Shine Group has finalised its acquisition of UK comedy specialist Brown Eyed Boy from Motive Television, it was announced today.
In a move to expand comedy output, the deal sees Brown Eyed Boy join Dragonfly, Kudos, Princess Productions and Shine TV as the group's fifth UK-based production company. Managing Director Gary Reich will continue to spearhead the writer/performer led talent house receiving operational support from Kudos and operating from their Islington offices.
The deal gives Brown Eyed Boy the opportunity to expand creatively, potentially through new co-production developments with other Shine Group companies, with the ambition of creating innovative larger scale comedy programming with international appeal.
Former BBC and Chrysalis Entertainment executive Reich set up Brown Eyed Boy in 2002 as a writer and performer-led talent house. He has discovered, nurtured and developed a wide range of cutting edge comedy talent such as Sacha Baron Cohen; The Mighty Boosh's Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt; Dom Joly and Little Miss Jocelyn's Jocelyn JeeEsien.
Key programming has included two series of LITTLE MISS JOCELYN, two series of 3 NON BLONDES, and it's latest incarnation ONE NON BLONDE which comes to BBC3 in the Autumn; HOW NOT TO LIVE YOUR LIFE, now in its third season with local versions in Germany, Italy and Canada and a US version for NBC being written and LAUGHTERSHOCK, a new multicultural sketch show.
Elisabeth Murdoch Shine Group Chairman and CEO said: "We've made no secret of wanting to expand the group's comedy offering and could not have found someone better suited than Gary with which to do so. He is a bold, daring, entrepreneurial producer at the cutting edge of his profession both domestically and internationally and I welcome him warmly to Shine Group."
Gary Reich said "Shine Group and Kudos represent everything I value in television: they foster and nurture the entrepreneurial risk-taking spirit that drew me to this industry in the first place and this is born out in their superlative slate of programmes. I couldn't have hoped to find a more generous, experienced or passionate support network than that provided by Liz, Stephen and Jane and I am excited about what we can all bring to each other in the coming years. Onward, upward, ever outward."
Jane Featherstone, Creative Director, Kudos said: "Ive known Gary for many years. He is a uniquely gifted individual whose fresh approach to scripted and non-scripted comedy I admire. I thoroughly look forward to having him in the office and forsee great programming being made as a result."