Ant & Dec to kickstart Mitre Studios with new MD

Ant and Dec have unveiled a plan to turn their Mitre Studios label into a “fully-fledged production powerhouse”, kicking off with the appointment of Ed Sleeman as managing director.  

Sleeman has been drafted in with the intention of supercharging the pair’s indie, which was founded in 2011 and is best known as a co-production partner on a number of shows including DNA Journey (with Voltage), Limitless Win (Hello Dolly) and Saturday Night Takeaway (Lifted). 

His role will be to lead the team and drive content opportunities across multiple platforms and genres, incorporating both mainstream longform programming and digital and branded content.  

Sleeman is a former BBC entertainment commissioner who had a lengthy spell at Fremantle, ultimately becoming managing director of Talkback in 2017.  

His executive producer credits there included Too Hot To Handle (Netflix), Harry’s Heroes and Through The Keyhole (ITV) and Your Face Or Mine (Comedy Central). 

Most recently, Sleeman ran Great Scott Media with his former Fremantle colleague Leon Wilson.  

That label produced Channel 4 dating format Love Trap, E4 reality spoof The Holden Girls, and 10-part Netflix reality series Dated & Related over the course of three and a half years, but closed this summer amid challenging market conditions.  

Sleeman said Mitre is poised to enter an exciting phase.  

“I was drawn to the job by the vision and tremendous ambition outlined by Ant and Dec. Their aspirations to expand the company’s footprint as both an originator and producer of global formats, alongside becoming a prolific producer of digital and branded content resonated with me deeply. I can’t wait to get started.” 

Declan Donnelly said that he and Ant McPartlin have admired Ed’s work from afar for a long time. “We’re so pleased to be bringing him on board at this really exciting time for Mitre Studios. He shares our passion for television and digital content and will be a fantastic leader for our team,” Donnelly said.  

McPartlin added that Sleeman’s wealth of knowledge and experience will be “an invaluable asset as we move into the next stage of Mitre’s evolution as a provider of amazing, ambitious and joyful TV and digital content”. 

Mitre has created branded content for the likes of TUI and Santander and is developing a number of new shows for a wide range of broadcasters and streamers.  

This story originally appeared on our sister site Broadcast