Shine Group Boosts Comedy Output With Brown Eyed Boy Deal

30.06.2010

LONDON: Shine Group has finalised its acquisition of UK comedy specialist Brown Eyed Boy from Motive Television, it was announced today.

In a move to expand its scripted and non scripted comedy output, the deal sees Brown Eyed Boy join Dragonfly, Kudos, Princess Productions and Shine TV as the group’s fifth UK-based production company. Managing Director Gary Reich will continue to spearhead the writer/performer led talent house receiving operational support from Kudos and operating from their Islington offices.

The deal gives Brown Eyed Boy the opportunity to expand creatively, potentially through new co-production developments with other Shine Group companies, with the ambition of creating innovative larger scale comedy programming with international appeal.

Former BBC and Chrysalis Entertainment executive Reich set up Brown Eyed Boy in 2002 as a writer and performer-led talent house. He has discovered, nurtured and developed a wide range of cutting edge comedy talent such as Sacha Baron Cohen; The Mighty Boosh’s Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt; Dom Joly and Little Miss Jocelyn’s Jocelyn Jee Esien.

Key programming has included two series of LITTLE MISS JOCELYN, two series of 3 NON BLONDES, and it's latest incarnation ONE NON BLONDE which comes to BBC3 in the Autumn; HOW NOT TO LIVE YOUR LIFE, now in its third season with local versions in Germany, Italy and Canada and a US version for NBC being written and LAUGHTERSHOCK, a new multicultural sketch show.

Elisabeth Murdoch Shine Group Chairman and CEO said: “We’ve made no secret of wanting to expand the group’s scripted and non-scripted comedy offering and could not have found someone better suited than Gary with which to do so. A bold, daring, entrepreneurial producer he is at the vanguard of his profession both domestically and internationally and I welcome him warmly to Shine Group.”

Gary Reich said “Shine Group and Kudos represent everything I value in television: they foster and nurture the entrepreneurial risk-taking spirit that drew me to this industry in the first place and this is born out in their superlative slate of programmes. I couldn't have hoped to find a more generous, experienced or passionate support network than that provided by Liz, Stephen and Jane and I am excited about what we can all bring to each other in the coming years. Onward, upward, ever outward."
Jane Featherstone, Creative Director, Kudos said: “I’ve known Gary for many years. He is a uniquely gifted individual whose fresh approach to scripted and non-scripted comedy I admire. I thoroughly look forward to having him in the office and forsee great programming being made as a result.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:
About Shine Group

Founded by Elisabeth Murdoch in 2001, Shine Group has built a global footprint representing some of the most creative, ground-breaking, critically acclaimed and commercially successful programming worldwide. Shine Group is the UK’s largest independent production company, ranked No.1 in the annual Broadcast Indie Survey 2010 and boasts some of the most respected and prolific production companies in the worlds of scripted and non-scripted television. The company produced over 1,500 hours of scheduled programming in 2009 and numbers 25 companies across three continents. Shine Group consists of admired genre specialists Dragonfly (factual), Kudos (drama), and Princess Productions (entertainment) along with award-winning multi-genre producers Shine TV; market-leading independent US producers Reveille and international sales arm Shine International, distributing 3,000 hours of programming across 150 countries worldwide. The group’s library includes global hit shows Merlin, MasterChef, The Biggest Loser, The Office (US), Got to Dance, Spooks and Life on Mars. Shine Pictures, a joint venture with New Regency, develops, produces and distributes films globally. The Group also includes Shine Germany, Shine France and Shine Australia plus Metronome Film & Television, the Nordic region’s pre-eminent production group.
About Brown Eyed Boy
Brown Eyed Boy opened its doors on May 27th 2002. The company was set up by maverick producer Gary Reich after he left the BBC and Chrysalis Entertainment where he had been a comedy executive for a number of years.
The company’s mission statement is to find, nurture and develop new writer/performers, chiefly in the field of comedy, and to write and pitch innovative scripted and entertainment formats in which to place that talent. It is committed to scouring national comedy venues and drama schools, with its development researcher overseeing 150 shows at The Edinburgh Festival every year. It is also committed to finding new, surprising and often funny ways of making documentary and factual entertainment. Key programming includes 3 NON BLONDES, DAN CLARK’S GUIDE TO DATING, HOW NOT TO LIVE YOUR LIFE, LITTLE MISS JOCELYN, MEET THE BANDIAIS and LAUGHTERSHOCK.
About Kudos
Since its inception in 1992, Kudos has grown to become the UK’s most successful and original producer of popular award-winning quality scripted television and film, consistently delivering hit returning series to broadcasters both in the UK and internationally.
Under the leadership of Stephen Garrett (Executive Chairman), Jane Featherstone (Creative Director), Simon Crawford Collins and Daniel Isaacs (Joint Managing Directors) it has built its reputation by repeatedly working with the best established and new talent around the world to create ground breaking and innovative programming.
Kudos is responsible for era-defining hits SPOOKS (MI5), HUSTLE, and LIFE ON MARS. Its impressive and diverse output also includes drama series ASHES TO ASHES, LAW & ORDER: UK, and THE FIXER; kids’ drama MI-HIGH; comedies PLUS ONE and MOVING WALLPAPER; international miniseries OCCUPATION, BURN UP and TSUNAMI: THE AFTERMATH; and single films, SECRET LIFE, THE DOCTOR WHO HEARS VOICES and WIDE SARGASSO SEA.
For further information, please contact:
Patrick Keegan, Freud Communications patrick@freud.com / 0203 003 6393
Cathy Dunkley, Freud Communications cathy@freud.com/ 0203 003 6466
Jules Grant, Freud Communications jules.grant@freud.com/ 0203 003 6527