Wednesday round-up: Latest news, deals & hires

End nears for Colin From Accounts 

Hit Australian comedy Colin From Accounts is to end after its upcoming eight-part third season.

The show, which was created by and stars Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall, is produced by Aussie prodco Easy Tiger and CBS Studios.

It was commissioned by local streamer Binge, which will debut its third run on 27 July. Dyer and Brammall said “creatively it feels like the right time to say goodbye” to the show, which has sold globally including on the BBC in the UK and Paramount+ in the US.

The series, sold by Paramount Global Content Distribution, follows two strangers who come together over an injured dog, entering an unlikely relationship.

All3 shutters UK label Purple

Manchester’s indie community has suffered a blow after Objective Media Group (OMG) closed down Purple Productions after seven years.

The label, which is responsible for daytime returners including BBC1’s Doorbell Detectives (two series), 5’s Motorway Cops: Catching Britain’s Speeders (10 series) and Paramount+ spin-off Motorway Cops USA, closed down in mid-June following a review by the super-indie sub-group, which is part of All3Media.

It is understood the closure is due to challenging market conditions and not related to the recent merger of All3Media and Banijay. Read more

E! serves up more Cocktail Wars

Versant-owned E! is returning its competition show based around cocktail making.

Cocktail Wars is from Texas Crew Productions, Innovative Ideas Productions, and R&D Media. It premieres 18 August and sees hosts Lance Bass and Joey Fatone joined by mixologist Melissa Brooke and celebrity guest judges from Versant shows who sample drinks created by contestants.

Bartenders must created and eliver drinks with flair and finesse as they battle to win a $10,000 top prize.