DRG makes Thoroughly Modern deal

Thoroughly Modern Media is known for its shows with Heston Blumenthal

UK-based distributor DRG has signed an exclusive first-look deal with a UK prodco that counts the former head of commissioning at SBS in Australia as its creative director.

The deal between DRG and factual firm Thoroughly Modern Media (TMM), which was founded by director Jay Taylor in 2014, will run for two years. It comes after DRG distributed a number of the prodco’s titles on the international market.

TMM is part of the London-based accelerator programme Indielab. Earlier this year the prodco recruited former SBS exec Alison Sharman – whose other roles have included director of daytime and factual at ITV and controller of daytime at the BBC – as its first creative director.

The company produces programming featuring the chef Heston Blumenthal, including Heston’s Dinner in Space (1×90′) and Inside Heston’s World (4×60′), an SBS Australia commission that followed Blumenthal as he relocated his Fat Duck restaurant to Australia for a year.

TMM continues to explore food-based ideas and formats but is also developing a range of other projects and is currently in funded development on a number of titles with UK broadcasters.

“TMM’s productions sit in an interesting space between conventional factual and entertainment and allow us to take something very different out to the international marketplace,” said Katy Cundall, senior VP of acquisitions at DRG.