Fremantle starts scripted podcast label

Production giant Fremantle has launched a scripted podcast arm and hired an experienced director and digital specialist as its first creative director.

Robert Delamere

Robert Delamere will lead London-based Storyglass, which has already announced its first two projects.

Baby It’s Cold Outside is from writer Regina Moriarty and aims to puts the audience in the mind of an ordinary man, struggling with homelessness, who is trying to have a special day with his son while keeping secret his unfortunate circumstances.

Developed by Duck Soup Films, in which Fremantle has a minority stake, and in association with homelessness charity CRISIS, the show aims to find humour in the darkness while emphasising the impact of the increase in homelessness in the UK.

Meanwhile, Director’s Cut (working title) comes from comedy writers and performers Kill the Beast. The dark-comedy podcast is a murder mystery set on a troubled film set where, in the wake of tragedy, the genre, cast and central vision of the movie are all suddenly up for grabs.

Storyglass has been created as a partnership between Fremantle’s Shotglass label in the UK and the company’s Global Drama division. The new label will commission and develop original scripted ideas from a range of storytellers from around the world.

Delamere, who will head up the label and lead the creation of original scripted podcast IP, said: “Podcasting is a great space to develop and test new ideas with audiences, and the market is wide open for imagination-grabbing drama series. Fremantle, with its storytelling expertise, is in a unique position to attract ground-breaking talent and deliver great content to global audiences.”