Big Talk

What Big Talk does

Big Talk Studios Ltd. is a UK-based television production company, founded in 1995 (rebranded from Big Talk Productions in April 2023), operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ITV Studios within the ITV plc group. The company specialises in scripted comedy and drama series for UK public broadcasters (BBC, Channel 4, ITV) and global streaming platforms (Apple TV+, Amazon Freevee/Prime Video, BritBox, Paramount+, ZDF). Its core product slate comprises tentpole returning franchises — the detective comedy Ludwig (BBC; 2025 International Emmy for Comedy, 9.5M+ UK viewers), the comedy-thriller The Outlaws (BBC/Amazon; three seasons), the long-running Channel 4 sitcom Friday Night Dinner, and the Mitchell & Webb sketch vehicle — alongside newer commissions such as Can You Keep a Secret? (BBC), Transaction (ITV), The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin (Apple TV+), Dinner with the Parents (Amazon Freevee US adaptation), and the upcoming BBC adaptation of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾.

The company produces end-to-end, from development through post-production, exploiting long-standing talent partnerships with David Mitchell and Robert Webb (via That Mitchell & Webb Company), Stephen Merchant (via Four Eyes), Noel Fielding, Dawn French, and Jordan Gray. Its competitive position is structurally reinforced by its ITV Studios parent, which provides global distribution (BBC Studios International, Paramount Global Content Distribution) and co-production financing. Revenue mechanics are project-based: commissions and co-production deals with broadcasters and streamers, supplemented by international format sales and secondary-window licensing across 85+ markets for flagship titles. No consumer pricing model applies; the business sells content rights, not subscriptions. The company is privately held and does not publicly disclose revenue or headcount.

Name

Big Talk

Legal name

Big Talk Studios Ltd.

Website

https://bigtalkstudios.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Big Talk Studios is a UK scripted television production company, wholly owned by ITV Studios, producing comedy and drama series for the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Apple TV+, Amazon, BritBox, and Paramount+.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Big Talk Studios is a UK-based television production company that creates, develops, and produces original premium comedy and drama series for major broadcasters and streaming platforms including BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Apple TV+, Amazon, BritBox, and Paramount+. The company provides full-service production from development through post-production and international distribution, with content airing in 85+ international markets. Its portfolio combines genre-bending storytelling with established British comedy talent.

Product overview

Big Talk Studios is a television production company (rebranded from Big Talk Productions in April 2023) that creates, produces, and exploits original premium television content. The company specializes in comedy and drama series, producing content for UK broadcasters (BBC, Channel 4, ITV) and international platforms (Apple TV+, Amazon Freevee, Paramount+). Their portfolio includes flagship titles like 'Ludwig' (detective comedy), 'The Outlaws' (comedy thriller), 'Friday Night Dinner' (long-running sitcom), 'Dick Turpin' (comedy-adventure), 'Can You Keep a Secret?' (sitcom), 'Transaction' (workplace comedy), and 'Mitchell and Webb Are Not Helping' (sketch show). The company provides full-service production expertise from development through post-production, marketing, and international distribution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ludwig Genre-bending detective comedy series starring David Mitchell as John 'Ludwig' Taylor, a reclusive puzzle-setter who assumes his identical twin brother's identity (a DCI) when he disappears, combining case-of-the-week crime solving with comedy-drama. Commissioned by BBC for UK and co-produced with BritBox for North America; won the 2025 International Emmy for Comedy.
• The Outlaws Comedy thriller series following strangers from different walks of life forced together to complete Community Payback sentence in Bristol. Created by Stephen Merchant, blending crime thriller, character study and humor with heart. BBC's biggest comedy launch of 2021 with 11 million streams on BBC iPlayer.
• The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin Comedy-adventure series starring Noel Fielding as legendary British highwayman Dick Turpin, an irreverent retelling set in the 18th century following Turpin and his gang of outlaws. Commissioned by and premiered globally on Apple TV+.
• Friday Night Dinner

Quantifiable outcome

• Ludwig achieved over 9.5 million viewers and was BBC's biggest comedy launch since 2018
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• ITV StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerITV Studios acquired Big Talk Productions and now Big Talk Studios operates as part of the ITV Studios group. This provides global distribution capabilities and access to international production resources.
• That Mitchell and Webb CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction partnership with David Mitchell and Robert Webb's company for Ludwig and Mitchell and Webb Are Not Helping. Provides access to top comedy talent and creative IP.
• Four Eyes (Stephen Merchant)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with Stephen Merchant's Four Eyes company for The Outlaws, creating comedy thrillers for BBC and Amazon.
• CBS StudiosmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partnership for US adaptations including Dinner with the Parents (Amazon Freevee). Big Talk provides UK format and creative expertise.
• Apple TV+coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommissioning partner for The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin. Apple provides global streaming distribution for Big Talk content.
• Amazon Studios / Prime VideocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-production partner for The Outlaws and distributor for Dinner with the Parents in US market via Amazon Freevee.
• BritBoxmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-production partner for Ludwig series 2 for US and Canada distribution alongside BBC.
• ZDFmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational co-production partner for Ludwig series 2 alongside BritBox.
• Paramount Global Content DistributionmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational distribution partner for Can You Keep a Secret? including US premiere on Paramount+.
• BBC StudioscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHandles global distribution for The Outlaws across all seasons and BBC Studios brokering international deals.
• Mayhay StudiosmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Can You Keep a Secret? alongside Big Talk Studios and CBS Studios.
• South Shore ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Dear Father Christmas drama. South Shore is also part of ITV Studios.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bad Wolf: Welsh-based production company producing prestige drama (His Dark Materials, I Hate Suzie). Comparable UK indie producing premium scripted content for BBC and HBO-style partners.
• Hat Trick Productions: UK independent production company producing comedy and drama (Outnumbered, Father Ted, Drop the Dead Donkey). Directly comparable to Big Talk as a UK indie focused on comedy commissions for BBC, Channel 4 and ITV.
• Baby Cow Productions: UK comedy-led production company founded by Steve Coogan and Henry Normal, producing premium British comedy and drama. Directly comparable genre focus and talent-driven model to Big Talk Studios.
• Sister (production company): UK and US production company producing premium drama and comedy (Chernobyl, This Way Up). Comparable premium scripted producer serving both UK broadcasters and global streamers.
• Tiger Aspect Productions: UK indie production company (part of Endemol Shine/Banijay) producing comedy, drama and documentary for UK broadcasters. Comparable scale and commissioning relationships with BBC, Channel 4 and ITV.
• See-Saw Films: UK/Australian production company producing premium drama and comedy (The Power, Heartstopper). Comparable indie producing for both UK broadcasters and global streamers with international reach.
• Two Brothers Pictures: UK indie production company behind The Missing, Baptiste, Fleabag. Comparable scale UK indie producing high-end drama and comedy for BBC and international buyers.

Broad incumbents

• BBC Studios: UK broadcaster-owned production and distribution arm producing and distributing content globally. Big Talk is a commissioning partner of BBC; broader incumbent in the same commissioning ecosystem.
• Working Title Films: Larger UK production company (part of Universal) producing films and TV comedy/drama. Comparable premium British content producer but with significant film operations and broader portfolio.
• All3Media: Large UK-owned production group housing multiple indie producers across scripted and unscripted. Comparable in being a UK indie production ecosystem but much larger and more diversified than Big Talk.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/big-talk-studios

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Big Talk