ITV dismisses talk of bid for Endemol Shine

Broadcaster ITV has said it has no plans to bid for Big Brother and Masterchef maker Endemol Shine after mounting speculation that it was a front-runner to snap up the production giant.

Shares in ITV jumped after it confirmed it has “no current intention” of making an approach for the Netherlands-based firm, which is also behind hit shows Peaky Blinders and Black Mirror.

Endemol Shine was put up for sale by owners 21st Century Fox and private equity firm Apollo earlier this year.

Both ITV and German media group Fremantlemedia have now ruled themselves out of the race to buy Endemol, but other potential suitors are said to include Lionsgate and All3media. It is thought the sale could value Endemol at $2 billion (£1.5bn) to $4bn.

ITV’S recently-appointed chief executive Carolyn Mccall said last month she was focusing on consolidating the firm’s previous producer acquisitions.