ITV Studios has announced the expansion of its international scripted footprint by acquiring a majority stake in the Australian production company Lingo Pictures.
Led by two of the most prolific and respected drama producers in the market, Helen Bowden and Jason Stephens, Lingo Pictures will be ITV Studios’ first-ever Australian scripted label.
Bowden and Stephens will continue to head up the business based in Sydney. As part of the wider ITV Studios Group, Lingo will sit under the international production arm led by managing director Lisa Perrin.
Lingo is known for the creation and production of innovative and ambitious returning drama for domestic and international audiences, having nurtured strong relationships with both linear broadcasters and streamers on a global scale.
Lingo’s recent productions include a second season of The Secrets She Keeps for Paramount+, BBC One and Sundance/AMC.
The first outing was BBC iPlayer’s fifth most watched drama of 2020. The company has also just completed production on the second season of the Foxtel Australia and Sky Original series, Upright, starring Tim Minchin and Milly Alcock (House of the Dragon).
Both shows have received strong critical acclaim and have sold very well internationally, with Upright’s many accolades including being nominated for Best International Drama at the Edinburgh TV Awards.
Lingo is known for its relationships with world-class writers and directors at both established and emerging levels, having built a reputation as an author-led company.
Further noteworthy projects include the upcoming Queen of Oz, a comedy starring and co-written by Catherine Tate, commissioned directly by BBC One in the UK; The Messenger, based on the best-selling novel by Markus Zusak, for Australia’s ABC; and Prosper for Australian streaming service Stan and Lionsgate. ITV Studios will handle the international distribution for all new Lingo Pictures series.
Perrin said: “I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Helen and Jason whose partnership has become one of the most admired in the Australian and international scripted space.
Their talent for producing high quality scripted content is clear and they are well positioned to take even more advantage of the unprecedented demand for English language drama as part of our global network of production companies.”
Bowden and Stephens added: “What a privilege it is to join the international powerhouse ITV Studios at a time when Australian stories are exploding around the world. We are so excited to be sitting alongside the other illustrious ITV Studios labels and can’t wait to get started!”
Lingo Pictures previous productions include the multi award-winning gothic drama Lambs Of God (2019), winner of nine AACTA (Australian Academy) Awards, On The Ropes (2018), and Wake In Fright (2017), a thriller based on Kenneth Cook’s 1961 novel of the same name.
Prior to forming Lingo, Bowden was a founder and managing director of Matchbox Pictures, which sold to NBC Universal in 2014, while Stephens spent ten years as head of development and then creative director at Fremantle Australia.
Lingo Pictures joins an array of leading scripted labels forming ITV Studios’ major international production and distribution group.
Most recently drama creator Ben Stephenson was welcomed with his label, Poison Pen Studios, joining Nicola Shindler and Quay Street Productions, Dominic Treadwell Collins and Happy Prince; Patrick Spence and David P.Davis, whose label 5Acts sits within Spence’s studio; Arturo Diaz with Cattleya Producciones; Moritz Polter with Windlight Pictures; Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements with Tomorrow Studios and Tony To and Dan Sackheim with Bedrock Entertainment.
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Top image, left to right: Jason Stephens and Helen Bowden