During its Mipcom Cannes press breakfast, the company unveiled international deals for dramas including Number 10, Adultery, Sherlock and Tip Toe, the latter acquired by HBO Max for Latin America. ITV Studios also announced a new scripted label in Australia and partnerships to expand its formats business.
ITV Studios unveiled a series of international distribution, production and representation agreements on Monday during its traditional Mipcom Cannes press breakfast, led by new drama sales, The Voice reaching 80 territories and the creation of a new Australian label focused on premium scripted content.
Among the highlights is HBO Max’s acquisition of Tip Toe, the new drama from Russell T Davies, for 32 Latin American countries, including Mexico, Argentina and Brazil. The deal follows previously announced sales covering another 36 countries.
The distributor also confirmed major agreements for Number 10, Adultery, The Dark, The Killings at Parrish Station and Sherlock, while continuing to expand its international production and entertainment formats operations.
New International Drama Sales
Number 10, Steven Moffat’s new drama produced by Hartswood Films for Channel 4, has welcomed Arte as a co-producer, with broadcast rights for France and Germany. Ahead of its planned 2027 premiere, the series has also been acquired by HBO Max in Australia, TVNZ in New Zealand, YLE in Finland, DR in Denmark and NRK in Norway.
The six-part series, starring Rafe Spall, Jenna Coleman and Katherine Kelly, offers a witty look at life inside 10 Downing Street, combining politics, personal relationships and government crises.
ITV Studios has also added Sherlock, the acclaimed Hartswood Films series for the BBC starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, to its international catalog. Since its addition, the distributor has secured deals across 62 countries, including Disney+ in more than 50 territories across EMEA and Stan in Australia.
Meanwhile, Adultery, a drama from Poison Pen Studios starring Dominic Cooper and Romola Garai, has secured pre-sales in 18 countries, including HBO Max in Australia, TVNZ in New Zealand, TV4 in Sweden and TV2 in Norway.
Another Poison Pen Studios production, crime thriller The Dark, has been acquired in 23 countries, with deals including TV4 in Sweden, TV2 in Norway, MTV3 in Finland, DR in Denmark, BritBox in Australia and Virgin Media Television in Ireland.
The Killings at Parrish Station, a thriller produced by HELIUM Pictures for Stan and starring Mia Wasikowska, has secured deals covering more than 70 countries. Newly announced buyers include Canal+ in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, TV4 in Sweden, TV2 in Norway and Denmark, and MTV3 in Finland.
These agreements follow previously announced deals with Warner Bros. Discovery for HBO Max in the UK, Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands, and with NBCUniversal for Spain, France, Poland and additional territories across EMEA and Asia-Pacific.
“We are thrilled to announce extensive international sales across our slate of top-tier dramas. From the exciting upcoming dramas Number 10 and Adultery, to The Dark, The Killings at Parrish Station, Tip Toe, and the global phenomenon Sherlock, these deals are a testament to the exceptional quality and global appeal of ITV Studios’ latest drama portfolio,” said Tom Clark, EVP Global Sales & Commercial Strategy, Global Partnerships at ITV Studios.
The Voice Reaches 80 Territories
In entertainment, ITV Studios announced that The Voice has reached its 80th territory, with Elitaz producing The Voice Estonia for TV3, set to premiere in 2027.
The agreement follows the addition of North Macedonia as the format’s 79th territory, through public broadcaster Macedonian Radio Television (MRT).
According to ITV Studios, the franchise now counts 164 unique adaptations, while 33 local versions returned with new seasons during 2025.
The company also highlighted new commissioning and funding models involving partnerships between broadcasters and streaming platforms.
In Ukraine, 1+1 has partnered with Netflix to bring The Voice back after a three-year absence, while in Brazil, Disney+ and SBT collaborated on a version broadcast simultaneously across both platforms.
In the US, the show’s 30th season introduced a TikTok partnership allowing audiences to vote directly through the platform, alongside companion content and live broadcasts. The season premiere attracted 7.8 million viewers across NBC and Peacock during its first seven days.
“Reaching 80 territories is an extraordinary milestone for The Voice. The show continues to evolve through new on-screen twists, digital partnerships and commissioning models, while remaining true to its mission of giving exceptional voices a platform,” Clark said.
New Scripted Label in Australia
ITV Studios Australia announced the appointment of Sara Richardson, previously Director of Scripted Television at Endemol Shine Australia, to lead a new premium drama production label.
Richardson will serve as Managing Director of the new company, whose name will be announced at a later date, and will work closely with Lingo Pictures, which is also part of ITV Studios.
The executive has extensive experience in scripted production, including the development of NCIS: Sydney for Paramount+ Australia and series such as RFDS, The Claremont Murders, Bali: 2002 and Underbelly: Vanishing Act.
The new label will focus on developing original Australian productions with international potential, working in close collaboration with Lingo Pictures, founded by Helen Bowden and Jason Stephens.
“Setting up a label within ITV Studios is an extraordinary opportunity and doing that in partnership with Lingo Pictures, one of Australia’s most trusted producers of premium drama, creates a foundation with real power behind it,” Richardson said.
Partnership to Expand Formats Across India and MENA
ITV Studios also announced a strategic partnership with Different Productions, the company behind Netflix reality shows Dubai Bling and Desi Bling, to represent a selection of its formats across India, the Middle East and North Africa.
The agreement covers eight formats for potential Hindi-language adaptations in India, including The Voice, Love Island, Apocalypse and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!.
Across MENA, Different Productions will represent a separate portfolio of nine formats, including I Love My Country, Come Dine with Me, The Heat and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!.
Mazen Laham, Founder and CEO of Different Productions, highlighted the opportunities to adapt these franchises for local audiences and expand the company’s activities in India.
ITV Studios Acquires Incognito, Derren Brown’s New Format
ITV Studios has acquired the international distribution rights to Incognito, a social experiment created by Derren Brown and produced by Vaudeville Productions for Channel 4.
The six-part series brings together ten strangers from different backgrounds who spend seven days in a mysterious institution. Each participant has an identity that leads others to make certain assumptions, and they believe their objective is to uncover the identities of the other players while keeping their own hidden.
However, the competition is part of a broader psychological experiment exploring prejudice and the ways people judge others.
“Incognito is a bold, timely and highly entertaining format built around a universally relevant idea: how quickly we judge people based on labels and assumptions,” said Mike Beale, Managing Director, Global Creative Network at ITV Studios.
Jeremy Wade Returns with Fish On!
Zoo 55, ITV Studios’ digital label, announced a partnership with Oxford Scientific Films to produce Fish On! With Jeremy Wade, a new vodcast starring the presenter of River Monsters.
The 20-episode production will be co-hosted by Scott Tankard, Wade’s friend and collaborator. Together, they will revisit stories, encounters and experiences from the original series, alongside guests who worked on the show.
The vodcast will launch on Patreon on October 20, followed by its public release across digital platforms on October 27.
According to ITV Studios, River Monsters aired in 195 countries, while its social media content generated more than 1.74 billion views over the past year.
Karen Pirie Renewed for Third Season
Finally, ITV confirmed that Karen Pirie will return for a third season, with Lauren Lyle reprising her leading role.
World Productions, part of ITV Studios, will produce an adaptation of The Skeleton Road, the third novel in Val McDermid’s crime series, with a screenplay by Gillian Roger Park.
The new installment will consist of six hour-long episodes, with filming scheduled to begin in 2027.
The second season averaged 5.3 million viewers on ITV and STV, peaking at 5.6 million, and generated 11 million streams across ITVX and STV Player, according to figures released by the company.
The series will be distributed internationally by ITV Studios.
