Please wait...
Please wait...

ITV Studios, Spence link for drama

The UK’s ITV Studios (ITVS) has hired Patrick Spence, founder of prodco Fifty Fathoms, to set up a new studio focusing on premium drama.

Patrick Spence

Former BBC exec Spence will join as creative director of the studio in early 2020. The new ITVS arm will include an investment fund to enable Spence to invest in some of his own projects, alongside distributor ITV Studios Global Entertainment. Both companies are part of UK terrestrial broadcaster ITV.

Spence previously spent eight years as head of drama at BBC Northern Ireland, before which he was head of development and an exec producer for BBC Series.

He has exec producer credits on dramas including Fortitude for Sky Atlantic; Marvellous, The A Word, Five Minutes of Heaven and Silent Witness for the BBC; the forthcoming Adult Material for Channel 4; and The Eddy for Netflix.

Spence is currently MD of Fifty Fathoms, which he set up in 2010 under the umbrella of Endemol Shine Group, and since 2018 has also been director of drama for sister Endemol Shine prodco Tiger Aspect.

Julian Bellamy, MD of ITV Studios, said: “Patrick is without doubt one of the UK’s most renowned and prolific drama producers. He has an incredible ability to work with world-class talent and a fantastic track record in delivering great drama with scale and ambition.

“We’re always looking for bold and new ways to grow our scripted business, and Patrick’s new scripted studio fits this bill perfectly.”

Please wait...