Tuesday round-up: Latest news, deals & hires

YLE orders drag queen drama

Finnish broadcaster YLE has linked with Banijay Finland on drag-queen drama Queen Heist.

The 8 x 25-minute series is a fast-paced comedy written and created by Cristal Snow, directed by his sibling Viivi Huuska, and produced by Max Malka.

It follows brothers Aapo and Eetu who, after losing their jobs at a small-town sausage factory, accidentally stumble into a life of drag-fuelled criminal escapades.

The project grew as part of Steve Matthews-led Banijay Bootcamp, a development and writer programme designed to accelerate new scripted ideas from labels across Banijay Entertainment.

Amavizion agrees Ananey pact

UK-based pay-per-view streamer Amavizion has struck a deal with Paramount’s Ananey Studios for more than 20 hours of its programming.

The deal includes teen drama Remnants, which explores the impact of the 7 October terrorist attacks and was originally commissioned by Israeli pubcaster KAN Kids. Eden Gurion and Yair Peri created the show, with Roman Shumunov directing.

Lifestyle and factual titles are also heading to Amazvision,m including Street Food Around the World, A Tale of Luxury, Baking Jerusalem, and A Story of Taste.

Amavizion provides pay‑per‑view rentals of shows for UK customers, with prices starting at £1.49. Lower‑priced microdramas are also set to be added to the line-up.

BBCS lands Free Nelson Mandela in Europe

Finland’s YLE, Movistar Plus+ in Spain and Arte in France Germany have struck pre-sale deals with BBC Studios for Free Nelson Mandela (w/t).

The docuseries (3 x 45-minute or 1 x 90 minutes) from Rogan Productions and GroupM Motion Entertainment, has been produced for the UK’s Channel 4 and is on BBCS’s slate ahead of its Showcase event on 23-24 February.

Denmark’s DR, NRK in Norway and Dutch broadcaster Zwart have previously agreed copro deals for the series, whichdocuments Mandela’s journey from activist to revolutionary.

Rogan Productions told Broadcast International last year that they had uncovered what they believe to be the former South African leader’s first TV interview during production of the doc.

Sherlock & Daughter creator to adapt Finnish novel

ICS Nordic, the Finnish prodco founded by Ilkka Hynninen and Ilkka Rahkonen, has snagged Sherlock & Daughter creator Brendan Foley to adapt novel Operation: Arctic Fox for TV.

The book is the third in a popular series from military affairs journalist and officer in the Finnish Army Reserve Helena Immonen.

The timely story, which is set against escalating Arctic ambitions by Russia and China, follows a Finnish family of operatives navigating military conflict, biological warfare and global espionage as geopolitical tensions reach a breaking point.

Foley is adapting to series into a high-end geopolitical thriller and action-crime drama. Immonen will executive produce the series alongside Foley, Hynninen, and Rahkonen.

UK’s Primal rejigs development

UK indie Primal Media has promoted development executive Neil Kirby to become head of development.

He succeeds Ben Riley, who is leaving the indie next month after six years for a new, as-yet unspecified, role.

Kirby joined the STV Studios label two years ago as development exec, and previously worked across a range of development roles at indies including Fulwell 73, BBC, Whizz Kid and ITV Studios. Read more