Big Talk
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+.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
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.
Big Talk firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Where Big Talk is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Big Talk business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels4 records
Big Talk product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Big Talk
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Big Talk technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Big Talk partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- ITV StudioscoreITV 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 CompanycoreProduction 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)coreLong-standing partnership with Stephen Merchant's Four Eyes company for The Outlaws, creating comedy thrillers for BBC and Amazon.
- CBS StudiosmajorCo-production partnership for US adaptations including Dinner with the Parents (Amazon Freevee). Big Talk provides UK format and creative expertise.
- Apple TV+coreCommissioning partner for The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin. Apple provides global streaming distribution for Big Talk content.
- Amazon Studios / Prime VideocoreCo-production partner for The Outlaws and distributor for Dinner with the Parents in US market via Amazon Freevee.
- BritBoxmajorCo-production partner for Ludwig series 2 for US and Canada distribution alongside BBC.
- ZDFmajorInternational co-production partner for Ludwig series 2 alongside BritBox.
- Paramount Global Content DistributionmajorInternational distribution partner for Can You Keep a Secret? including US premiere on Paramount+.
- BBC StudioscoreHandles global distribution for The Outlaws across all seasons and BBC Studios brokering international deals.
- Mayhay StudiosmajorCo-production partner for Can You Keep a Secret? alongside Big Talk Studios and CBS Studios.
- South Shore ProductionsminorCo-production partner for Dear Father Christmas drama. South Shore is also part of ITV Studios.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Big Talk competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Big Talk social profiles
Digital presenceBig Talk financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Big Talk leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Big Talk funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Big Talk M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Big Talk
What does Big Talk do?
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.
Is Big Talk a public or private company?
Big Talk is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Big Talk founded?
Big Talk was founded in 1995. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Big Talk based?
Big Talk is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
Who are Big Talk's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bad Wolf, Hat Trick Productions, Baby Cow Productions, Sister (production company), Tiger Aspect Productions, See-Saw Films and Two Brothers Pictures. Broad incumbents are BBC Studios, Working Title Films and All3Media.
Does Big Talk have an API?
No public API is recorded for Big Talk.