Hincks, Fincham launch Expectation prodco
February 16, 2017
By Colin Mann
Tim Hincks, a former President of Endemol Shine, and Peter Fincham, who has been Controller of BBC One as well as Director of Television at ITV, have launched Expectation, a multi-genre, independent production company covering both non-scripted and scripted programming. The venture has attracted investment from BBC Worldwide as a minority investor with a 24.9 per cent shareholding and board representation.
Expectation has revealed its position in the UK production market, launching with six departments across scripted and non-scripted programming including drama, comedy, factual entertainment, entertainment, reality and factual.
Co-CEO Fincham, said: “It’s not much of a secret that Tim and I have been planning a start-up together and we’ve reached the right moment to take the wrappers off. First and foremost, Expectation is a creatively-led indie – we’re going to put people and programmes first, second and third.”
Co-CEO Hincks, said: “I’m ridiculously excited to be launching Expectation with Peter. Expectation has one simple aim which is to create a home for creative people to do what they do best. A home where the best talent can create and produce the best, most engaging, innovative and entertaining content for the UK and the world. And above all, we’re going to have fun doing it.”
Three leading talents in the UK television industry have already joined Expectation. Nerys Evans joins the company as Creative Director, Comedy while Nick Mather and Nick Samwell-Smith are Creative Directors, Entertainment.
“In Nerys, Nick and Nick we have some of the most talented programme makers in the UK at the moment. We’re so lucky to have them. And we have exciting announcements that we’ll be making in the near future about other creative talent – not all of whom have names that begin with ‘N’,” commented Hincks.
“The team is already growing; we’ve started talking to broadcasters and we’re developing ideas that we can’t wait to get working on,” confirmed Fincham. “Tim and I are like a couple of kids who’ve been given bicycles for their birthday, we literally couldn’t be more thrilled.”
Evans joins from Channel 4 as Deputy Head of Comedy where she has spent the past four years overseeing award-winning series including: Catastrophe, Flowers and The Windsors. “Opportunities to join a team with the creative calibre of Expectation, rarely come along. I’m thrilled to be involved in a company that has such ambition,” she declared.
Mather worked at Endemol Shine for ten years as Creative Director of the Central Team and Managing Director of Remarkable Television, before taking on a consultancy role at Tuesday’s Child where he was part of the team that developed Pitch Battle, BBC One’s new primetime singing competition. While at Endemol Shine, he created numerous entertainment formats including co–creating the smash hit BBC One quiz Pointless. “There is nothing quite as creatively energising as a completely blank slate. So it feels incredibly exciting to be part of a start-up indie that is so hungry for new ideas. No pressure then,” he commented.
Samwell-Smith left Endemol Shine last year where he had spent 19 years at Initial, part of Endemol Shine UK, becoming Creative Director and then Managing Director. He oversaw the transition of Big Brother from Channel 4 to Channel 5 as well as creating numerous entertainment formats. “I was lucky enough to work very closely with Tim for many happy years, and I’ve been producing shows for Peter for well over a decade. The chance to start something new with these two at the helm was simply too good to miss,” he admitted.
Expectation also announced that it has investment from BBC Worldwide as a minority investor with a 24.9 per cent shareholding and board representation. “We’re delighted that BBC Worldwide has come on board as our investing partner, both in terms of the creative values it brings and the help it can give us in reaching new platforms and creating opportunities on a global level,” said Fincham.
Tim Davie, CEO of BBC Worldwide said: “Expectation is a creatively-led company. Peter and Tim are two of the most respected creatives in the television business and to be involved in supporting a production company with their vision and passion for producing bold, exciting and popular content was irresistible.”
The investment continues BBC Worldwide’s strategy of supporting premium British independents in a range of ways, including a variety of development, output and equity relationships, alongside its primary content partnership with BBC Studios. Helen Jackson, Chief Content Officer at BBC Worldwide, will take on a directorship.
“BBC Worldwide has been absolutely brilliant in recognising that Peter and I believe in being independent, and that we need the freedom to take on the amazing creative opportunities both here in the UK and around the world,” added Hincks.