Lionsgate UK Takes World-Wide Sales Rights To BBC Comedy MOTHERLAND

London. 15 September, 2017. Lionsgate UK announced that they have acquired the world-wide sales rights to MOTHERLAND, marking the studio’s first television partnership with the BBC.

Written by Graham Linehan and Sharon Horgan, Helen Linehan and Holly Walsh, MOTHERLAND, co produced by Delightful, part of the Twofour Group, and Merman, is a show all about navigating the trials and traumas of motherhood, looking at the competitive and unromantic sides of parenting, not the cute and acceptable public face of motherhood. Following a one-off episode of the same name last year which garnered audiences in excess of two million alongside a wealth of critical acclaim, MOTHERLAND will air as a six part series on BBC Two, with the air date to be confirmed.

Zygi Kamasa, Chief Executive of Lionsgate’s European office, said: “When we heard the creator of Catastrophe and creator of Father Ted were writing together to create this new BBC comedy series, we all knew it was a combination we couldn’t resist. So we didn’t and am looking forward to bringing this series to global television audiences.”

Richard Boden, Director of Programmes, Delightful Industries, said: “Delightful Industries, part of the Twofour Group, and Merman are really pleased to be partnered with Lionsgate for this series. Their enthusiasm and support is matched by their commitment to help ‘Motherland’ reach a wider global audience through distribution and sales.”
Clelia Mountford, Executive Producer and Co- Founder, Merman, added: ““We’re in excellent hands with Lionsgate UK, and we’re thrilled that audiences around the world will be able to enjoy Motherland as a result of our partnership”

This deal continues the robust growth of Lionsgate’s UK television business under CEO Zygi Kamasa. The company recently announced the creative development of a number of home grown shows including “The People at Number 9” (acquired from publisher Harper Collins) “The Other Side” (acquired from publisher Myriad Editions) and “Jerusalem” (based on the best-selling UK Number one non-fiction-bestseller from award winning novelist Simon Sebag Montefiore). The studio also recently announced strategic partnerships with production companies Potboiler Television, Bonafide Films, Primal Media & Kindle Entertainment. Lionsgate UK also co-financed and is currently selling world-wide rights to both series of the hit Channel 4 comedy Damned. The deal also marks a continued relationship with the BBC, who through co-producing with BBC Films the company has released quality theatrical films such as “Their Finest”, “Salmon Fishing In The Yemen” and the BAFTA winning “Brooklyn” and continues to do so, releasing the upcoming “On Chesil Beach” and “The Happy Prince” in 2018.

As one of the largest independent television businesses in the world, Lionsgate’s slate encompasses nearly 90 series on 40 different U.S. networks, including the ground-breaking Orange is the New Black, fan favourite Nashville, Casual, The Royals, Greenleaf, Dear White People and Kicking & Screaming along with eagerly-anticipated new series such as White Famous for Showtime, Step Up for YouTube Red and Candy Crush for CBS.

MOTHERLAND is written by Graham Linehan (Count Arthur Strong, Father Ted, The IT Crowd), Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe, Divorce, Pulling), Helen Linehan and Holly Walsh (Dead Boss). It is a co-production between Merman and Delightful Industries and is produced by Richard Boden for Delightful and executive produced by Clelia Mountford for Merman. Juliet May (Miranda, Last Tango in Halifax, Call The Midwife) directs.

For further information please contact:

Lorna Mann

LMann@lionsgatefilms.co.uk