BBCWW backs Original Talent

BBC Worldwide (BBCWW) has invested in a newly created company from UK-based talent agency Curtis Brown and its in-house production outfit Cuba Pictures.

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell was produced
by Cuba Pictures for BBC1

The investment gives the commercial arm of the BBC a 10% stake in Original Talent, which houses Curtis Brown and Cuba Pictures.

The move follows the first-look partnership that BBCWW agreed with Cuba Pictures in 2014 and extends this deal, which covers all television output, until 2021.

BBCWW will be represented by one director on the board of Cuba Pictures and one on the Original Talent board. The latter will also include Curtis Brown’s joint CEOs Ben Hall and Jonny Geller, Sarah Spear and Nick Marston.

Cuba Pictures was set up in 2008 under Marston as CEO to produce UK scripted content and has so far produced series including Boy A (Channel 4), Coalition (Channel 4) and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (BBC1).

It is currently working on dramas McMafia for BBC1 and Paula for BBC2 alongside BBC Northern Ireland. Its film portfolio is not covered by the output agreement with BBCWW.

Helen Jackson, BBCWW’s chief content officer, said: “This deeper partnership is one of a small number we are forging with independent producers of the highest quality content – securing access and facilitating new premium content.

“It is an investment in British creativity, with Cuba Pictures’ quality credentials already evident. As well as retaining a long-term content partner for BBCWW, this deeper relationship lets us back a British production team playing on the world content stage for the next phase of its growth and success.”

This latest UK investment from BBCWW comes after it increased its stake in Steve Coogan’s UK-based Baby Cow Productions last week.

Further afield, in March it invested in Rapid Blue, the South Africa-based production company behind a local version of its culinary format Bake Off.