Fremantle UK merges production labels Thames and Talkback

The super-label will bring together Thames’s talent formats, reality and gameshows, with Talkback’s comedy entertainment franchises, with a portfolio that includes Britain’s Got Talent, Too Hot to Handle, Blankety Blank, Family Fortunes, QI, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Rob Beckett’s Smart TV, Battle Camp and Bear Hunt.   

The merger follows the news of the departure of Talkback Managing Director, Jonno Richards who is stepping down from the role after five years, and nine with the company. The new label will be headed up by current Thames Managing Director, Charlie Irwin.  

Thames (launched in 1968) and Talkback (launched in 2000) were first merged in 2003 and operated as talkbackTHAMES. The companies were split and began operating as separate labels from 2012, in a move by then UK CEO Sarah Geater.  

Amelia Brown, CEO of Fremantle UK said: “Thames and Talkback have enjoyed a strong partnership for over twenty years and when combined, they have been instrumental in launching some of the UK’s most iconic shows including Pop Idol, The X Factor, Take Me Out, Buzzcocks, QI, Hole in the Wall and many more. Now, as the global unscripted landscape continues to expand, there is no better time to reunite their expertise into a single super-label to harness their combined strength and creativity once again and to form a unified structure and identity recognised internationally across the industry.” 

Charlie Irwin, Managing Director of TalkbackThames added: “I’m thrilled to be given this opportunity to lead the new unified label, building on the legacy and success of both Thames and Talkback in creating beloved entertainment, reality and comedy formats.” 

Irwin first started working with Fremantle UK over 20 years ago on the first series of The X Factor. He was appointed Director of Programmes for Thames in 2019 and Managing Director, Thames in 2023. His career has seen him producing and executive producing entertainment hits including I’m a Celeb…, Saturday Night Takeaway, The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent. 

In his senior positions at the label, he has overseen all of the label’s output including Britain’s Got Talent, MAMMA MIA: I Have a Dream, the revival of Blankety Blank and Family Fortunes as well as Thames’ expansion into reality television such as Too Hot to Handle, The Big Celebrity Detox,  and upcoming Netflix format, Battle Camp.