ITVS invests in Simon Nye start-up

Men Behaving Badly and The Durrells creator Simon Nye and former BBC comedy exec Sophie Clarke-Jervoise have launched new indie with minority investment from ITV Studios (ITVS).

Simon Nye

Genial Productions will focus on returning comedy and comedy-drama series with ITVS’s sales arm ITV Studios Global Entertainment becoming its distribution partner for all original formats created by the prodco.

Maxine Gardner, finance director for ITVS, will sit on Genial Productions’ board and provide support for the company during its early stages.

Nye and Clarke-Jervoise have between them created a number of popular UK comedy series. Clarke-Jervoise, formerly MD of Tiger Aspect Productions and head of comedy at the BBC, has exec produced, produced and developed comedy series such as Benidorm, Harry Enfield & Chums, Bad Education, The Vicar of Dibley, Blackadder Back & Forth and The Catherine Tate Show.

Sophie Clarke-Jervoise

“Simon and Sophie have an enviable record of creating, writing and producing some of the best loved, most famous comedy and comedy drama of the past 20 years,” said Julian Bellamy, MD of ITVS. “We look forward to working with them and watching Genial Productions thrive.”

“Now feels the right time to consolidate our shared experience and we’re excited at the prospect of new joint endeavours,” added Clarke-Jervoise. “ITV Studios are a perfect fit for us, so we’re delighted to have their support and experience.”

In related news, US streamer Hulu has ordered a third season of UK period drama Harlots from ITVS-owned prodco Monumental Pictures.

Set against the backdrop of 18th century Georgian London, the series is inspired by the book The Covent Garden Ladies by Hallie Rubenhold and tells the story of Margaret Wells who struggles to raise her daughters while running a brothel. Season three of Harlots continues to follow the fortunes of the Wells family.