Patrick Irwin joins Ringside Studios

Experienced drama producer Patrick Irwin, whose credits include The Fall and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, has joined Newen-backed UK producer Ringside Studios.

Patrick Irwin

Ringside was launched at the start of last year by former Channel 4 head of drama Gub Neal and TF1-owned French production and distribution outfit Newen.

Irwin is joining the London-based firm as executive producer. He previously worked at Box TV, another independent drama producer founded by Neal, where his credits included The Wind in the Willows (BBC/CBC), Reversals (ITV), Gunpowder Treason & Plot (BBC) and The Last Enemy (BBC/WGBH).

Irwin, Neal and Justin Thomson went on to found Artists Studio and subsequently Far Moor Media, where Irwin’s credits included Thorne: Sleepyhead (Sky), The Fall (BBC/Netflix), 13-parter Combat Hospital for (ABC/Global), and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (BBC/BBC America).

In 2017, Patrick joined 87 Films. His most recent work has been on two seasons of bilingual Welsh/English drama Bang (which won the Celtic Media Festival Award and the Welsh Bafta for Best Drama in 2018), and Miss Scarlet & the Duke with Element 8 productions, which has just launched on PBS Masterpiece in the US and has been sold around the world.

Ringside’s slate already includes a yet-to-be-announced one-off drama for the BBC which is due to start filming in February, with further commissions anticipated later in the year.

Irwin will also play role in Ringside Studios’ investment arm, Ringside Media, which takes equity stakes in other scripted production companies, as well as the day-to-day running of the company.