BBCWW backs Hart, Walliams prodco

BBC Worldwide (BBCWW) has put money behind the fledgling production company set up by the former creative head of comedy at the BBC and UK comedians Miranda Hart and David Walliams.

King Bert Productions, which focuses on developing mainstream comedy programming and was set up with producer Jo Sargent earlier this year, already has numerous projects in the works with a number of UK broadcasters.

These include one-off special The Boy In The Dress (BBC1), season two of Big School (BBC1) and two Channel 4 sitcoms, which are yet to be announced.

Sargent is the former creative head of comedy at the BBC, where she was responsible for series such as French & Saunders, Absolutely Fabulous and Miranda, starring Hart.

The company has also recruited Sarah Fraser, former commissioning editor of comedy at UKTV channels Dave and Gold, as its head of development.

BBCWW has now invested development funding in the prodco in return for the global distribution rights to the production company’s programming output.

Helen Jackson, MD of content at BBCWW, says: “BBCWW is committed to supporting established, and nurturing new British talent both in front of and behind the camera, and with David, Miranda and Jo fully committed to achieving this goal too, we’re in great company.”

Walliams shot to fame as one half of the comedy duo behind BBC sketch series Little Britain in the noughties and has also had a trio of his children’s books adapted by the UK pubcaster, including The Boy In The Dress.