History
was born in 2003 when two of the best known UK TV production companies - talkback and THAMES - merged. With diverse histories and complementary strengths, the merging of the companies created a leading production company with an unparalleled range of expertise.
Talkback was founded in 1981 by Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones. It quickly developed a reputation for award winning comedy and entertainment programming, producing hit shows such as Emmy Award winning Smack the Pony, Da Ali G Show, I'm Alan Partridge, The Day Today, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, They Think It's All Over, The 11 O'Clock Show and Big Train and was run for many years by CEO Peter Fincham.
Building on its success, Talkback's factual programming went from strength to strength producing a string of highly successful new and returning series for major broadcasters including hit shows such as House Doctor, Jamie's Kitchen, Grand Designs, Would Like to Meet, Your Money or Your Life, Property Ladder and How Clean is Your House?
Along with several other critically acclaimed drama titles, Talkback produced Stephen Poliakoff's Emmy Award winning drama The Lost Prince which aired on BBC ONE in 2003.
Talkback has also produced many radio programmes for Radio One, Two and Four.
THAMES first went on air as a broadcaster in 1968, and served as the largest ITV company in a network of 15. Although its primary licence was for London weekdays, Thames provided the backbone of the ITV Network, along with Granada, ATV (later Central) Yorkshire and LWT.
Between 1968 and the end of its licence at the end of 1992, Thames produced programmes in every conceivable genre as part of its remit - news, documentaries, drama, light entertainment, comedy, social concern, education, religion and children's programmes.
Some of the programmes it made are still showing regularly on British television - Morecambe and Wise, Man About the House, Robin's Nest, George and Mildred, Kenny Everett's Video Show, The Sweeney, Minder, Danger Mouse, Count Duckula, Rainbow and others still show on satellite, cable and sometimes terrestrial channels.
Others, such as Benny Hill, The World At War, Hollywood - The Silent Years and Edward & Mrs Simpson are still much in demand overseas.
In 1991 Thames' Broadcast licence went to Carlton. The company consolidated and became the UK's largest independent producer. In 1993 Thames was acquired by Pearson PLC and under Chief Executive Greg Dyke acquired other international production and distribution companies including Grundy and Alomo.
Throughout this expansion, the name of Thames continued to be the main UK producer, with The Bill as a crucial part of the ITV schedule. At one point, brand research amongst consumers showed that the Thames name was still one of the most recognised in the UK, with only the BBC and Granada gaining greater recognition.
In April 2000 Pearson Television merged with CLT-UFA to form RTL Group, the pan-European broadcaster which owns 23 TV channels and 17 radio stations. In December 2001, Pearson sold its 22% stake in the business to one of its co-shareholders, Bertelsmann which now owns 90%. Pearson Television was re-named FremantleMedia on a worldwide basis, but the name of Thames was retained for the UK business.