True North Productions

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True North Productions
Company typeLimited
IndustryTelevision production
Founded2002; 22 years ago (2002), Leeds, United Kingdom
FounderJess Fowle
Glyn Middleton
Andrew Sheldon
Headquarters
Leeds
,
United Kingdom
Number of locations
Leeds UK, Manchester UK
Key people
Jess Fowle
Andrew Sheldon
Fiona O'Sullivan
Andrew Lurcuck
Websitetruenorth.tv

True North Productions is an independent British television production company based in Leeds, West Yorkshire.[1] The company creates factual programmes and series in a wide variety of genres, including observational documentary, true crime, current affairs, history, food, property, and children's content. Their programmes have been sold via distributors to broadcasters throughout the world and have been screened in numerous countries, including the United States, Australia, Russia, and Africa.[2][3][4]

The company was established in 2002 by Jess Fowle, Glyn Middleton and Andrew Sheldon, three producers and directors who had previously worked for Yorkshire Television's documentaries department. They chose the company name as a way of highlighting its northern roots.[5] After several years based at Yorkshire Television's Kirkstall Road studios, in 2009 the company moved its production base to Marshall's Mill, a converted flax spinning mill in Holbeck, close to Leeds city centre. As well as housing its production teams it also created a dedicated post-production operation, with 21 edit suites (both off-line and on-line) and a standalone dubbing suite.

In 2012, True North expanded its operation across the Pennines to Greater Manchester, with a second office in the Media City, Salford.

In 2014, the company was the first to receive investment from Channel 4's Indie Growth Fund, a £20 million pot of cash designed to support and nurture independent TV production companies in the UK and help them scale up their business. As part of the deal the broadcaster took a minority share in the company. In the same year, co-founder Glyn Middleton departed the business.

In 2017, Channel 4 sold their stake in True North Productions to Sky Vision, whose investment saw them become the majority shareholder in the business. It represented the Indie Growth Funds' first successful exit and deal brought the company into a stable that also includes Love Productions, the maker of The Great British Bake Off.

True North Productions were ranked in the top 5 in "The Prolific North's" Top 50 Independent Production Companies in 2018[6]

Programming

Current productions

Filmography

NOTE: Source for this section as follows:[7]

References

  1. ^ "True North Productions Ltd. – Company Details". Companies House. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  2. ^ "True North Productions: Sales". True North Productions. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  3. ^ "Passion Distribution". Passion Distribution. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  4. ^ "DRG Distribution". DRG. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  5. ^ "Northern Vision". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  6. ^ "True North named in the top 50 independent production companies – True North". www.truenorth.tv. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  7. ^ "True North Productions: Programmes". True North Productions. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  8. ^ "True North explores life of lottery Liar | News | Broadcast". Broadcastnow.co.uk. 25 October 2001. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  9. ^ "True north to make down's syndrome doc | News | Broadcast". Broadcastnow.co.uk. 16 May 2002. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  10. ^ "Bloody Tales Of The Tower – National Geographic Channel – UK". Natgeotv.com. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  11. ^ "BBC One – Panorama, Life and Debt: A Greek Tragedy". Bbc.co.uk. 4 July 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  12. ^ "BBC One – Panorama, How Safe is Your Hospital?". Bbc.co.uk. 9 December 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  13. ^ "Shows". Crime and Investigation. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  14. ^ "Compare Your Life". Channel 4. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  15. ^ "The Valleys | MTV UK". Mtv.co.uk. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  16. ^ "BBC One – Animal Frontline". Bbc.co.uk. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  17. ^ "Bloody Tales – National Geographic Channel – UK". Natgeotv.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  18. ^ "BBC One – My New Hand". Bbc.co.uk. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  19. ^ [1] Archived 28 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine

External links

Authority control databases Edit this at Wikidata
International
  • VIAF
National
  • United States