Talkback (production company)

Talkback Productions
	Final logo, used from 2018 to 2025
Type	Subsidiary
Predecessor	Talkback Thames (first incarnation)
Founded	1981; 45 years ago (original); 1 January 2012; 14 years ago (relaunch);
Founders	Mel Smith; Griff Rhys Jones;
Defunct	9 June 2006; 20 years ago (original); 1 January 2025; 20 months ago (relaunch);
Fate	Merged with Thames to form Talkback Thames
Successor	Talkback Thames (second incarnation)
Headquarters	London, England
Parent	Fremantle (2000–2025)
	Footnotes;

Talkback Productions, commonly simplified to just Talkback (formerly known as Talkback-UK from 2003 to 2006), was a British television production company established in 1981 by comedy duo Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones.^[1]

History

Talkback was sold to Pearson Television in 2000.^[2] The company merged with Thames Television in 2003 and the combined entity was renamed Talkback Thames. Despite the merger, Talkback continued as a separate entity and its own logo to be used at the end of the label's comedy and factual productions until 2006. On 1 January 2012, Talkback Thames was split into four separate production companies; Boundless, Retort, Talkback and Thames.^[3]

On 16 September 2024, it was announced that Talkback would be merged again with Thames to re-form Talkback Thames following the managing director Jonno Richards exiting Talkback.^[4]

Productions

The 11 O'Clock Show (Channel 4, 1998–2000)
Alan Carr's Epic Gameshow (ITV, 2020–2022)
Alas Smith and Jones (BBC One & BBC Two, 1991–1998; Sketchbook: BBC One, 2006)
The Armando Iannucci Shows (Channel 4, 2001)
Bernard and the Genie (BBC One, 1991)
Big Train (BBC Two, 1998–2002)
Bonjour la Classe (BBC One, 1993)
Brass Eye (Channel 4, 1997–2001)
Celebrity Juice (ITV2, 2008–2022)
Da Ali G Show (Channel 4, 2000–2004; HBO, 2003–2004)
The Day Today (BBC Two, 1994)
Demob (ITV, 1993)
Distraction (Channel 4, 2003–2004)
Friends and Crocodiles (BBC One, 2006)
Gash (Channel 4, 2003)
Gideon's Daughter (BBC One, 2006)
Green Wing (Channel 4, 2004–2007)
Hippies (BBC Two, 1999)
House Doctor (Channel 5, 1998–2003)
I'm Alan Partridge (BBC Two, 1997–2002)
In a Land of Plenty (BBC Two, 2000)
Jam (Channel 4, 2000)
Jamie's Kitchen (Channel 4, 2002)
Jon Richardson: Ultimate Worrier (Dave, 2018–2019)
The Keith & Paddy Picture Show (ITV, 2017–2018)
The Keith Lemon Sketch Show (ITV2, 2015–2016)
Keith Lemon's LemonAid (ITV, 2012)
Knowing Me, Knowing You... with Alan Partridge (BBC Two, 1994–1995)
Lemon La Vida Loca (ITV2, 2012–2013)
Look Around You (BBC Two, 2002–2005)
Los Dos Bros (Channel 4, 2001)
The Lost Prince (BBC One, 2003)
Meet Ricky Gervais (Channel 4, 2000)
Monkey Dust (BBC Three, 2003–2005)
Murder Most Horrid (BBC Two, 1991–1999)
Nathan Barley (Channel 4, 2005)
Never Mind the Buzzcocks (BBC Two, 1996–2015; Sky Max, 2021–2025)
Perfect Strangers (BBC Two, 2001)
QI (BBC Four, 2003–2008; BBC Two, 2003–2008 & 2011–present; BBC One, 2009–2011)
The Sex Inspectors (Channel 4, 2004)
Shooting the Past (BBC Two, 1999)
Shoreditch Twat (Channel 4, 2002)
Smack the Pony (Channel 4, 1999–2003)
Sweat the Small Stuff (BBC Three, 2013–2015)
Sword of Honour (Channel 4, 2001)
They Think It's All Over (BBC One, 1995–2006)
Through the Keyhole (ITV, 2013–2019)
Too Hot to Handle (Netflix, 2020–2024)
Virtually Famous (E4, 2014–2017)
Would Like to Meet (BBC Two, 2001–2004)
Your Face or Mine? (E4, 2002–2003; Comedy Central, 2017–2019)

References

1 2 Vanessa Thorpe (20 July 2013). "Mel Smith remembered: 'A gentleman and a scholar, a gambler and a wit' | Griff Rhys Jones talks about his shock at the news of his former comedy partner's death from a heart attack at home". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
↑ "Pearson TV buys TalkBack". BBC News. 14 June 2000. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
↑ Tara Conlan (23 November 2011). "Talkback Thames to be split up". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
↑ Yossman, K.J. (16 September 2024). "Fremantle Merges U.K. Labels Thames And Talkback Again Amid Restructure, Talkback's Jonno Richards Exits". Variety.

[guardian-smith-obit-1] 1 2 Vanessa Thorpe (20 July 2013). "Mel Smith remembered: 'A gentleman and a scholar, a gambler and a wit' | Griff Rhys Jones talks about his shock at the news of his former comedy partner's death from a heart attack at home". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 10 August 2013.

[2] "Pearson TV buys TalkBack". BBC News. 14 June 2000. Retrieved 14 October 2020.

[3] Tara Conlan (23 November 2011). "Talkback Thames to be split up". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 23 November 2011.

[4] Yossman, K.J. (16 September 2024). "Fremantle Merges U.K. Labels Thames And Talkback Again Amid Restructure, Talkback's Jonno Richards Exits". Variety.

[ref1-5] t venture with Leonine Holding, The Walt Disney Company, Bauer Media Group and Hubert Burda Media.

[ref3-6] 1 2 joint venture with Amperwelle Studio München Programmanbietergesellschaft, Axel Springer AG, Burda, Studio Gong, m.b.t. Mediengesellschaft der bayerischen Tageszeitungen für Kabelkommunikation, Medienpool and Radio Bavaria Rundfunkprogrammgesellschaft.

[ref13-7] t venture with Verlagsgesellschaft Madsack, Studio Gong Niedersachsen and Brune-Rieck-Beteiligungs.

[ref4-8] t venture with Axel Springer, Heinrich Bauer Verlag, Lühmanndruck Harburger Zeitungsgesellschaft and Morgenpost Verlag.

[ref9-9] t venture with Pressefunk Nordrhein-Westfalen and Westdeutscher Rundfunk.

[ref10-10] t venture with Funk & Fernsehen Nordwestdeutschland, Antenne Niedersachen and Niedersachsen Radio.

[ref11-11] t venture with Mediengruppe Dr. Haas.

[ref12a-12] t venture with Rheinland-Pfälzische Rundfunk.

[ref12b-13] t venture with Broadcast Sachsen.

[ref5-14] t venture with TF1 Group.

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Talkback (production company)

History

Productions

See also

References