Zinc Media serves up Red Sauce

UK production group Zinc Media has launched a popular factual label called Red Sauce, led by former BBC commissioner and diversity lead Tom Edwards.

Tom Edwards

Edwards, who will take the role of creative director, has credits including Eat Well For Less, Hugh’s War on Waste and Mary Queen of Shops as both a producer and commissioning editor for factual at the UK pubcaster.

The label will have London and regional bases and will work with Zinc’s Branded Content Division, launched in June, to enable the company to bring innovative funding models to the table.

Edwards takes up his role immediately, with other members of his team to be announced in the coming weeks.

Red Sauce becomes the sixth label in Zinc’s portfolio, alongside Blakeway North, Reef, Brook Lapping, Films of Record and Tern Television.

It will take forward recommissions of popular factual IP from Reef and Blakeway and extend into factual entertainment as new programmes get commissioned.

Greg Sanderson, director of television at Zinc Media London, said: “The launch of Red Sauce allows us to present a fresh, new popular factual proposition to the TV market, backed by fantastic new talent.

“As one of the market leaders in factual, we already have a strong portfolio of popular factual programming and are now ready to accelerate our move into factual entertainment. With this new single label, I want us to become a ‘go-to’ destination for popular factual and an emerging force in factual entertainment.”

Edwards said: “I got into TV to make high-quality, uncompromisingly popular factual shows. Throughout my career I’ve been relentless in pursuit of broad audiences, young through old, and relish the chance to be playful and inventive with form and content.

“Red Sauce will make tasty TV with wide appeal – smart, innovative and entertaining shows that speak to all, the kind of programming I love making. It’s a great opportunity to work alongside the other Zinc labels, and with their amazing team. I can’t wait to grow their business in the factual entertainment and popular factual space.”