Talkback’s Laura Gibson joins UIS-owned UK prodco Monkey as creative director

Universal International Studios-owned UK prodco Monkey has appointed Talkback executive Laura Gibson as its third creative director.

Laura Gibson

Gibson is tasked with spearheading Monkey’s slate by leading the development of entertainment formats with global appeal. Her responsibilities encompass the creation, development and delivery of shows across an array of genres.

She joins from Fremantle label Talkback, where she arrived in 2016, first as head of development before being upped to creative director in 2019.

During her time there, Gibson co-created Netflix reality hit Too Hot to Handle, ITV series Alan Carr’s Epic Gameshow, BBC Two travelogue Last Woman on Earth with Sara Pascoe and ITV’s Harry’s Heroes, among others.

Gibson was also instrumental in bringing Never Mind the Buzzcocks, with Greg Davies and Daisy May Cooper, back to screens on pay TV broadcaster Sky.

Before joining Talkback, she was VP of unscripted development for LA-based indie 44 Blue Productions. Prior to this, Gibson was the VP of unscripted development for Endemol Shine North America, having previously been creative director of comedy entertainment for ITV Studios UK.

Gibson is Monkey’s third creative director alongside co-founders Will Macdonald and David Granger, who said in a joint statement: “Laura’s exceptional track record creating ground-breaking entertainment shows and launching fresh formats with global appeal sets the stage for Monkey’s future. We can’t wait for her to join the team and create some boldly ambitious and no doubt wonderfully unique shows.”

Gibson added: “It’s been an amazing six years and I will miss my wonderful colleagues at Talkback and Fremantle. The chance to join Monkey, Universal International Studios and the wider NBCU family was too great an opportunity to turn down and I look forward to working with their brilliant team and deliver exciting shows for a global audience.”

Monkey’s slate of programming includes That’s My Jam, fronted by Mo Gilligan, for BBC One; Made in Chelsea, which is currently in its 25th season on E4 and is also available on Peacock in the US; and ITVBe’s The Real Housewives of Cheshire, which is in its 16th season.