Global production company buys minority stake in Leeds TV and film business

FremantleMedia, the global content and production company, is set to take a 25% stake in the Leeds-based scripted TV and film business, Duck Soup Films Ltd.

Duck Soup Films is a collaboration between producers Libby Durdy, Bekki Wray-Rogers and Jessica Holyland who, before setting up Duck Soup, were responsible for producing and line-producing an array of the UK TV dramas, including the multi-BAFTA Award winning ‘This Is England’ and the International Emmy Award winning ‘Utopia’.

Launched in 2015, the indie TV and film business is a recipient of the BFI Vision Awards 3 for its film slate and has received investments from Creative England and Channel 4.

FremantleMedia has made a number of investments in creative talent over the last 18 months, most recently Gurinder Chadha’s Bend It TV.

The company’s portfolio of investments spans scripted, entertainment and factual businesses around the world including Abot Hameiri, Naked Entertainment, Man Alive Entertainment, Full Fat TV, Corona Pictures, Dr Pluto, Dancing Ledge, Wild Blue Media, Eureka, No Pictures Please, Fontaram, Kwai, Wildside, 495 Productions and Miso.

Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO FremantleMedia, said: “Duck Soup is an exciting business with three incredibly talented founders at its helm.

“They have a refreshing determination to portray a broad range of perspectives through creative storytelling, and we’re looking forward to being part of their success.”

Durdy commented: “We pride ourselves on being able to find and nurture incredible talent that shares our distinct vision and to support them in creating high-quality content.

Wray-Rogers added: “We are so happy to have found a likeminded partner in FremantleMedia who really understand and back our creative process.”

Holyland also said: “This is a huge statement of confidence in a UK voice outside of London and we are thrilled to be embarking on this journey together.”

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