Monday round-up: Latest news, deals & hires

Björn Borg drama in works with Banijay duo

Banijay Entertainment’s Jarowskij/Yellow Bird and Mastiff Sweden are co-developing a drama based on Björn Borg’s memoir Hjärtslag (Heartbeat).

The adaptation, described as a “scripted interpretation”, is in development and will be helmed by filmmaker Jonas Åkerlund Lord of Chaos).

The show will explore Borg’s rise to tennis superstardom including his unprecedented five consecutive Wimbledon titles and his shocking decision to retire at just 26 years old. Hjärtslag was published by Norstedts last month.

Borg said: “I’ve spent my entire life in matches – both on and off the court. Jonas wants to explore both sides, and I feel the time is right for that. He has the eye, the energy, and the courage to tell my story in his own way.”

Secuoya preps Can Yaman drama

Spain’s Secuoya Studios has revealed an eight-episode romantic thriller starring Can Yaman (Sandokan) that marks the actor’s first Spanish-language project and his first series shot in Spain.

The as-yet untitled series is executive produced by Eduardo Galdo (The Crossroad), who also conceived the original idea alongside Lele Portas (Heridas) as executive producer.

Ángela Obón (4 Stars) and Daniel Corpas (When Nobody Sees Us) wrote the script, which follows a secret agent who is betrayed and become the most wanted man in Spain.

The series is Secuoya Studios Stories’ second major fiction project following The Crossroad, which the studio said had become the most-watched Spanish fiction premiere of the year on Antena 3.

NHK doc lands Prix Italia double

Ryuichi Sakamoto: Last Days, the music documentary from Japan’s NHK, picked up two awards including the Special Prize at the Prix Italia 2025 late last week.

The 59-minute doc, which was also awarded a Prix Italia for the TV performing arts category, was first broadcast in April 2024 and explores the final years of the acclaimed musician after receiving a terminal diagnosis. It is distributed by NHK Enterprises.

The Special Prize is selected from all nominated shows and is awarded to a program featuring innovative language which best expresses cultural and artistic quality.

The Prix Italia’s honour TV, streaming, radio and podcast output, and have been organised by Italian public broadcaster RAI since 1948.

BBC Studios dominates BBC tenders 

BBC Studios has won three-quarters (74%) of all competitive tenders since the BBC made its returning in-house shows contestable by indies in 2017.

So far, the BBC has awarded contracts for 23 network shows, of which six (26%) have been awarded to indies and 17 to BBCS.

The titles which went to the indie sector are: Songs of Praise, awarded to Afanti and Nine Lives in 2017; Proms TV coverage, won by Livewire in 2019; Mastermind and Celebrity Mastermind, for Hindsight and Hat Trick in 2019; Sunday Morning Live (Tern TV and Green Inc in 2022); DIY SOS, handed to South Shore in 2024; and See Hear, awarded to Signpost Productions in 2024.

The total value of the tenders that the BBC was able to confirm is £130.45m (the corporation was unable to state the value of three contracts). Two were won by BBCS and one by BBC Sport. Read more