Fremantle orders serving of Duck Soup

FremantleMedia is to take a minority stake in UK indie Duck Soup Films, set up by producers whose previous work includes the dramas This Is England and Utopia.

Libby Durdy, Bekki Wray-Rogers and Jessica Holyland

The X Factor producer will take a 25% stake in the Leeds-based scripted TV and film outfit, which was formed by producers Libby Durdy, Bekki Wray-Rogers and Jessica Holyland in 2015.

The three had previously worked together on episodes of This Is England ’88 and ’90, produced by Warp Films for Channel 4.

The deal comes as part of FremantleMedia’s strategy to grow its scripted business on the back of dramas such as American Gods, The Young Pope and Deutschland 83.

The move comes a few weeks after it invested in the TV production company owned by Bend it Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha, Bend It TV.

Fremantle has also recently invested in other drama producers, such as Corona Pictures and Dancing Ledge in the UK, Fontaram and Kwai in France and Wildside in Italy.

“Duck Soup is an exciting business with three incredibly talented founders at its helm. They have a refreshing determination to portray a broad range of perspectives through creative storytelling, and we’re looking forward to being part of their success,” said Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of FremantleMedia.

Holyland said FremantleMedia’s investment in the company is “a huge statement of confidence in a UK voice outside of London.” The firm has also received investment from Creative England and Channel 4 in the past.