Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is getting into business with the creators of BBC hits The Salisbury Poisonings and Blue Lights.
SPT has forayed once again into the UK drama market by giving majority backing to Belfast-based Hot Sauce, the new label run by Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson. Hot Sauce joins the likes of Left Bank and Bad Wolf in the SPT stable. The percentage stake in the fledgling outfit and deal terms are undisclosed.
Lawn and Patterson met whilst working on the BBC’s Panorama and went on to co-write hit drama The Salisbury Poisonings about the unbelievable events that took place in 2018 surrounding the novichok nerve agent and Russian spies. That catapulted them to factual drama royalty and they have since made Netflix movie Rogue Agent starring James Norton and BBC Northern Ireland police drama Blue Lights, which was recently handed a rare double recommission to take it to Season 4 before Season 2 had even aired. At the time, Lawn described himself feeling “a bit gobsmacked” by the vote of confidence from the national broadcaster.
Having previously made shows for different production companies, Lawn and Patterson initially intended Hot Sauce as a logo for their creative partnership but it is now a fully-fledged indie, with hires coming in due course. The label will produce scripted TV and movies. The pair will continue to be represented by United Agents (UK) and WME (U.S.).
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Matthew Justice, SPT’s EVP Head of UK and Europe, said the deal was a “yes” on “multiple levels.” “They have a unique, analytical approach to crafting drama and have had everyone knocking on their door thanks to the success of Blue Lights, so to have this opportunity to bring them into the SPT family and build the next chapter of Hot Sauce with them is tremendously exciting,” he added.
Justice went on to say that the move is an “investment in the industry in Belfast.” SPT has long had a presence in Northern Ireland via its ownership of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? producer Stellify Media.
With this in mind, Lawn and Patterson praised the “faith” the “global media powerhouse” of SPT has shown in “the future of Belfast as a creative hub in TV and film.” “With their ambition and expertise, they are the perfect partners for us and we could not be more excited to build Hot Sauce with them in the years ahead,” the pair added.
SPT’s previous M&A move was to up its minority stake in Alex Rider producer Eleventh Hour Films. International productions boss Wayne Garvie has spoken in the past about a desire to make SPT the biggest drama studio in Britain. Shows under its stable include huge hits like The Crown, Doctor Who and Sex Education.
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