Channel 4 invests in Big Deal Films

Dhanny Joshi and Thomas Stogdon’s Big Deal Films has become the latest UK prodco to join commercial pubcaster Channel 4’s Indie Growth Fund portfolio.

Thomas Stogdon

Initially formed as a talent management company in 2014, London-based Big Deal Films has since established itself in the world of production with factual, factual entertainment and scripted content.

It has produced work for the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5, ITV and Sky in the UK, as well as other organisations. It has had a first-look deal with BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC, since 2019.

Big Deal Films’ titles include This Is My Life: Boys to Men on the BBC and the forthcoming Channel 5 series The Greatest Toys of All Time.

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Big Deal Films was advised by Sharp Edge Media and Public Square.

The fund provides additional support to the UK independent creative sector by taking minority stakes in small and mid-sized enterprises to help them to grow their business to the next stage.

The fund’s strategy is focused on prioritising investment in the nations and regions of the UK and diverse-led and digital businesses across the UK.

Since September 2020, it has invested in three other indies, Proper Content, Yeti and Uplands Television.

Caroline Murphy, Channel 4’s head of the Indie Growth Fund, said: “Dhanny and Thomas are both incredibly talented individuals with ambitions to make disruptive and distinctive content that showcase new talent and voices that better reflect the world around us.”