Made in Chelsea and That’s My Jam producer Monkey’s co-founders are stepping down after more than two decades at the helm.
In a note shared with staff, owner Universal International Studios President Beatrice Springborn said Creative Directors David Granger and Will Macdonald have “announced their decision to leave.”
“In addition to building a compelling premium unscripted business, David and Will have also built a fantastic team and are leaving Monkey well-positioned for the future,” she added. “I want to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to David and Will for their dedication in building Monkey into the successful production company that it is today.”
Granger and Macdonald added: “It’s been an incredibly tough decision to say goodbye to Monkey. More than anything we are just immensely proud of the 200 series we’ve created and produced together at Monkey from Borehamwood to Hollywood and back again.”
The pair...
In a note shared with staff, owner Universal International Studios President Beatrice Springborn said Creative Directors David Granger and Will Macdonald have “announced their decision to leave.”
“In addition to building a compelling premium unscripted business, David and Will have also built a fantastic team and are leaving Monkey well-positioned for the future,” she added. “I want to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to David and Will for their dedication in building Monkey into the successful production company that it is today.”
Granger and Macdonald added: “It’s been an incredibly tough decision to say goodbye to Monkey. More than anything we are just immensely proud of the 200 series we’ve created and produced together at Monkey from Borehamwood to Hollywood and back again.”
The pair...
- 6/9/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
The co-founders of “Made in Chelsea” producers Monkey are stepping down after 23 years with the company.
Sources tell Variety that David Granger and Will Macdonald announced their decision to exit as creative directors of Monkey on Friday afternoon. It’s not yet clear why they’re leaving, but it’s believed they may set up another production shingle in the future.
Granger and Macdonald founded Monkey in 2000 and joined Universal International Studios in 2010 when the company was acquired by NBCUniversal. Since that period, Monkey has grown into a reality behemoth in the U.K., best known for the long-running unscripted show “Made in Chelsea” — now on Season 25 on digital channel E4 and also airing on Peacock in the U.S. — as well as “The Real Housewives of Cheshire,” which is on Season 16 for ITVBe.
The company’s other credits include the BBC adaptation of NBC’s “That’s My Jam,” fronted...
Sources tell Variety that David Granger and Will Macdonald announced their decision to exit as creative directors of Monkey on Friday afternoon. It’s not yet clear why they’re leaving, but it’s believed they may set up another production shingle in the future.
Granger and Macdonald founded Monkey in 2000 and joined Universal International Studios in 2010 when the company was acquired by NBCUniversal. Since that period, Monkey has grown into a reality behemoth in the U.K., best known for the long-running unscripted show “Made in Chelsea” — now on Season 25 on digital channel E4 and also airing on Peacock in the U.S. — as well as “The Real Housewives of Cheshire,” which is on Season 16 for ITVBe.
The company’s other credits include the BBC adaptation of NBC’s “That’s My Jam,” fronted...
- 6/9/2023
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
The Royal Television Society (Rts) has unveiled the nominees for this year’s Rts Programme Awards.
Billie Piper (“I Hate Suzie Too”), Kate Winslet (“I Am Ruth”) and Monica Dolan are nominated in the leading actor female category, while Kane Robinson (“Top Boy”), Kit Connor (“Heartstopper”) and Chaske Spencer (“The English”) are contenders for leading actor male.
This year, the Rts has introduced two new performance categories – supporting actor male and supporting actor female. Ambika Mod (“This Is Going to Hurt”), Saffron Hocking (“Top Boy”) and Adelayo Adedayo (“The Responder”) compete in the female category with Adeel Akhtar (“Sherwood”), Stephen Walters (“Anne”) and Stephen Merchant (“Four Lives”) in the male category.
The BBC leads with 40 nominations across the 30 categories, followed by Channel 4 with 20, ITV with 11 and Sky with 9.
The BBC’s “Am I Being Unreasonable?” scored four nominations and the broadcaster’s hit “The Traitors” is nominated in the entertainment category,...
Billie Piper (“I Hate Suzie Too”), Kate Winslet (“I Am Ruth”) and Monica Dolan are nominated in the leading actor female category, while Kane Robinson (“Top Boy”), Kit Connor (“Heartstopper”) and Chaske Spencer (“The English”) are contenders for leading actor male.
This year, the Rts has introduced two new performance categories – supporting actor male and supporting actor female. Ambika Mod (“This Is Going to Hurt”), Saffron Hocking (“Top Boy”) and Adelayo Adedayo (“The Responder”) compete in the female category with Adeel Akhtar (“Sherwood”), Stephen Walters (“Anne”) and Stephen Merchant (“Four Lives”) in the male category.
The BBC leads with 40 nominations across the 30 categories, followed by Channel 4 with 20, ITV with 11 and Sky with 9.
The BBC’s “Am I Being Unreasonable?” scored four nominations and the broadcaster’s hit “The Traitors” is nominated in the entertainment category,...
- 3/7/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
NBCUniversal-backed “Made in Chelsea” producer Monkey may have had to cancel its 20th anniversary celebrations this year, but that didn’t stop the London and Los Angeles-based outfit from getting seven shows over the line during the pandemic.
Formed by David Granger and Will Macdonald in 2000 and acquired by NBCUniversal International Studios (part of the Universal Studios Group) in 2010, the company is best known for reality hits like “The Real Housewives of Cheshire” and juggernaut “Made in Chelsea,” as well as quiz show “The Question Jury” and variety series “The Charlotte Church Show.”
Like much of the industry, the pandemic has tested the business to its limits, particularly when all production — including season 19 of “Made in Chelsea” — came to a crashing halt in March. But the minute the company saw a “glimmer of light” in easing lockdown restrictions over the summer, it leapt at the opportunity to get cameras rolling,...
Formed by David Granger and Will Macdonald in 2000 and acquired by NBCUniversal International Studios (part of the Universal Studios Group) in 2010, the company is best known for reality hits like “The Real Housewives of Cheshire” and juggernaut “Made in Chelsea,” as well as quiz show “The Question Jury” and variety series “The Charlotte Church Show.”
Like much of the industry, the pandemic has tested the business to its limits, particularly when all production — including season 19 of “Made in Chelsea” — came to a crashing halt in March. But the minute the company saw a “glimmer of light” in easing lockdown restrictions over the summer, it leapt at the opportunity to get cameras rolling,...
- 11/25/2020
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Comedian, writer, actor and host London Hughes has set her first stand-up special for Netflix, produced by HartBeat Productions, Variety has learned exclusively.
The hour-long special, entitled “London Hughes: To Catch a D*ck,” will stream on Dec. 22. This debut comedy special first launched in the U.K. and earned her the distinction of being the first British Black woman to be nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy “Best Show” Award. Now she is premiering it on a global scale.
“I’m thrilled to be working with the legend that is Kevin Hart, and I’m so excited for the world to see this special,” said Hughes. “After the crazy year we’ve had, we could all do with a good laugh and some good dick.”
In the special, Hughes reflects on how she is “awesome, successful, attractive…has no gag reflex and yet somehow [is] incredibly single,” Netflix explained. In order...
The hour-long special, entitled “London Hughes: To Catch a D*ck,” will stream on Dec. 22. This debut comedy special first launched in the U.K. and earned her the distinction of being the first British Black woman to be nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy “Best Show” Award. Now she is premiering it on a global scale.
“I’m thrilled to be working with the legend that is Kevin Hart, and I’m so excited for the world to see this special,” said Hughes. “After the crazy year we’ve had, we could all do with a good laugh and some good dick.”
In the special, Hughes reflects on how she is “awesome, successful, attractive…has no gag reflex and yet somehow [is] incredibly single,” Netflix explained. In order...
- 11/19/2020
- by Danielle Turchiano
- Variety Film + TV
Long-time NBCUniversal executive Jeff Wachtel has left the company, Variety has confirmed. He most recently served as president of NBCUniversal International Studios.
Variety understands that Wachtel’s departure follows some issues pertaining to respect in the workplace, after which it was agreed that Wachtel would leave the company. It’s believed a search for his replacement is underway.
Wachtel served for nearly two decades at NBCUniversal, crossing the pond to London in 2018 to oversee NBCU International’s portfolio of production companies and manage the development of formats and content partnerships for the Peacock. Replacing Michael Edelstein as head of the business’s international TV strategy, Wachtel’s arrival in the U.K. was met with much fanfare, and he became a regular face at local conferences like the Royal Television Society events.
His production bona fides won him the respect of the local production community, and his passion for scripted...
Variety understands that Wachtel’s departure follows some issues pertaining to respect in the workplace, after which it was agreed that Wachtel would leave the company. It’s believed a search for his replacement is underway.
Wachtel served for nearly two decades at NBCUniversal, crossing the pond to London in 2018 to oversee NBCU International’s portfolio of production companies and manage the development of formats and content partnerships for the Peacock. Replacing Michael Edelstein as head of the business’s international TV strategy, Wachtel’s arrival in the U.K. was met with much fanfare, and he became a regular face at local conferences like the Royal Television Society events.
His production bona fides won him the respect of the local production community, and his passion for scripted...
- 10/16/2020
- by Naman Ramachandran and Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Jakob Mejlhede Andersen has stepped down as CEO of Nordic Entertainment Group’s UK division. Mejlhede Andersen was appointed to the role in October 2019, having joined from his role as Evp and Chief Content Officer for Nent Group’s Viaplay streaming service. The company is now searching for a new chief executive. Anders Jensen, Nent Group President and CEO, said Mejlhede Andersen made an “outstanding contribution” to building streamer Viaplay. “We premiered our first original less than four years ago and we will premiere at least 30 series in 2020, many of which have been sold internationally. Jakob has been instrumental in the success of this strategy. I want to thank him for his commitment, engagement and ability to consistently commission and acquire great content for our channels and services.” Mejlhede Andersen added, “I have enjoyed every second working with my amazing friends and colleagues at Nent Group. We have built something...
- 2/19/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
“Carpool Karaoke” producer Fulwell 73 has hired ITV comedy controller Saskia Schuster to head a new scripted outfit out of the U.K.
Schuster joins as head of scripted at the “Late Late Show with James Corden” producer in early May. Based in London, she will report into managing partner Leo Pearlman.
Schuster joined ITV in 2014 as controller for comedy, and her commissions include “The Trouble With Maggie Cole,” “The Keith and Paddy Picture Show,” “Birds of a Feather” and “Harry Hill’s Alien Fun Capsule” for ITV, as well as “ Shopping with Keith Lemon,” “The Stand Up Sketch Show,” “Don’t Hate The Playaz” and “Timewasters” for ITV2.
Schuster has played a key role in addressing gender imbalance in comedy, founding Comedy 50:50, an initiative aimed at rolling out practical measures to achieve equal representation in writing rooms and production teams for women.
As part of this drive, Schuster was responsible...
Schuster joins as head of scripted at the “Late Late Show with James Corden” producer in early May. Based in London, she will report into managing partner Leo Pearlman.
Schuster joined ITV in 2014 as controller for comedy, and her commissions include “The Trouble With Maggie Cole,” “The Keith and Paddy Picture Show,” “Birds of a Feather” and “Harry Hill’s Alien Fun Capsule” for ITV, as well as “ Shopping with Keith Lemon,” “The Stand Up Sketch Show,” “Don’t Hate The Playaz” and “Timewasters” for ITV2.
Schuster has played a key role in addressing gender imbalance in comedy, founding Comedy 50:50, an initiative aimed at rolling out practical measures to achieve equal representation in writing rooms and production teams for women.
As part of this drive, Schuster was responsible...
- 2/12/2020
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
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