Please wait...
Please wait...

BBCS backs Kilgarriff prodco

Elizabeth Kilgarriff at Content London 2018

BBC SHOWCASE: BBC Studios (BBCS) has taken a minority stake in the new production company being launched by the outgoing senior commissioning editor at the BBC responsible for Bodyguard.

BBCS will be the global distribution partner for all content developed by Firebird Pictures, which was founded by Elizabeth Kilgarriff and Craig Holleworth,

BBCS will be the global distribution partner for all content developed by Firebird Pictures, which was founded by Elizabeth Kilgarriff and Craig Holleworth, as first revealed by C21.

Kilgarriff and Holleworth leave their respective roles as BBC drama senior commissioning editor and BBC head of business in March.

BBCS said the prodco would “work with newer voices to cultivate ideas and create a home for distinctive, authored and entertaining storytelling.”

Kilgarriff joined BBC Commissioning in August 2015 from BBC Productions and has been responsible for Bodyguard, The Cry, JK Rowling’s Strike series and The ABC Murders.

The highly regarded exec has also been credited on shows including Poldark, Doctor Foster 2, McMafia, Hard Sun, Informer, Luther and the forthcoming MotherFatherSon.

Holleworth, who will be the company’s chief operating officer, has run business and operations for drama at BBC Films and its programmes acquisitions, working on shows such as Doctor Who, Peaky Blinders and the forthcoming His Dark Materials. He also led BBC Content’s coproduction commercial strategy.

Kilgarriff said: “Now feels like an exciting time to be stepping forward into a new venture and building bold and distinctive shows for a global market. Craig and I share a vision to make Firebird a place where all storytellers are inspired and supported to do their best work.”

Holleworth added: “BBC Studios understands the ethos of the company we want to create and we’re delighted that they will be our partner and distributor.”

Mark Linsey, BBCS’s chief creative officer, said Firebird “promises to be a unique production company, where both established and emerging writers will be encouraged to do their greatest work, delivering ambitious, original and mainstream series.

“Liz is a force of nature when it comes to working with new talent and creating high-quality content, and her producing and commissioning experience at the highest level means she brings a clear understanding of the industry and its current needs.”

RELATED ARTICLES

Please wait...