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BBC Studios has acquired a minority stake in U.K. production company Samphire Films, co-founded by the creator of Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action and Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test. BBC Studios said it would “support its rapid growth and global expansion.”

Samphire Films was founded in 2024 by Sophie Leonard and BBC Documentaries commissioning editor David Hodgkinson “to deliver the next generation of premium unscripted content to buyers on both sides of the Atlantic.”

BBC Studios said that Samphire is in production on “yet-to-be-announced large-scale factual formats and premium documentary projects for buyers in both the UK and USA.”

BBC Studios previously bought or took minority or controlling stakes in the likes of House Productions (Conclave, Sherwood), Clerkenwell Films (Baby Reindeer, End of the F***ing World), Sid Gentle Films (Killing Eve) and Voltage (Tempting Fortune, Netflix’s Scoop, Inside The Factory).”

Said Kate Ward, managing director for factual...

Exclusive: BBC Studios has invested in the nascent production outfit co-run by the creator of Fox’s Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.

The BBC’s commercial arm has taken an undisclosed minority stake in Samphire Films, which was launched by Sophie Leonard and ex-bbc docs commissioner David Hodgkinson last year.

The partnership will see BBC Studios support Samphire’s growth plans for premium documentary and constructed factual brands in the UK and U.S., while taking first-look global distribution and format rights. At launch six months ago, Samphire said it had landed a co-development deal with a major U.S. network, as well as being in funded development on six projects for British and international broadcasters and streamers.

Leonard is a former creative director at Minnow Films, where she worked across hit Channel 4 series Sas: Who Dares Wins and created the American version, Special Forces World’s Toughest Test,...

Before she was the toast of Hollywood, Ella Purnell had a starring role in Zack Snyder's 2021, Army of the Dead, and it's not the only time she's worked with the director. Army of the Dead is one of the Zack Snyder projects that feels a little bit lost to time. That's probably because it was released on Netflix in May 2021, smack-dab in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, not exactly when audiences were searching for a movie about a viral outbreak that destroys society and turns the afflicted into shambling, quarantined monsters.

It's a serviceable zombie action flick but feels a little half-baked in a few too many ways. Perhaps that's why audiences haven't attached themselves to it the same way Snyder fanboys have to movies like Justice League, Watchmen, and 300. Whatever issues the movie has, the cast isn't one of them. Ella Purnell, in particular, is a standout,...

BBC Studios has tapped Nicola Pinn for the newly-created role of chief operating officer of factual productions.

BBC Studios factual managing director Kate Ward unveiled Pinn’s promotion.

Pinn moves up from her previous role as factual’s director of production. She will continue to lead production and business management across BBC Studios’ factual portfolio as well as other areas including governance, strategic partnerships and financial and creative goals.

Ward also revealed that Katie Benbow has been appointed director of strategy, a role which will see her work closely with BBC Studios partners in global media and streaming as well as focusing on content strategy and investment. Benbow will also managed the indie partnerships team, which is led by Tom Young.

Pinn and Benbow take up their new positions immediately.

The appointments were made to strengthen the senior production team and ensure BBC Studios factual arm will continue to deliver...

While Army Of The Dead has a lot of emotion pushed into it, particularly with the father and daughter relationship between Scott and Kate Ward, the true enjoyment comes from the fighting. Seeing the various characters battling against the zombies is something that people watch the movie for, and the group all bring a fantastic amount of quality.

Related: Army Of The Dead 2: 10 Cities The Movie Should Feature

They all have completely different skills and some of them are stronger than others when it comes to being able to take down different types of zombies. They're all able to try and survive as best they can, but out of the main characters, who is the strongest fighter?...