Patrick Spence, the former Head of Drama, BBC Northern Ireland, will join forces with the independent production company, Tiger Aspect Productions in a deal that will see the partnership producing drama for the UK and International Markets.
Patrick will start up his own label within the company, fully supported by the production and business expertise of both Tiger and Endemol. This signing looks to allow for the exploration and development of a wide range of projects from the specialist to the mainstream and further build on Tiger Aspect’s reputation as an international producer of top quality drama. The venture, as yet unnamed, will be based in Tiger’s Soho Square offices, and will open its doors in mid July.
Patrick worked at BBC Northern Ireland since 2004 and also in house in London for several years during the 1990’s. His commissions from independents included the award winning dramas, ‘Occupation’ and ‘Hancock and Joan’, Heidi Thomas’ film for BBC1 ‘Ballet Shoes’ and the Bafta nominated relaunch of ‘Murphy’s Law’, on which Patrick worked with Tiger for the first time. Patrick also personally executive produced Guy Hibbert’s IFTA winning drama ‘Five Minutes of Heaven’ as well as various runs of the BBC’s high profile crime series ‘Waking the Dead’, ‘Messiah’ and ‘Silent Witness’, all in house productions.
In his time at the BBC, he sat on the Drama Editorial Board, the Pan UK Drama Board, the Independent Commissioning Board; and the Senior Management Board, BBC NI. In his tenure during the 1990’s as Head of Development, Drama Series, he commissioned Barbara Machin’s ‘Waking the Dead’ and, alongside Mal Young, co-commissioned both ‘Holby City’ and ‘Doctors’. Previous credits also include Matthew Hall’s Bafta nominated series ‘WIng and a Prayer’, which he commissioned whilst at Thames. He started in the industry in 1994 as a script editor on Jimmy McGovern’s ‘Cracker’.
Tiger Aspect’s Head of Drama, Greg Brenman said “I greatly enjoyed working with Patrick when he was at the BBC and am delighted that this relationship will now be permanent. Patrick has shown time and again that he is a great champion and producer of talent.”
Patrick said of the new venture: “This is the perfect marriage for me. I am very much responsible for my own destiny, but at the same time I am partnered with a team who means business. I feel very lucky indeed to have found a home here.’
