BBC Studios snags first-look pact with ‘The Repair Shop’ host’s prodco

Jay Blades

BBC Studios has struck a one-year first-look development deal with Hungry Jay Media, the joint venture between The Repair Shop presenter Jay Blades and UK production company Hungry Bear.

The agreement will give BBCS priority access to Hungry Jay’s slate with a focus on factual entertainment formats for the UK market that can travel around the world.

It is also designed to help Hungry Jay expand their development team and build on recent output such as Jay Blades: Learning To Read At 51 on BBC One, and Jay Blades: There’s No Place Like Home for Channel 5.

Emma Hardie, BBCS’s commercial director of international production & formats, said: “Hungry Jay combines one of the most credible and authentic presenters currently on television with a brilliant team of creatives that deliver much-loved, hit shows.

“Their commitment to supporting new and diverse talent is a value we passionately support. We’re really excited to be able to partner with them on this next phase of creative growth to make fantastic formats that will resonate with the international market.”

Hungry Jay Media was founded in 2020 and brings together Dan Baldwin and Juliet Denison Gay’s production company Hungry Bear (The Wheel on BBC One) with furniture restorer and designer Blades (The Repair Shop).