Rollercoaster TV exits ITV Studios partnership to rebrand as standalone indie

Rollercoaster’s James Fox, Sarah Boyce and Dom Waugh

UK format producer Rollercoaster Television is ending its partnership with ITV Studios to become a stand-alone indie rebranded as Rollercoaster Studios.

Founders James Fox and Dom Waugh remain as joint MDs of the newly renamed Rollercoaster Studios and Sarah Boyce continues as head of production.

The company was founded in 2021 and over the last five years has established itself as a producer of large-scale entertainment IP for the UK and international markets. This will continue to be a core focus of the business, as well as expanding into talent-led podcast and vodcast formats and digital-first content.

Rollercoaster Studios will continue its relationship with ITV Studios in a new production and distribution deal.

Fox and Waugh said: “We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve created so far with ITV Studios but it’s time to evolve. Our ambition for the future is to take strategic advantage of global opportunities in formats and storytelling, focusing on multiplatform audiences.

“Having Sarah Boyce alongside us as head of production is the perfect complement to our creative skillset, allowing us to develop new production models and take advantage of the latest technical and AI innovations.

“We’re hugely grateful to Tim Carter, Julian Bellamy and everyone at ITV Studios for helping us launch and build Rollercoaster. Now, we’re looking forward to the next chapter.”

Carter, MD of ITV Studios, UK Unscripted, said: “James and Dom are dynamic entertainment producers with a proven track record of developing and overseeing numerous successful hit shows – from rebooting popular formats to shiny-floor quizshows with scale. I am delighted that ITV Studios has been part of their journey and look forward to continuing to work with them in our evolving relationship. I wish them all the very best with their venture.”

Rollercoaster’s recent credits include launching the Neil Patrick Harris-fronted gameshow What’s in the Box? for Netflix and rebooting the classic gameshow You Bet as You Bet on Tour with Stephen Mulhern for ITV1.

Fox and Waugh were formerly MD and director of content respectively at Remarkable Television’s Entertainment division where they were responsible for hit formats The Wall, Pointless and All Together Now.