Writing duo start Fire prodco in Leeds

Nate Camponi (left) and Andrew Doree

Two writing partners from the north of England have launched a comedy and drama production company in the Yorkshire city of Leeds.

Andrew Doree and Nate Camponi’s Hell Fire! aims to bring together Yorkshire and Northern writers and will focus on short- and long-form material for broadcast and online channels.

Doree and Camponi have been behind comedies such as The Purple Pigeon and Made TV Network’s Make it Plumb. They have been joined by Colin Offland, CEO of Manchester-based Chief Productions, in launching the prodco.

Camponi said the pair had always aimed to launch a prodco in Leeds and, with developments such as broadcaster Channel 4 setting up its new national headquarters in the city, the time was now right.

“We’re looking forward to telling stories about real working-class people in local communities as well as stories relating to broader subject matter; stories that make people cry their eyes out or laugh their heads off,” said Camponi.

“Having been born and raised here ourselves, we’re well placed to tell those stories and are confident our original ideas and fresh attitude will further establish our relationships with commissioning editors in the coming months.”

Doree added: “There’s a real appetite for scripted comedy right now. We’re looking forward to playing our part in driving the continued growth of creative writing in the region and creating new opportunities for a diverse group of young creatives.”

As well as the C4 headquarters, Leeds has also been boosted by UK producers’ trade body Pact opening its Nations and Regions headquarters in the city earlier this month.

Meanwhile, multichannel operator UKTV is joining C4 in moving staff to Leeds to work in a regional office focusing on tech innovation.