What Red Planet Pictures does

Red Planet Pictures is a UK-based scripted television production company founded in 2006 by award-winning writer Tony Jordan, headquartered in London and operating as a Fremantle-owned (RTL Group subsidiary) production label since the 2024 majority acquisition via Asacha Media Group. The company's core business is developing, producing, and licensing high-end drama series for major UK broadcasters — primarily BBC and ITV — and international partners, with go-to-market centered on pitching original concepts, adapting best-selling novels, and extending successful franchises into spin-offs. Its flagship asset is the Paradise franchise: Death in Paradise (a Caribbean-set crime drama now in its 15th series with over 100 episodes and 8 million+ viewers), plus spin-offs Beyond Paradise (Devon-set, UK) and Return to Paradise (Australia-set, for ABC). The broader slate spans period drama (Sanditon, Dickensian, The Nativity, The Ark), contemporary thrillers (Our House, The Only Suspect), action-adventure (Hooten & The Lady), and historical/biblical content.

The business model is commission-driven B2B production: revenue derives from production fees, rights licensing, and co-production arrangements with broadcasters, with international distribution handled by BBC Studios (selling the Paradise franchise to 230+ territories) and Fremantle. Production is led by Co-CEOs Belinda Campbell and Alex Jones, supported by founder Tony Jordan as Executive Chairman and a newly appointed Creative Director (Tom Leggett, February 2026). Technology in the conventional software sense is not a differentiator — the proprietary assets are intangible: a deep content library of returning franchises, established broadcaster relationships, distribution agreements with BBC Studios and Fremantle, and writing/executive talent. The company's recent strategic posture emphasizes franchise expansion (multi-territory Paradise universe), senior creative leadership hires, and slate diversification across multiple broadcasters and genres, while operating with an independent creative identity within the Fremantle group.

Name

Red Planet Pictures

Legal name

Red Planet Pictures Limited

Website

https://redplanetpictures.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Red Planet Pictures is a London-based scripted television production company, founded in 2006 and majority-owned by Fremantle, producing premium drama — notably the Paradise franchise (Death in Paradise, Beyond Paradise, Return to Paradise) — for BBC, ITV, and international broadcasters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. TV Production and Commissioning: Red Planet Pictures generates revenue by producing drama series commissioned by major broadcasters including BBC, ITV, and international networks. Revenue comes from production fees, rights licensing, and co-production arrangements with distribution partners.
2. International Content Distribution: Content is distributed internationally through BBC Studios and Fremantle, generating licensing revenue across 230+ territories worldwide for the Death in Paradise franchise alone.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Red Planet Pictures is a UK-based television production company that develops and produces scripted drama series for major UK and international broadcasters. The company creates original drama, adapts best-selling novels, and builds returnable drama franchises — most notably the Paradise franchise (Death in Paradise, Beyond Paradise, Return to Paradise) — commissioned by BBC, ITV, and distributed globally through partners including BBC Studios and Fremantle.

Product overview

Red Planet Pictures is a UK-based television production company producing high-quality drama series. The company operates a diverse portfolio of drama productions centered around their flagship franchise Death in Paradise and its spin-offs Beyond Paradise and Return to Paradise. Their slate includes period dramas (Sanditon, Dickensian, The Nativity), crime thrillers (Our House, By Any Means), action-adventure (Hooten & The Lady), and historical/biblical content (The Ark, The Passing Bells). As a Fremantle company, Red Planet produces content for major UK broadcasters including BBC, ITV, and international partners, with distribution handled by BBC Studios globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Death in Paradise Caribbean-set crime drama series following detective investigations on the fictional island of Saint Marie, produced for BBC One and distributed worldwide by BBC Studios. Licensed to over 230 territories globally.
• Beyond Paradise Death in Paradise spin-off drama following DI Humphrey Goodman solving crimes in rural Devon, co-commissioned by BBC and BritBox International for UK and international streaming audiences.
• Return to Paradise Australian spin-off of Death in Paradise set in Dolphin Cove, produced with BBC Studios Australia for ABC Australia and BBC One/iPlayer. Licensed to 93+ territories globally.
• Sanditon Period drama adaptation of Jane Austen's final unfinished novel, produced for ITV (UK) and Masterpiece PBS (US) and sold globally to over 190 territories.
• Our House Psychological thriller adapted from Louise Candlish's bestselling novel about a woman who returns home to find strangers moving into her house, produced for ITV and ITVX.
• Dickensian Innovative period drama bringing together iconic characters from Charles Dickens's novels in a single setting, produced for BBC One and nominated for Best Original Programme at the Broadcast Awards.
• Hooten & The Lady Action-adventure drama following treasure hunter Hooten and British Museum representative Lady Alexandra on globetrotting adventures, produced for Sky One.
• The Nativity Contemporary adaptation of the Nativity story written by Tony Jordan, produced for BBC One (UK) and CBC (Canada), co-produced with K Films and Temple Street.
• The Passing Bells Five-part BBC One drama following two young men during World War I, commissioned to commemorate the centenary of the conflict.
• The Ark Biblical retelling of the story of Noah and the Ark created by Tony Jordan for BBC One and UP, produced in association with Lip Sync Productions and Great Point Media.
• By Any Means

Quantifiable outcome

• 8 million+ viewers for Death in Paradise series
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• ScreenSkillsminorOthers · 10 December 2025Red Planet Pictures partnered with ScreenSkills to offer the First Break programme, providing paid work experience placements for locals in Cornwall and Devon on Beyond Paradise series.
• Imaginary Friends ProductionsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2025Red Planet Pictures announced collaboration with Chris Chibnall's Imaginary Friends Productions to adapt Death at the White Hart, the debut novel from the Broadchurch creator, for ITV.
• BBC StudioscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBBC Studios handles global sales and international distribution for Red Planet Pictures productions including Death in Paradise, Beyond Paradise, and other content. Productions are licensed to over 230 territories worldwide through this partnership.
• BBCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBBC is the primary UK broadcast partner for Death in Paradise (now in its 15th series) and Beyond Paradise. Content airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
• BritBox InternationalmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBritBox International co-commissions Beyond Paradise with the BBC and distributes the series to North America, Nordic markets, and South Africa.
• BBC Studios Productions AustraliamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBC Studios Productions Australia partners with Red Planet Pictures to produce Return to Paradise spin-off for ABC Australia, with international distribution by BBC Studios.
• Masterpiece PBSmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMasterpiece PBS partnered on the Sanditon adaptation, distributing the period drama to US audiences. Sanditon series was also sold globally to over 190 territories.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Bad Wolf: Welsh-based drama production company behind His Dark Materials, Industry, and The Salisbury Poisonings. Comparable in size and genre mix, with strong BBC relationship, though more recently established as a standalone indie.
• See-Saw Films: Anglo-Australian production company behind The Power of the Dog, Slow Horses, and Heartstopper. Comparable in producing premium drama across BBC/Apple/Netflix with international co-production capability, though with a stronger film footprint.

Direct peers

• Mammoth Screen: UK drama production company of comparable size, producing premium scripted series (Poldark, Victoria, Noughts + Crosses). Now owned by ITV Studios, it competes for the same UK drama commissions and operates a similar scale/slate model. Former employer of Red Planet's incoming Creative Director Tom Leggett.
• New Pictures: All3Media-owned UK drama indie producing The Missing, Baptiste, and Anatomy of a Scandal. Direct peer in the crime/thriller prestige space, with comparable scale and broadcaster mix.
• Kudos Film and Television: UK drama indie producing Spooks, Broadchurch, Luther, and Tin Star. Kudos is a direct genre and structural peer (Banijay-owned) producing returnable crime and prestige drama for UK and international broadcasters.
• Carnival Films: UK drama producer of Downton Abbey, Poirot, and The Last Kingdom. Banijay-owned, comparable scale, focused on period and prestige drama for ITV/Netflix — most structurally similar peer for the Sanditon-type business.
• World Productions: UK drama indie behind Line of Duty, Bodyguard, and The Capture. Operates in the same crime/thriller prestige space, with comparable scale and UK broadcaster relationships (BBC, ITV, Channel 4). Owned by ITV Studios.
• Hat Trick Productions: Independent UK producer of drama and comedy (Outnumbered, Drop the Dead Donkey, Derry Girls co-production). Comparable scale and B2B broadcaster commissioning model, though with a stronger comedy mix.
• Sister Pictures: London-based premium drama indie behind Peaky Blinders, Chernobyl, and The Split. Sister is a near-twin to Red Planet in size, genre mix (crime, period, prestige), and target broadcasters (BBC, ITV, Channel 4). Now owned by BBC Studios.

Broad incumbents

• Fremantle: Red Planet's majority owner and one of the world's largest content producers and distributors (RTL Group/Bertelsmann subsidiary). Operates a portfolio of scripted labels including 72 Films and Euston Films — a broad incumbent in the same parent ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/redplanettv
• Facebookfacebook.com/redplanetpictures
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/red-planet-pictures-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Red Planet Pictures