Tom Manwaring advises Mammoth Screen on a sale to ITV Studios

Mammoth Screen is one of the most talked about independent scripted drama producers in the UK – most recently responsible for the hugely successful Poldark series, which launched in March 2015. Season 1 peaked at 9.4 million viewers, making it the BBC’s most successful new Sunday 9pm drama for 5 years, with Season 2 already commissioned.

The company was founded in 2007 by widely respected creatives Damien Timmer and Michele Buck. Making high quality writer-led drama and comedy for both British and international broadcasters, the company not only has an impressive range of writer and talent relationships but also a management team that has the track record and international awareness to create commercial, innovative programming.

Recent productions include multi-award winning serial Parade’s End for BBC Two and HBO, written by Tom Stoppard and starring Benedict Cumberbatch; Endeavour for ITV, a prequel to Inspector Morse, which is currently shooting Series 3; crime comedy drama Agatha Raisin for Sky 1; and Remember Me, a three-part supernatural thriller for BBC One, starring Michael Palin.

The company are currently working on a host of new commissions, including And Then There Were None for BBC One; Victoria, a major 8 part drama series about the life of Queen Victoria for ITV; Tripped, a new fantasy series for E4 and Book of the Dead, a 10 part historical saga for The Weinstein Company.


ITV plc will increase its ownership from 25% to 100%, with Mammoth Screen maintaining its creative independence as well as continuing to benefit from an in-house distribution partner in the form of ITV Studios Global Entertainment, helping the company monetise the international rights to its programming. Following the acquisition, Michele Buck will leave the business, but continue in an Executive Producer role on an independent freelance basis.

"Tom Manwaring and his team’s experience of the complexities of structuring and negotiating these types of deals allowed them to fully safeguard the objectives of all shareholders throughout the process. Their knowledge of the scripted business is unparalled and has made the process enjoyable and easy."
Michele Buck, MD Mammoth Screen