BBCWW lands on Red Planet factual

BBC Worldwide (BBCWW) has acquired a minority stake in UK indie Red Planet Pictures’ new factual division.

Tony Jordan

The BBC’s commercial arm has taken 25% of Red Planet Pictures Factual, which was set up by Tony Jordan and former Channel 5 commissioner Simon Raikes in May.

The deal gives BBCWW exclusive global distribution rights to all non-scripted content developed by the new venture over its first five years.

Red Planet Pictures Factual will develop a range of non-scripted programming, initially concentrating on factual and factual entertainment formats.

Raikes, who takes up his new role on September 16, was formerly co-founder and creative director of Wildfire TV, an independent prodco specialising in factual and specialist factual programming, and was also series editor for Channel 4’s archaeology show Time Team.

Simon Raikes

“We have big ambitions to produce a range of new non-scripted programming for UK broadcasters and international markets,” he said. “We look forward to working with BBC Worldwide to grow this part of the business so that, like the scripted side, it becomes synonymous with original, ratings-winning programming.”

Red Planet Pictures is currently producing 20-part drama Dickensian and a fifth season of Death in Paradise, both for BBC1.