BBC Studios ups stake to acquire ‘Wahala’ prodco Firebird Pictures

L-R: Elizabeth Kilgarriff & Craig Holleworth

BBC Studios has upped its stake to take full ownership of UK scripted indie Firebird Pictures.

The deal sees the BBC commercial arm taking full ownership of the production firm, which was launched by former BBC executives Elizabeth Kilgarriff and Craig Holleworth in 2019.

BBC Studios has been a minority investor in the business since it was launched and sells its IP worldwide. The indie has recently had two series green-lit: Wilderness, a six-part series for Amazon Prime Video, written by Marnie Dickens and based on BE Jones’ novel, starring Jenna Coleman and Oliver Jackson-Cohen and currently shooting in Canada and the US; and an adaptation of Nikki May’s debut novel, Wahala, written by Theresa Ikoko for BBC One, due to shoot in the UK next year.

Recent Firebird hires include Riches script editor Andin Ngwa as development executive in December and Aysha Rafaele, executive producer for The Left Behind and Killed By My Debt from backer BBC Studios in January.

Firebird joins BBC Studios now six-strong portfolio of indie labels, which also includes Lookout Point (Gentleman Jack, Happy Valley), Baby Cow Productions (Chivalry, The Witchfinder), House Productions (Sherwood, Life After Life), Clerkenwell Films (Somewhere Boy, The End of the F**king World) and Sid Gentle Films (Killing Eve, Ragdoll).

In August, BBC Studios also announced that it was taking a 25% stake in Mothership Productions, the new factual indie set up by former Channel 4 deputy director of programmes Kelly Webb-Lamb.

Other BBC Studios minority-owned indie investments include Moonage, Various Artists Limited, Expectation Entertainment, Curve Media, and Boffola Pictures

“Since it launched three years ago, Firebird has been firing on all cylinders, attracting top and emerging talent and building an exciting slate with international appeal. With two major series now green lit and a number of shows in development, we’re excited to bring Liz and Craig into the BBC Studios family and support them in this next phase of their journey,” said Mark Linsey, managing director, scripted, BBC Studios.

“From the very beginning of Firebird’s journey with just a blank piece of paper and an empty office with one chair, BBC Studios have supported and backed us every step of the way, fully trusting in our vision and ambition and helping build the company to where we are today.  We are delighted to now be cementing our relationship and are excited for Firebird’s future as we grow the company together,” added Kilgarriff and Holleworth.