Tuesday round-up: Latest news, deals & hires

UK’s 4Studio chief to depart

Matt Risley is exiting his role as managing director of Channel 4’s in-house content studio 4Studio after five years in the position.

Risley has led the Leeds-based branded and commercial content wing since its establishment in 2019, joining from his role as digital director at MTV.

He revealed his departure on LinkedIn, listing his achievements during his tenure, which include “establishing C4 as the leader in broadcaster-led social and YouTube strategy” and “defining and launching digital content propositions that translate the channel’s world-class editorial sensibilities into new forms of storytelling, tailor-made for younger audiences”. Read more

Acorn, 5 extend Ellis as it goes global

Nine Network in Australia and VRT in Belgium are among a raft of buyers to have acquired detective drama Ellis, which has been extended into a second series by 5 in the UK and streamer Acorn TV.

In Europe, the series will air on ZDF in Germany, VRT in Flemish Belgium, SVT in Sweden and NPO in the Netherlands. BBC Studios has also licensed the series in the Balkans and Central Eastern Europe.

Nine Network has picked up a second window deal in Australia after its premiere on Acorn TV in the region, and it will also launch on Mystery Channel in Japan this month. It was produced by Company Pictures and created by Siân Ejiwunmi-Le Berre with Paul Logue.

Ellis is lauded for being the first black solo female-led detective series in the UK. The three-episode second run will begin filming this month and air on 5 and Acorn TV in 2026.

Apple TV+ orders fine dining docuseries

Apple TV+ has ordered an eight-episode fine-dining docuseries from Gordon Ramsay’s Studio Ramsay Global.

Hosted by food expert Jesse Burgess, the co-founder and presenter of Topjaw, Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars will following elite chefs at major restaurants over the course of the year-long Michelin Guide season, including those attempting to gain their first Michelin Star.

Filmed in cities around the world, the series will be executive produced by Ramsay, Lisa Edwards and Morgan Roberts.

SPT lands Miniature Wife sales rights 

Sony Pictures Television has secured international distribution rights to The Miniature Wife, which will air on Peacock in the US and is being produced by Media Res (The Morning Show, Pachinko).

The relationship comedy examines the power (im)balances between spouses, played by Elizabeth Banks (Pitch Perfect) and Matthew Macfadyen (Succession), as they battle each other for supremacy after a technological accident induces the ultimate relationship crisis.

The show was created by Jennifer Ames and Steve Turner (Boardwalk Empire), who serve as showrunners and executive producers. Greg Mottola (Superbad) directs the first two episodes and is an executive producer alongside Banks, Macfadyen, Michael Aguilar, Suzanne Heathcote, Michael Ellenberg and Lindsey Springer for Media Res.

Mike Wald, co-president of distribution and networks at SPT, described Banks and Macfadyen as “an undeniable pairing”, adding: “The humour is both distinctive and smart, and it’s a heck of a lot of fun.”

Welsh broadcaster S4C names chair

Delyth Evans has been confirmed as the chair of Welsh broadcaster S4C and five new board members have also been appointed.

Evans’ approval by culture secretary Lisa Nandy follows her pre-appointment appearance at the Welsh Affairs committee last month, where she pledged to oversee a “new era” of transparency and inclusivity at the Welsh language PSB.

Evans started in the role at the start of May, taking over from interim chair Guto Bebb, and she will remain in the role for four years. Read more

UK survey highlights class problem in TV

The TV Foundation in the UK has set out an ambitious target to remove class as a barrier to working in the industry by 2030 after it found almost 1 in 4 people in TV leadership roles are privately educated.

The figure (22%), which is three times higher than the UK’s general population (1 in 13), comes from the TV Foundation’s Let’s Talk About Class: Appealing to the UK’s largest TV audience report, which highlights the industry’s current skew towards those from more privileged backgrounds.

Data for the study, which Broadcast has seen ahead of its publication today (13 May), is drawn from approaching 21 of the UK’s biggest indies, major broadcasters and streamers for information on the education background of senior staff. Read more

CBS extends daytime drama

US broadcaster CBS has extended itds daytime drama beyond the gates into a second series.

The show is from CBS Studios and NAACP Venture, and was created and executive produced by Michele Val Jean.

It is set in a leafy Maryland suburb just outside of Washington, DC, in one the most affluent African American counties, and explores life inside and outside of the gated community. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.