Clapperboard partners with Lime Pictures, L16 Studios to boost UK production

ETVF: UK drama prodco Clapperboard Studios is partnering with Banijay-owned Lime Pictures and its studio facility L16 Studios to boost Clapperboard’s production within the country.

Mike Benson

The partnership, which will see at least two shows shooting in north-west England next year, was revealed by Clapperboard MD Mike Benson at the Edinburgh TV Festival on Wednesday.

Clapperboard has produced more than 33 series and 161 hours of TV for the UK market in the past five years, according to the prodco, but much of this has been filmed abroad to access local tax-credit systems.

After five years of growing the business, the company now seeks to increase programming filmed in the UK. It said the JV with Lime and L16 will give it both a strategic studio partner in the UK and a route to other UK regional and national funding avenues. The venture also aims to create jobs at all levels and tangible training opportunities.

As part of the deal, Clapperboard will have access to L16’s purpose-built production facility in Liverpool and Lime’s production teams.

Benson said: “Our ambition has always been to produce more of our output in the nations and regions of the UK. In this joint venture with Lime, we feel we have found a perfect partner. With the financial challenges of the current market, link-ups between companies who bring different assets, facilities and financing to the table seems to be a viable way forward.”