Tuesday round-up: Latest news, deals & hires

Fifth Season alum joins Blink49

Fifth Season’s Yogita Puri has joined Blink49 Studios as its executive vice president and head of business & legal affairs, based out of LA.

Puri reports to chief exec John Morayniss and takes on oversight of the company’s business and legal strategy as it expands its global slate and production footprint.

Puri joins with more than two decades of experience spanning business affairs, financing, co-productions and strategy across film and television.

She most recently served as senior vice president & associate general counsel at Fifth Season, and before that worked for The Ink Factory.

Fox format gets Spanish remake

Spain’s Atresmedia has ordered an adaptation of Fox’s Gordon Ramsay’s Secret Service.

The local remake will debut on Atresmedia’s free-to-air channel La Sexta and is being produced by Warner Bros International Television Production España.

It will feature Spanish chef Alberto Chicote and debut in primetime, but a launch date has not been confirmed. The format will be known locally as Servicio Secreto by Chicote.

Fox’s adaptation of Belgian film extended

Fox has extended its Patrick Dempsey and Michael Imperioli-starring thriller Memory of a Killer into a second season.

The drama, which completed its first season run on Monday, is inspired by the book and 2003 Belgian film De Zaak Alzheimer that tracks the life of a hitman who is losing his memory.

The series premiere Fox’s most-streamed series to date and is produced by Warner Bros. Television and Fox Entertainment.

Executive producers include showrunners Aaron Zelman and Glenn Kessler, as well as Dempsey. Arthur Sarkissian and Martin Campbell are also executive producers, along with Peter Bouckaert of Eyeworks.

SPT alum rejoins Hallmark 

Hallmark Media has appointed former Sony Pictures Television exec Marybreth Sprows as its senior vice president of original series.

Sprows, who has had stints at Imagine Television and Bad Robot, was most recently vice president of original programming at SPT.

During her time with the US studio she worked across its faith and family output, and rejoins Hallmark having previously worked for its predecessor Crown Media.

Sprows’ appointment comes alongside the addition of Tatianm Erasme, who becomes vice president of casting and talent at the US-based outfit.

Drama, comedy execs join Baby Cow

Baby Cow Productions has expanded its creative team with the appointments of comedy and drama chiefs, Broadcast can reveal.

Everyone Else Burns producer Olly Cambridge has been made head of comedy while Feel Good producer Kelly McGolpin joins as head of drama.

The two roles are newly created, with Cambridge essentially replacing previous head of comedy development Rupert Majendie, who stepped up as chief creative officer following the departure of Sarah Monteith last year.

McGolpin will oversee the drama slate, teaming up with writing talent and directors to created original series and films. Read more