TV production company creates nine new jobs as it sets up shop in Belfast
A TV production company owned by the makers of reality show Big Brother and drama Peaky Blinders has set up in Belfast with the creation of nine new jobs.
Darlow Smithson Productions (DSP), part of Dutch company Endemol Shine — which is currently up for sale — has moved into the Innovation Factory in west Belfast.
It’s already made one TV drama here about the early years of ice-skating duo Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean to be broadcast on ITV later this year.
DSP is the latest addition to Northern Ireland’s creative media industry, where companies like Stellify Media — a Belfast-based joint venture with entertainment giant Sony, which makes factual entertainment for channels including Channel 5, ITV and BBC NI — are already making shows for network TV channels.
The industry has been boosted by Game of Thrones, the eight-season fantasy TV series filmed in the province. DSP’s Belfast office is led by Northern Ireland TV professionals Anne Stirling — who ran her own film and TV production company for 20 years — and Michelle Walsh.
Torvill and Dean stars Game of Thrones actor Will Tudor as Dean, Poppy Lee Friar as Torvill and former EastEnders actress Anita Dobson as Torvill’s first coach, Miss Perry. DSP is also making a new period murder mystery, to air on Channel Five at Christmas, as well as an “inclusive” fashion show for RTE called the Fitting Room and a three-part drama documentary series for BBC4 on Charles I. The Innovation Factory opened two years ago on the site of the former Mackie’s factory on Springfield Road. Ms Stirling said the location worked well as it was close to the city centre with easy access to the motorway for Dublin. She said government agency NI Screen had a “great track record” of attracting major production companies.
Ms Walsh added: “There are nine of us working here but whenever we go onto a drama we have about 60 freelance crew and cast working on it so flexibility is essential. Most of the cast and crew are from here and it is an opportunity for them to step up a grade and get the network credits that take people to another level.”
Majella Barkley, innovation director at the Innovation Factory, said: “It is great to see a leading global company in the creative sector locate in west Belfast.”