Ringside Studios expands with Patrick Irwin as Executive Producer
Patrick Irwin, the highly experienced executive producer whose credits include The Fall and Jonathan Strange and Mrs Norrell, has joined Ringside Studios, the production house founded last year as a joint venture between leading French drama producers Newen and award-winning British executive Gub Neal, as an Executive Producer.
Irwin’s appointment comes as Ringside gears up for production after a busy first year of development. A one-off drama for the BBC is first off the runway and due to start filming in February, with further commissions anticipated later in the year. Patrick will also play key role in Ringside Studio’s investment arm, Ringside Media, which takes equity stakes in other scripted production companies, as well as the day-to-day running of the company.
The hire is a welcome repartnering for Irwin and Neal; Patrick previously worked at Box TV, the independent drama producer founded by Neal, where his credits included The Wind in the Willows (BBC/CBC), Reversals (ITV), Gunpowder Treason & Plot (BBC) and The Last Enemy (BBC/WGBH).
Patrick, Gub and Justin Thomson went on to found Artists Studio, and subsequently Far Moor Media, where Patrick’s credits included Thorne: Sleepyhead, three seasons of The Fall (BBC/Netflix), 13-parter Combat Hospital for ABC / Global, and Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (BBC/BBC America)).
In 2017, Patrick joined 87 Films. His most recent work has been on two seasons of bilingual Welsh/English drama Bang (winner of Celtic Media Festival Award and Welsh BAFTA’s for Best Drama 2018), and Miss Scarlet and the Duke with Element 8 productions, which has just launched on PBS Masterpiece in the US and sold around the world.
Ringside Studios was established in 2020 as a joint venture between award winning producer Gub Neal, (The Fall, Prime Suspect) and Newen, the leading French production and distribution group owned by TF1. Its mission is to create innovative, ground-breaking, and premium content for the UK and international market. Projects are in advanced development and pre-production with some of the UK’s most prestigious writers and directors.
Ringside Studios Founder and Creative Director Gub Neal said:
“After finding our feet and developing as a new company in 2020, we are now looking forward to getting started on a number of new productions, developments and properties. Being able to add someone with Patrick’s first-class experience and track record to the team will help ensure that these projects are delivered to the highest standards, and we are also looking forward to welcoming his invaluable input into the continuing development of Ringside Studios’ unique identity and offering.”
Patrick Irwin said:
“Ringside Studios is one of the most original and interesting new production houses to emerge in the past few years, and their model of creating a global platform for British talent and international IP has almost unlimited potential. It’s a pleasure to be reuniting with Gub and the team who are all first class professionals and true connoisseurs of drama.”
For more information go to https://www.ringsidestudios.com/
or contact Dee McCourt at Borkowski / 07803 726543 / dee@borkowski.co.uk