Talkback Thames (stylised as talkbackTHAMES) was a British television production company, a division of FremantleMedia (now Fremantle), part of the RTL Group, which in turn is owned by Bertelsmann. It was formed by the merger of Talkback Productions and Thames Television. This merger was arranged in February 2003 and reversed in January 2012.

Talkback Thames
Company typeSubsidiary
Predecessor
Founded10 February 2003; 21 years ago (2003-02-10)
Defunct1 January 2012; 12 years ago (2012-01-01)
FateSplit into successor brands
Successor
Headquarters
London, England
,
United Kingdom
Key people
Sara Geater (CEO)
ParentFremantleMedia

Despite the two companies merging, their respective logos were used separately at the end of productions: Thames was used for drama and entertainment shows, and Talkback was used for comedy and factual shows. In November 2005 however, the two brands ceased to be used separately and a new logo was introduced for Talkback Thames, with all productions being produced under that label.

The company also included, as subsidiaries, several other production companies owned by Fremantle, including the UK arm of Reg Grundy Productions; comedy specialists Alomo Productions and William G. Stewart's company Regent Productions.

The CEO of Talkback Thames was Sara Geater, who took up the post in October 2010, replacing Lorraine Heggessey, who had been CEO of Talkback Thames from 2005 to 2010. She in turn, replaced Peter Fincham, who had been CEO of Talkback from 1986 to 2003 and then of Talkback Thames from 2003. Fincham left to take over Heggessey's previous job as Controller of BBC One.

In September 2024, it was announced that Talkback would once again merge with Thames to form a new iteration of Talkback Thames to be led by MD Charlie Irwin.[1]

Reorganisation

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In November 2011, it was announced that, from 1 January 2012, the Talkback Thames brand would be split into four different labels within the newly created FremantleMedia UK production arm:

  • Boundless for factual shows.[2]
  • Retort for scripted comedy.[2]
  • Talkback for comedy entertainment.[2]
  • Thames for entertainment shows.[2]

The splitting of Talkback Thames happened as planned on New Year's Day, 1 January 2012.[3]

Productions

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References

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  1. ^ Goldbart, Max (16 September 2024). "Talkback & Thames To Merge Once Again". Deadline Holywood.
  2. ^ a b c d Conlan, Tara (23 November 2011). "Talkback Thames to be split up". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  3. ^ Campbell, Lisa (22 November 2011). "Talkback Thames brand to disappear". Broadcast. Retrieved 22 November 2011.