Leading scripted producer Kudos and Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight sign creative partnership and UK first look deal to support TV & film production in Birmingham.
New six-part series Two Tone (w/t) from Kudos and Steven Knight greenlit by BBC One.
Partnership will use Knight’s Digbeth Loc. Studios as its production hub and includes major investment in local talent, training and skills in Birmingham
Kudos (part of Banijay UK), the production
company behind Knight’s upcoming series for BBC One, SAS Rogue Heroes, as well as high profile series including the upcoming Then You Run for Sky, Deadwater Fell, Grantchester, Code 404 and International Emmy winning Responsible Child, have signed a creative partnership deal with Peaky Blinders, Taboo and See creator Steven Knight. The deal will provide Kudos a first look on future UK based projects originated by Steven Knight and support the Birmingham film and TV industry.
The deal formalises a partnership, which has recently seen Kudos and Knight work together on upcoming major new BBC One series SAS Rogue Heroes and now sees their next collaboration Two Tone (w/t) greenlit for a six-part series.
Two Tone (w/t), which will air on BBC One in the UK, tells the story of an extended family and four young people who are drawn into the world of ska and two tone music, which grew from the grass roots of Coventry and Birmingham in the late 70s and early 80s. The music united black, white and Asian youths in an expression of unity which we might see as enviable today. It will go into production later this year and will be made in Birmingham at Knight’s new Digbeth Loc. Film and TV studio. Banijay Rights will handle interna
tional distribution for the series.
The new partnership is committed to substantial long-term financial investment in skills and training in the West Midlands with the ambition of growing the local workforce, incubating talent and generating a thriving scripted production pipeline in Birmingham. Leveraging Kudos’ creative and production infrastructure, the partnership has Knight’s Digbeth Loc. Studios as its hub.
“This is a real opportunity to nurture and grow the TV industry in the fertile soil of Birmingham. We need local people, local locations, local know-how and local stories to help us make world beating screen content. As a partner, Kudos could not be more prestigious and it’s a pleas
ure to welcome them into town. We hit the ground running in the next few months with our first project which is West Midlands to its core, and I am hugely excited by what the future holds.” - Steven Knight
Martin Haines, Joint MD of Kudos said; “I am delighted we are building on our relationship with Steve and taking our partnership to the next level in this fantastic way which will have real impact on the production industry in Birmingham and the West Midlands.”
Karen Wilson, Joint MD of Kudos added; “Steven an
d Kudos are absolutely aligned in our drive to produce outstanding scripted television, and with a number of exciting ideas already in development, I’m confident that this partnership will do just that.”
This deal follows the announcement that sister Banijay UK compa
ny Shine TV has signed a landmark 6-year deal with the BBC to produce all series in the UK MasterChef franchise from Birmingham. A move out of London for the first time in the show’s 30-year history which will include significant investment in local training and development. The series will be made in Digbeth Loc. Studios with production due to start in 2024.
Banijay UK is committed to increasing regional production, developing new talent from around the UK and telling local stories. It has production bases and companies all around the UK, making 800 hours outside London last year.