Talkback Thames

Talkback Thames

Industry	Media
Fate	Split
Founded	February 10, 2003 (2003-02-10)
Defunct	January 1, 2012 (2012-01-01)
Headquarters	London, England
Key people	Sara Geater (CEO)
Products	Television
Owner(s)	FremantleMedia (RTL Group, owned by Bertelsmann)
Website	talkbackthames.tv

Talkback Thames (styled as talkbackTHAMES) was a British television production company, a division of FremantleMedia (part of the RTL Group, which in turn is owned by Bertelsmann). It was formed by the merger of Talkback Productions and Thames Television, the former ITV network franchisee for London on weekdays between 1968 and 1992. This merger was arranged in February 2003.

The company also included, as subsidiaries, several other production companies owned by FremantleMedia, including the UK arm of Grundy Productions; comedy specialists Alomo Productions and William G. Stewart's company Regent Productions.

The CEO of talkbackThames was Sara Geater, who took up the post in October 2010, replacing Lorraine Heggessey, who had been CEO of talkbackTHAMES from 2005 to 2010. She in turn, replaced Peter Fincham, who had been CEO of Talkback from 1986 to 2003 and then of Talkback Thames from 2003. Fincham left to take over Heggessey's previous job as Controller of BBC One.

In November 2011, it was announced that from 1 January 2012, the Talkback Thames brand would be split into four different brands; 'Talkback' for comedy, 'Thames' for entertainment, 'Boundless' for factual and 'Retort' for indies. The splitting of Talkback Thames happened as planned on 1 January 2012.

Productions

Notable Talkback Thames productions include:

• The Apprentice - Originally, a Talkback production for BBC One.
• As the Bell Rings for Disney Channel.
• The Bill - Originally, a Thames production for ITV1.
• Bo' Selecta! - Originally, a Talkback production for Channel 4.
• Britain's Got Talent in association with SYCOtv for ITV1.
• Celebrity Juice for ITV2.
• Da Ali G Show - Originally, a Talkback production for Channel 4.
• Dale's Supermarket Sweep for ITV - Originally produced by Central and Carlton.
• Escape to the Country - Originally, a Talkback production for BBC Two.
• Family Affairs - Originally, a Thames production for Channel 5.
• Family Fortunes for ITV1 - Originally produced by ATV, Central and Carlton.
• Grand Designs - Originally, a Talkback production for Channel 4.
• Grease is the Word in association with SYCOtv for ITV1.
• Great British Railway Journeys for BBC Two.
• Green Wing for Channel 4.
• Hole in the Wall for BBC One.
• How Clean is Your House? - Originally, a Talkback production for Channel 4.
• The IT Crowd for Channel 4.
• The King is Dead! for BBC Three.
• Manhunt-Solving Britain's Crimes for ITV1.
• Monday Monday - Comedy drama for ITV1.
• Never Mind the Buzzcocks - Originally, a Talkback production for BBC Two.
• PhoneShop for E4.
• PokerFace in association with Gallowgate for ITV1.
• Pop Idol - Originally, a Thames production in association with 19 Management for ITV1.
• The Price is Right for ITV1 - Originally produced by Central and Yorkshire Television.
• Property Ladder - Originally, a Talkback production for Channel 4.
• QI - Originally, a Talkback production in association with Quite Interesting Limited for BBC Four, BBC One and BBC Two.
• Richard Bacon's Beer & Pizza Club for ITV4.
• The Rob Brydon Show for BBC Two.
• The Sharon Osbourne Show for ITV1.
• Thank God, You're Here! for ITV1.
• They Think It's All Over? - Originally, a Talkback production for BBC One.
• Wish You Were Here...?/Do You Still Wish You Were Here...? - Originally, a Thames production for ITV1.
• The X Factor (UK) - Originally, a Thames production in association with SYCOtv for ITV1.
• The X Factor (US) in association with SYCOtv for FOX.

External links

• Talkback Thames.tv