# Talkback Thames > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Talkback_Thames > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Talkback_Thames.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talkback_Thames > Source revision: 1345917720 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) British television production company Talkback Thames Logo used since 2025 Type Subsidiary Predecessor Talkback Productions Thames Television Founded 10 February 2003; 23 years ago (2003-02-10) (original) 1 January 2025; 18 months ago (2025-01-01) (relaunch) Defunct 1 January 2012; 14 years ago (2012-01-01) (original) Fate Split into successor brands (original) Headquarters London, England , United Kingdom Key people Charlie Irwin (MD) Parent Fremantle UK Website www.talkbackthames.com **Talkback Thames** is a [British television](/source/British_television) production company, a division of [FremantleMedia](/source/Fremantle_(company)) (now Fremantle), part of the [RTL Group](/source/RTL_Group), which in turn is owned by [Bertelsmann](/source/Bertelsmann). It was formed by the merger of [Talkback Productions](/source/Talkback_(production_company)) and [Thames Television](/source/Thames_Television). This merger was arranged in February 2003 and reversed in January 2012. It was arranged again in January 2025, after Fremantle UK merged two of its production labels [Thames](/source/Thames_(production_company)) and [Talkback](/source/Talkback_(production_company)). 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, a new logo was introduced for Talkback Thames, with all productions being produced under that label starting in the following year, when the two brands ceased to be used separately. The company also included, as subsidiaries, several other production companies owned by Fremantle, including the UK arm of [Reg Grundy Productions](/source/Reg_Grundy_Organisation#United_States_&_United_Kingdom); comedy specialists Alomo Productions and [William G. Stewart](/source/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](/source/Lorraine_Heggessey), who had been CEO of Talkback Thames from 2005 to 2010. She in turn, replaced [Peter Fincham](/source/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](/source/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 Former logo, used from 2005 to 2011 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](/source/Fremantle_(company)) UK production arm: - Boundless for factual shows.[2] - Retort for scripted comedy.[2] - [Talkback](/source/Talkback_(production_company)) for comedy entertainment.[2] - [Thames](/source/Thames_(production_company)) for entertainment shows.[2] The splitting of Talkback Thames happened as planned on New Year's Day, 1 January 2012.[3] ## Productions - *[All Star Family Fortunes](/source/All_Star_Family_Fortunes)* for ITV. - *[The Apprentice](/source/The_Apprentice_(British_TV_series))* – Originally, a Talkback production for BBC One. - *[As the Bell Rings](/source/As_the_Bell_Rings_(United_Kingdom))* for Disney Channel. - *[The Bill](/source/The_Bill)* – Originally, a Thames production for ITV. - *[Bo' Selecta!](/source/Bo'_Selecta!)* – Originally, a Talkback production for Channel 4. - *[Britain's Got Talent](/source/Britain's_Got_Talent)* in association with [Syco Entertainment](/source/Syco_Entertainment) for ITV. - *[Celebrity Juice](/source/Celebrity_Juice)* for ITV2. - *[Da Ali G Show](/source/Da_Ali_G_Show)* – Originally, a Talkback production for Channel 4. - *[Dale's Supermarket Sweep](/source/Dale's_Supermarket_Sweep)* for ITV. – Originally produced by Talbot Television, Central, Fremantle Productions (UK), Grundy and Carlton. - *[Escape to the Country](/source/Escape_to_the_Country)* – Originally, a Talkback production for BBC Two. - *[Family Affairs](/source/Family_Affairs)* – Originally, a Thames production for Channel 5. - *[Grand Designs](/source/Grand_Designs)* – Originally, a Talkback production for Channel 4. - *[Grease is the Word](/source/Grease_is_the_Word)* in association with [Syco Entertainment](/source/Syco_Entertainment) for ITV. - *[Great British Railway Journeys](/source/Great_British_Railway_Journeys)* for BBC Two. - *[Green Wing](/source/Green_Wing)* for Channel 4. - *[Hole in the Wall](/source/Hole_in_the_Wall_(British_game_show))* for BBC One. - *[How Clean Is Your House?](/source/How_Clean_Is_Your_House%3F)* – Originally, a Talkback production for Channel 4. - *[The IT Crowd](/source/The_IT_Crowd)* for Channel 4. - *[The King Is Dead](/source/The_King_Is_Dead_(TV_series))* for BBC Three. - *[Manhunt – Solving Britain's Crimes](/source/Manhunt_%E2%80%93_Solving_Britain's_Crimes)* for ITV. - *[Monday Monday](/source/Monday_Monday)* – Comedy drama for ITV. - *[Never Mind the Buzzcocks](/source/Never_Mind_the_Buzzcocks)* – Originally, a Talkback production for BBC Two. - *[Open House with Gloria Hunniford](/source/Open_House_with_Gloria_Hunniford)* – Originally, a Thames production for Channel 5. - *[PhoneShop](/source/PhoneShop)* for E4. - *[PokerFace](/source/PokerFace)* in association with Gallowgate for ITV. - *[Pop Idol](/source/Pop_Idol)* – Originally, a Thames production in association with [19 Management](/source/19_Management) for ITV. - *[The Price Is Right](/source/The_Price_Is_Right_(British_game_show))* for ITV – Originally produced by Central, Yorkshire, Talbot Television, Fremantle Productions (UK) and Grundy. - *[Property Ladder](/source/Property_Ladder_(UK_TV_series))* – Originally, a Talkback production for Channel 4. - *[QI](/source/QI)* – Originally, a Talkback production in association with [Quite Interesting Limited](/source/Quite_Interesting_Limited) for BBC Four, BBC One and BBC Two. - *[Richard Bacon's Beer & Pizza Club](/source/Richard_Bacon's_Beer_%26_Pizza_Club)* for ITV4. - *[The Rob Brydon Show](/source/The_Rob_Brydon_Show)* for BBC Two. - *[The Sharon Osbourne Show](/source/The_Sharon_Osbourne_Show)* for ITV. - *[Thank God, You're Here!](/source/Thank_God_You're_Here_(UK_TV_series))* for ITV. - *[They Think It's All Over?](/source/They_Think_It's_All_Over_(TV_series))* – Originally, a Talkback production for BBC One. - *[Wish You Were Here...?](/source/Wish_You_Were_Here...%3F)/Do You Still Wish You Were Here...?* – Originally, a Thames production for ITV. - *[The X Factor](/source/The_X_Factor_(British_TV_series))* in association with [Syco Entertainment](/source/Syco_Entertainment) for ITV. ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Goldbart, Max (16 September 2024). ["Talkback & Thames To Merge Once Again"](https://deadline.com/2024/09/talkback-thames-merge-again-1236090248/). *Deadline Hollywood*. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-split_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-split_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-split_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-split_2-3) Conlan, Tara (23 November 2011). ["Talkback Thames to be split up"](https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/nov/23/talkback-thames-to-split-up). *The Guardian*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0261-3077](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077). Retrieved 23 November 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Campbell, Lisa (22 November 2011). ["Talkback Thames brand to disappear"](http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/indies/talkback-thames-brand-to-disappear/5034907.article). *[Broadcast](/source/Broadcast_(magazine))*. Retrieved 22 November 2011. ## External links - [Official website](https://www.talkbackthames.com/) v t e Bertelsmann Bertelsmann Home Entertainment Arcadia Entertainment Aris Ekdotiki ClipArt Films Feelgood Entertainment Fiction Pictures JP Video Productions Libero Video Lucifier Video Enterprises Mascot Video Media Vista Film & Audio Distributors Panorama Audio Visual Systems S.A. Pissanos International Star Video Media assets v t e RTL Group RTL Deutschland TV RTL VOX RTL Zwei[a] VOXup Nitro RTL Up Super RTL Toggolino Toggo RTL Super Toggo Plus n-tv RTL Crime RTL Living RTL Passion GEO Television Radio RTL Radio 104.6 RTL Antenne Bayern[b] Antenne Niedersachsen[c] Radio Hamburg[d] Radio NRW[e] 105'5 Spreeradio Radio 21[f] Radio Regenbogen[g] BigFM[h] Hitradio RTL Sachsen[i] Radio Brocken (50%) 89.0 RTL Antenne Thüringen (15%) Radio Ton (2%) Rock Antenne[b] Sachsen Funkpaket (31.9%) Radio Dresden Radio Leipzig Radio Chemnitz Radio Lausitz Radio Zwickau Radio Erzgebirge Vogtland Radio Oldie 95 (4.78%) Radio Top 40 (15%) RTL Publishing Brigitte Capital GEO Stern Groupe M6 (48.6%) TV M6 W9 6ter Paris Première Téva Série Club[j] M6 Music Gulli Tiji Canal J MCM Top RFM TV Radio RTL RTL2 Fun Radio Catchup and Video on Demand M6+ International Gulli Girl Tiji (Russia) Gulli Africa Gulli Bil Arabi MCM Pop M6 International RTL Luxembourg TV RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg RTL Zwee Radio RTL Radio RTL Today Radio RTL LX RTL Gold Catchup RTL Play RTL Magyarország TV RTL RTL Kettő RTL Három RTL Otthon RTL Gold Cool Film+ Sorozat+ Moziklub Sorozatklub Kölyökklub Muzsika TV Catchup and Video on Demand RTL+ Atresmedia (18.65%) TV Antena 3 laSexta Neox Nova Mega Atreseries Radio Onda Cero Europa FM Melodia FM Catchup Atresplayer Fremantle United Kingdom Dancing Ledge Euston Films Castlefield Hare and Tortoise Thames Talkback Naked Full Fat TV Label 1 Man Alive Wild Blue Media Ireland Element Pictures France Kwai Germany Grundy UFA UFA GmbH UFA Fiction UFA Show & Factual Teamworx Phoenix Film We Are Era Finland Grillifilms Moskito Television Production House Finland Sweden Strix Baluba Italy Lux Vide The Apartment Wildside Picomedia Denmark Miso Film Blu Productions Strong Productions Norway One Big Happy Family Rakett TV Monster Playroom Novemberfilm Strix Australia Fremantle Australia Eureka Productions United States Original Productions Random House Studio Eureka USA The Immigrant Fabel Netherlands Blue Circle Fiction Valley No Pictures Please Israel Abot Hameiri ^ joint venture with Leonine Holding, The Walt Disney Company, Bauer Media Group and Hubert Burda Media. ^ a b joint venture with Amperwelle Studio München Programmanbietergesellschaft, Axel Springer AG, Burda, Studio Gong, m.b.t. Mediengesellschaft der bayerischen Tageszeitungen für Kabelkommunikation, Medienpool and Radio Bavaria Rundfunkprogrammgesellschaft. ^ joint venture with Verlagsgesellschaft Madsack, Studio Gong Niedersachsen and Brune-Rieck-Beteiligungs. ^ joint venture with Axel Springer, Heinrich Bauer Verlag, Lühmanndruck Harburger Zeitungsgesellschaft and Morgenpost Verlag. ^ joint venture with Pressefunk Nordrhein-Westfalen and Westdeutscher Rundfunk. ^ joint venture with Funk & Fernsehen Nordwestdeutschland, Antenne Niedersachen and Niedersachsen Radio. ^ joint venture with Mediengruppe Dr. Haas. ^ joint venture with Rheinland-Pfälzische Rundfunk. ^ joint venture with Broadcast Sachsen. ^ joint venture with TF1 Group. Penguin Random House USA Knopf Doubleday Knopf Doubleday Everyman's Library (US) Pantheon Schocken Vintage Random House Ballantine Bantam Boom! Studios Dell Del Rey Dial Modern Library Spectra Villard Crown Broadway Harmony Hogarth Rodale Three Rivers Ten Speed Watson-Guptill Children's Beginner Books Golden Penguin Adult Avery Dutton Penguin Putnam Riverhead Sentinel TarcherPerigee Viking Berkley Publishing Group Ace Berkley New American Library Jove Plume Roc Penguin Young Readers Dial Young Readers Dutton Children's Firebird Putnam Grosset & Dunlap Philomel Price Stern Sloan Puffin Warne Information Books on Tape Living Language Playaway The Princeton Review UK Ebury BBC Books Ebury Rider Virgin Books (90%) W. H. Allen Penguin General Hamish Hamilton Penguin Books Viking Penguin Press Pelican Penguin Classics PRH Children Ladybird Puffin Other Cornerstone Del Rey Hutchinson Heinemann #MerkyBooks Random House Michael Joseph Transworld Bantam Doubleday Associated publishers Andersen Everyman's Library Vintage Publishing The Bodley Head Chatto & Windus Harvill Secker Jonathan Cape Vintage Canada Doubleday Canada McClelland & Stewart Douglas Gibson Books Tundra Books New Canadian Library Germany Blanvalet cbj Goldmann Heyne Luchterhand Manesse Prestel Spain Alfaguara Bruguera Ediciones B Santillana Other Companhia das Letras (70%) Dorling Kindersley Alpha PRH Publisher Services Text Publishing Other assets Alliant International University Arvato Brockhaus Arvato Entertainment (Sonopress) BMG Rights Management Der Spiegel (25%) Relias Learning Manager Magazin (24.9%) Sächsische Zeitung (60%) Category Authority control databases International VIAF National United States Israel Other MusicBrainz label Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Talkback Thames](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talkback_Thames) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talkback_Thames?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.