Cowshed Ventures joins Krempelwood to launch true crime YouTube channel

Cowshed Ventures and Krempelwood in the UK have teamed up to launch a true crime YouTube channel that will feature new creator-led formats as well as library TV content.

Chloe Taylor fronts First Hand Files

It’s Criminal will feature content fronted by Chloe Taylor and Mehreen Baig alongside true crime series from the UK and US.

The channel has launched with a slate of programming from the likes of Woodcut Media and Flicker Productions, alongside creator-led formats.

Taylor, who has a TikTok following of over 2.7 million and a growing YouTube presence, fronts the digital-first true crime format First Hand Files.

Baig, whose credits include hosting the BBC Radio 4 podcast The Secret Life of Teachers, together with her sister Ambreen and her best friend Filomena D’Alessio, will investigate cases in The Unsolvable.

Meanwhile, real-life detectives and prosecutors will recount the details of cold cases and mysteries in The Case I Couldn’t Crack, giving first-hand accounts and previously unheard insights.

Alongside these formats, It’s Criminal will commission filmmakers to produce crime documentary films for digital-first distribution around the world.

“The opportunity to partner with Cowshed Collective, master creators and promoters of digital content combined with the true crime genre presented us with the ideal first step as we transition from a programme finance business to a content finance business,” said Krempelwood’s founders Blair Krempel and Mark Wood in a joint statement.

Luci Sanan, head of Cowshed Ventures, said: “It’s Criminal aims to disrupt how true crime IP is produced, distributed and scaled by delivering digital-first storytelling which appeals to multi-media audiences and commercial partners.”

It’s Criminal will be managed by Cowshed, which will oversee day-to-day channel operations, content strategy and audience development, as well as producing original content and working with brands.

Krempelwood will coproduce and both partners will collaborate on developing original IP to scale across platforms, from streaming services to social media to brand partnerships.

It’s Criminal’s creative producer is Fraser Goodwin, the channel manager is Rosa Pointer-Mackenzie and the lead editor is Jess Aston.

George Cowin, Ryan O’Shea and Sanan will serve as executive producers for Cowshed, alongside Krempel, Wood and Nick Underhill for Krempelwood.

Krempelwood has coproduced and fully funded TV series for a dozen channels in the UK. In 2024, it backed its first scripted show, Sherlock + Daughter, which is available on HBO Max in the US.

Gen Z-focused Cowshed Collective is a London-based group of companies comprising Cowshed Studios, Cowshed Creators, Cowshed Social and Cowshed Ventures.