The indie behind Channel 4 returner Chateau DIY is to open a base in Northern Ireland as part of its drive into the nations and regions, Broadcast can reveal.
Spark Media Partners, founded by Mark Baker and Steve Havers, will set down roots in Belfast, where development producer Heather Brown will step into the newly created role of head of development.
Brown has worked remotely in development for Spark Media since the beginning of 2023. She will make two key hires to work alongside her in the new office based inside post-production house Lounge Post.
She previously held development roles at Stellify Media where she created Farm to Feast for BBC1, and Yeti Productions where she developed The Great Big Tiny Design Challenge for Channel 4.
Her other development credits include Hours to Victory with Dermot O’Leary (C4), The Real Derry with Jamie-Lee O’Donnell (C4), Missing Millions: Grace Kelly (C5), Gino D’Acampo’s Italian Escapes (ITV), and the UK version of Dance Mums (Lifetime).
Brown will report into joint chief executives Baker and Havers and Hatfield-Powell, who said: “We’ve always been a company that develops and nurtures our in-house talent and opening a Northern Irish office with Heather already on the ground supports our long-term N&R strategy.
“A commitment to produce authentic formats which reflect unique voices from across the UK & Ireland is at the heart of everything we do.
“Heather was born and bred in NI and has had an impressive career in the nations, starting her development career with Big Mountain Productions, 16 years ago. We’re delighted she’s chosen to build on that with Spark as we enter this new phase of growth.”
Brown said: “Spark is such an inclusive and empowering company, and I’ve loved developing with Joff, Steve and Mark over the past two years. With our supercharged slate, I’m delighted to be staying in the fold to take up this new role on home turf and I’m now on a mission to secure some big formats from Northern Ireland.”
Spark first moved into the regions in 2020, when chief creative officer Joff Hatfield-Powell launched Spark North in Sheffield. Spark North is behind 15-part daytime series Tool Club for Channel 4, primetime, non-TX quiz Pilot for BBC and last year took on the relocated Chateau DIY and Chateau DIY at Christmas. The indie is currently in production on the recently announced competitive spin-off Chateau DIY Win The Dream.
The indie still has its original base in London which has recently produced three series of Ancient Civilisations by Train with Alice Roberts and brand-funded entertainment short The Spanish Job for Channel 4. It is currently in production on Chateau DIY Australia for the Nine Network.