the agreement, BBC Studios secures exclusive global distribution and format rights access for Mettlemouse’s content. Sarah Tyekiff, formerly the head of unscripted at Lime Pictures, brings a wealth of experience. During her tenure, Lime Pictures successfully pitched and sold renowned shows like “The Only Way Is Essex,” “Geordie Shore,” and “Celebs Go Dating.” Notably, Tyekiff also developed and produced fresh formats, including “Dance Monsters” on Netflix, “Stand Up and Deliver” on Channel 4, and “Who Do You Believe” on ABC.
Before her time at Lime Pictures, Tyekiff was an executive producer at ITV, contributing to major brands such as “Hell’s Kitchen” and the relaunch of “Saturday Night Take Away.” She played an instrumental role in the growth of the “I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” brand, achieving record-breaking viewership of 13 million in its last season. Furthermore, Tyekiff spearheaded the development, casting, and production of the BAFTA-winning phenomenon “Love Island,” effectively catapulting the show into mainstream popularity. She also collaborated on the production of “Red or Black,” a high-stakes gameshow created by Simon Cowell in partnership with Ant and Dec.
Mettlemouse has also welcomed Shaun Parry, a seasoned creative director with experience at Electric Ray and Endemol Shine. Parry’s impressive repertoire includes shows like “Moneybags” on Channel 4, “Million Pound Menu” on BBC Two, and the reality series “Bromans” on ITV2. Notably, Parry co-created the award-winning quiz show “Pointless” on BBC One and “Almost Impossible Gameshow” on ITV2 during his tenure at Endemol Shine.
Emma Hardie, the commercial director of international production and formats at BBC Studios, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with Mettlemouse Entertainment. Hardie commended Sarah Tyekiff’s involvement in some of the UK’s most successful entertainment and primetime reality formats, highlighting the formation of an exceptional team at Mettlemouse. BBC Studios aims to collaborate with Mettlemouse Entertainment to deliver captivating and innovative content to audiences in the UK and worldwide.
Matt Forde, the managing director of international production and formats at BBC Studios, also expressed excitement about the partnership, emphasizing Tyekiff’s track record of success in both the UK and the US. Forde also welcomed the opportunity to work with Shaun Parry again, citing their shared creative vision and ambition to shape the future of unscripted formats.
Sarah Tyekiff expressed her enthusiasm for partnering with BBC Studios, recognizing their extensive experience managing international hits. She said she is confident that BBC Studios is the ideal partner to propel Mettlemouse’s new venture forward domestically and globally.
BBC Studios’ investment in Mettlemouse marks its fifth acquisition of an independent production company in 2022, bringing the total number of production labels and invested indies under its umbrella to 14.
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