A production company behind hit TV series such as Meet the Khans and Charlotte in Sunderland has opened new northern headquarters in Gateshead's PROTO facility.
Brighton-based Chatterbox has opened 'Natterbox' with plans to create 10 jobs from the base, next to the cutting edge digital production facilities and among other TV production and immersive technology companies. The team said they hope to attract new commissioning spend to the region and are planning to develop local skills through apprenticeships and training programmes.
So far the company has created a string of hit shows including Meet the Khans, Extraordinary Portraits, Sally Lindsay’s Posh Weekends and Charlotte in Sunderland, which follows Geordie Shore and Celebrity Big Brother star Charlotte Crosby at home in the North East. That show has earned a second season on BBC Three, its first season having averaged 300,000 viewers.
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Natterbox was founded by former Channel 4 factual entertainment commissioning editor, Nav Raman, and experienced director and producer, Ali Quirk, whose credits include Gogglebox, Come Dine With Me, Lion Country, Sky Cops and Gold Rush. The firm said diversity of thought is important to its success and wants to nurture the next generation of creative talent through early career mentoring and guidance, creating opportunities in the region.
Nav Raman, founder and executive producer, Natterbox, said: “Our mission is to collaborate with the best creative talent in the country, both on and off screen, to produce bold, entertaining and compelling content for major platforms and broadcasters. Launching Natterbox in the North East will not only help us do that, it will allow us to join an exciting ecosystem of incredible businesses who are at the forefront of innovation in all aspects of screen entertainment."
A group of partners including North East Screen, Gateshead Council and Invest Newcastle, part of NewcastleGateshead Initiative, helped the Chatterbox team identify suitable premises for their new headquarters and showcased the area's sector strengths.
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Lisa Laws, head of talent and business development at North East Screen, said: “We’re delighted to see Natterbox invest in the North East and further strengthen the vibrant screen industry we have here in the region. Natterbox brings great expertise in unscripted TV and we look forward to working more closely with Nav, Ali and the team to provide further opportunities to regional crew and trainees. It's an exciting time to invest in the North East with the launch of the North East Production Fund strengthening our Film Office support, which is already attracting major feature films and TV productions such as Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny; Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves; The Red King and Vera - alongside the FulwellCain plans forging ahead to build one of Europe's largest film studios, Crown Works Studios, in the North East creating over 8,000 jobs."
Jennifer Hartley, director, Invest Newcastle, said: "The screen industry is emerging as a significant driver of investment, place transformation and new opportunities in our region, which should give confidence to Nav and Ali that they are establishing their new headquarters in the right place. It’s been a pleasure working with the Natterbox team on securing their move to the North East and we look forward to helping them take advantage of the fantastic creative talent on offer.”
Coun Malcolm Brain, Cabinet Member for Economy, at Gateshead Council, said: “It’s fantastic to welcome Natterbox to Gateshead, they join a thriving hub of creatives who work within all aspects of the screen industry. Over the years we’ve invested into the screen industry with our facilities at PROTO, behind the four walls of the ‘black box’ there is a wealth of innovative technology which assists with the production of programmes and films.
“Combine the technology with a friendly North East welcome and the continued commitments from the BBC and Channel 4, I am sure we will see continued investment of other media companies to the borough.”