Big Brother’s owner acquires Tiger Aspect, Darlow Smithson and Tigress Productions with immediate effect.

Endemol, the Netherlands-based entertainment giant, has bought three of IMG’s companies – Tiger Aspect, Darlow Smithson and Tigress – for an undisclosed figure.

The company behind many of the world’s TV hits including Big Brother and Deal or No Deal, said the transaction will help strengthen its global business distribution and will expand its creative programming output. It said that the acquisition was too good an opportunity to miss on a strategic level.

Tiger Aspect, which is headquartered in London, is behind some of the UK’s biggest TV shows spread across a variety of genres and is credited with producing Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Charlie and Lola, as well as TV favourites, the Vicar of Dibley and Robin Hood. Tiger Aspect is also behind US hits such as Make Me a Supermodel and Cook Yourself Thin.

Darlow Smithson Productions, which incorporates Tigress Productions, is a leading producer of docu-dramas and documentaries. It boasts a variety of programmes including The Falling Man, The Diary of Anne Frank, and Richard Hammond’s Engineering Connections, as well as an array of others. 

Tim Hincks, CEO of Endemol UK, said: “We’re extremely excited about working with three of the most successful and creative production companies in the UK.

“They represent a collection of some of the best creatives in the business and are behind a dazzlingly wide range of genres.”

Andrew Zein, Managing Director of Tiger Aspect, commented: “Endemol is the real deal – a fully functioning global creative business. They understand and appreciate what we do and how we do it.

“For us this is the dream we thought would never happen. We’ve found the ideal home.”

In a statement released by Endemol, the business said that all three companies will report into Endemol’s UK management with immediate effect.