Duchess Street hires Sky drama exec

Fledgling UK prodco Duchess Street Productions has hired a Sky drama script executive as its development producer, tasked with producing the adaptation of a series of Jeffrey Archer historical novels.

Jo Roderick will be responsible for developing and providing editorial guidance on slated projects and generating original ideas and IP for various broadcasters and platforms, including an original idea currently in development with satcaster Sky1.

She will also oversee development on Archer’s The Clifton Chronicles, to which Duchess Street acquired TV rights in June. Roderick joins Bafta-winning screenwriter and film producer David Pirie, who was recently appointed as lead writer and showrunner for the series.

Duchess Street was launched by UK media advisory firm Bob & Co in the summer and specialises in producing high-end original drama and dramatic adaptations. The company hired FremantleMedia drama chief Donna Wiffen initially as a consultant but she now holds the official title of MD.

“Our company’s focus is on producing high-end, original drama and dramatic adaptations, and Jo brings with her a wealth of experience in this field, which will be instrumental in guiding and expanding our future catalogue,” said Wiffen.

Prior to her role at Sky, Roderick held the positions of drama development producer at Lola Entertainment and script producer for Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks Later, among others. While working for Sky, she was a script executive on projects for a range of drama indies, including Left Bank, Mammoth Screen and Eleven Films.

Duchess Street Productions is a division of parent company Bob & Co. Bob Benton, founder of Bob & Co, previously said the new firm signalled “an exciting new direction for the company that reflects our commitment to developing quality creative content with real commercial bite.”