BBCWW gets first look at Red Planet

BBC Worldwide (BBCWW) has agreed a first-look development deal with Death in Paradise producer Red Planet Pictures that will see it help finance future productions.

The commercial arm of the BBC will provide investment, coproduction expertise and global market support to Red Planet in return for a first look at its new content.

The UK indie has been behind BBC1 dramas The Nativity and By Any Means and is currently working on The Passing Bells, which is set to air on the channel later this year.

The prodco is also in production of UKTV’s first original drama Legion, and is developing Motown-inspired musical drama Stop! In The Name of Love for BBC1 as well as Dickensian, which will bring various characters from Charles Dickens’ most famous works together.

Tony Jordan, MD of Red Planet, said the agreement would enable his firm to “develop content with real global ambition.”

BBCWW and Red Planet previously worked together on the first series of Death in Paradise, which was coproduced with France Televisions and has since been sold to over 200 territories around the world.

BBCWW recently returned to its strategy of taking stakes in UK indies with the acquisition of 35% of Lookout Point.

That deal followed comments from BBCWW CEO Tim Davie in July that he was seeking “further expansion” including more first-look agreements. BBCWW already has more than 40 output and development arrangements with production outfits around the world.