War and Peace deal

The independent production studio behind hit BBC dramas War And Peace, Parade’s end and Ripper Street has been snapped up by the broadcaster.

Lookout Point is set to become a subsidiary of BBC Studios, it was announced yesterday. The BBC already owned 49pc of its shares but bought the rest for an undisclosed sum.

Simon Vaughan, 48, who founded Lookout Point in 2009, and wife Justine, 48, own the biggest chunk of the company. he was joined as co-chief executive by former BBC Wales head of drama Faith Penhale in 2016, and the pair will remain in charge.