Studios arm to develop and produce their programme ideas

BBC Studios has signed a major deal with comedians, Simon Bird and Jonny Sweet to develop, produce and distribute any future shows they come up with.

The pair have worked together since their student days in Cambridge, and previously co-wrote and starred in Sky One comedy Chickens - while their individual  credits include The Inbetweeners, Friday Night Dinner and Johnny English.

 Under the new deal, the BBC’s commercial production arm will  take global rights on all new scripted television programmes they make with Bird and Sweet’s newly formed production company People Person Picture.

Josh Cole, head of comedy at BBC Studios Production, said: ‘We are long-time admirers of Simon and Jonny’s work – they are not only exceptionally gifted writers and performers but also producers, working closely with the industry’s most exciting, emerging comic talent. We’ve wanted this to happen for a long time and can’t wait to get started.’

Fellow BBC Studios executive Jonathan Blyth, added: ‘There is strong international appetite for Simon and Jonny’s warm and irreverent brand of comedy. We are thrilled to be partnering with them to help bring their brilliant projects to life for both UK and global audiences.’

And in a statement, Bird and Sweet added: ‘BBC Studios has been the beating heart of British comedy for decades and we’re humbled to be joining its ranks. 

We look forward to continuing the work we started at Guilty Party Pictures, putting writers and comedians at the centre of the production process, to create inventive, diverse, high-quality television’

Published: 30 Jun 2021