Wednesday round-up: Latest news, deals & hires

Israeli comedy trio strike European remake deals

Israel’s Yes Studios has struck a raft of format sales for its comedy drama titles with European producers.

Germany’s Constantin Film-backed Hager Moss Films has acquired format rights to romantic comedy relationship show Bloody Murray, while Banijay’s Tatort producer MadeFor Film is adapting Who Died?.

The series is set in an oncology department and follows a recently diagnosed and downtrodden single man, who meets a longtime cancer survivor and a woman who reinvigorates his life.

In France, Babylone Hills Productions and Screenline Productions will adapt Significant Other, which was previously adapted in the UK by Nicola Shindler’s Quay Street Productions for ITVX.

Northumbria Mysteries to be sold by Banijay Rights

Banijay Rights has acquired global distribution rights to upcoming BBC detective drama The Northumbria Mysteries.

The series is from North East England-based Lonesome Pine Productions and centres on an unlikely crime-solving duo who combine their talents to unravel crimes.

Robson Green stars as Joe Ruby, a jack-of-all-trades, alongside Oxford-educated DI Rose O’Connell (casting to be announced). The show will air on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK, with TX yet to be confirmed.

Mindhouse orders Katie Price 

Emmy-winner Hell Jumper director Paddy Wivell is to direct Mindhouse’s four-part Sky docuseries about Katie Price.

Katie Price: Nothing to Hide will combine unseen footage with testimony from Price and those closest to her, to examine the consequences of her three decades in the spotlight.

Price was interviewed on Mindhouse’s The Louis Theroux Podcast in 2024, where she discussed her upbringing, her turbulent romantic relationships and controversial cosmetic procedures, among other things. Read more

Canada’s Yuk Yuk’s ties with Blink49

Blink49 Studios has launched a joint venture with Canadian comedy brand Yuk Yuk’s to develop and produce a slate of live and digital comedy projects.

Yuk Yuk’s has operated a network of comedy clubs over the past five years and will work with Blink49 to source shows focused on live stand-up comedy ‘pop-up’ events across Canada.

Original comedic digital and online content will also be explored, with Blink49 Studios serving as the studio partner on all projects developed under the joint venture.