EXCLUSIVE: BBC Studios has invested in the nascent production outfit co-run by the creator of Fox’s Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.

The BBC’s commercial arm has taken an undisclosed minority stake in Samphire Films, which was launched by Sophie Leonard and ex-BBC docs commissioner David Hodgkinson last year.

The partnership will see BBC Studios support Samphire’s growth plans for premium documentary and constructed factual brands in the UK and U.S., while taking first-look global distribution and format rights. At launch six months ago, Samphire said it had landed a co-development deal with a major U.S. network, as well as being in funded development on six projects for British and international broadcasters and streamers.  

Leonard is a former creative director at Minnow Films, where she worked across hit Channel 4 series SAS: Who Dares Wins and created the American version, Special Forces World’s Toughest Test, for Fox. Past credits include Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies and Scandal and Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action.

Hodgkinson’s time at the BBC saw him work across the likes of Lucan and Murder Trial. Previously, he was creative director at Blast Films overseeing series including Liverpool Narcos and Missing Dead or Alive.

BBC Studios has a wealth of minority stakes in UK indies including In My Skin maker Expectation, Honesty Box indie Mettlemouse and Am I Being Unreasonable? producer Boffola Pictures.

Kate Ward, MD for Factual Productions at BBC Studios, hailed Leonard and Hodgkinson as “the next generation of creative leaders.” “They have a proven track record in delivering ambitious and compelling unscripted television spanning premium documentary to globally renowned factual-formats,” she added. “Investing in Samphire, which in such a short space of time has built a slate that speaks both to their global ambitions as well as their extraordinary creative breadth was irresistible.”

Leonard and Hodgkinson added: “We’ve seen huge demand for our ideas and production expertise from both the U.S. and the UK and sought the right strategic partner to allow us to rapidly scale the business in response. We’re working with leading creative and commercial talent, building a forward-thinking production company to deliver groundbreaking programming that resonates with audiences globally. BBC Studios shares our commitment to innovation and creative excellence, and we can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.” 

Samphire Films was supported by Hasham Khan of ABP Advisory and Peter Weiss at SMB.