Fremantle and Fudge Park Productions Strike First-Look Comedy, Drama Development Deal

In a first-look and development deal, Fremantle will become the primary home for all of Fudge Park’s upcoming scripted projects.

The news was unveiled Tuesday following the success of BBC Three’s Daddy Issues, starring Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education) and David Morrissey (The Walking Dead, Sherwood), which debuted on BBC iPlayer in August and has already been green-lit for a second season.

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The U.K. indie will work closely with Fremantle’s Global Drama and International Distribution divisions to help develop its drama and comedy slate, with an aim to break ground in new territories. The deal was brokered by Jill Kellie, vp commercial strategy, commercial & international, and Jonathan Blyth, managing director at Fudge Park.

Set in Stockport, Daddy Issues sees Gemma (Wood) discover she’s pregnant after a one-night stand. With her sister Catherine (Sharon Rooney) in prison and her mum Davina (Susan Lynch) traveling around the world, Gemma was forced to turn to her hapless father Malcolm (Morrissey).

The six-part half-hour series is a Fudge Park production for BBC Three and BBC iPlayer, created and written by Danielle Ward (Brassic).

“We’ve loved working with the team at Fremantle over the last year who’ve been an outstanding partner on Daddy Issues,” said Blyth. “They really understand the DNA of Fudge Park and share our creative vision, so broadening the partnership was an easy decision to make.”

Dundon added: “Fudge Park is a rare gem, where talent-driven vision meets universal themes and sharp, original writing. They consistently deliver fresh, engaging content, and I couldn’t be prouder to kick off our partnership following the success of Daddy Issues.”

The partnership marks the latest in a line of other first-look deals, such as with Kristen Stewart’s Nevermind Pictures, Me+You Productions and Roughcut Television, Pablo and Juan de Dios Larraín’s Fabula, Luca Guadagnino, Paolo Sorrentino, Angelina Jolie, Rachel Weisz and Polly Stokes’ Astral Projection, Edward Berger and his label Nine Hours, Johan Renck and Michael Parets’ Sinestra, Patrick Daly’s Caledonia Productions as well as ongoing collaborations with acclaimed writers and directors including Michael Winterbottom.

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