Armando Iannucci (Veep, The Thick of It, The Franchise) has launched the production company Touchscreen Ltd. with BBC Studios. The partners unveiled a U.K. development partnership on Monday.
“The agreement will see BBC Studios and Touchscreen, founded by Armando Iannucci, work together to develop and co-produce innovative, daring and world-class scripted programming for the U.K. and international markets, distributed by BBC Studios,” they said in a press release.
Working alongside Iannucci at Touchscreen will be his long-standing collaborator and producer Kevin Loader, joined by development producer Charlotte Draper.
“The new partnership will be committed to mentoring and championing new British talent, on and off screen, and telling stories that resonate globally,” the partners said.
Said Iannucci: “Touchscreen is focused on making projects that reflect, confront or celebrate the world we live in. I’ll be continuing my relationship with HBO, and now with Touchscreen I have the opportunity to nurture new creative and production talent and ideas. I’m so glad that I’ll be partnering with BBC Studios to do this, especially as the BBC is where I learned my craft. The aim of Touchscreen, with the support of BBC Studios, is to give others the same opportunity to find their voice and reach their audience, and for us together to make shows that are daring, that get people talking and which encourage us all to look at our world afresh.”
Added Mark Linsey, president of scripted at BBC Studios: “I’m delighted that BBC Studios is going to be in partnership with Armando and Touchscreen. Developing new British talent is critical for the future of our creative industry and I’m excited to see what talent and new storytelling we can build together.”
The deal was brokered by Lucy Fairney at PBJ Management.
