ITV plc has acquired a majority stake in World Productions, the company behind the critically acclaimed and multi-award winning Line of Duty.  

Line of Duty has become one of the most talked about shows on British television. Following three series on BBC2, where it became the channel’s highest rating drama in 15 years, series four transferred to BBC1 where its final episode concluded on Sunday evening with an audience of 7.5million, the series' best ever rating. 

Under the leadership of CEO Roger Charteris, Creative Director Simon Heath, Managing Director Roderick Seligman, Head of Drama Jake Lushington and previous owner Marcus Evans Entertainment, World Productions has produced a string of hit dramas.  

Alongside Line of Duty, these include: The Bletchley Circle, Dark Angel, In Plain Sight, Code of a Killer, The Great Train Robbery and The Fear. Over the last 12 months it has produced drama for four major UK broadcasters. World Productions is currently producing Save Me for Sky Atlantic, a new series written by and starring Line of Duty’s Lennie James with Suranne Jones, and four-part psychological thriller Born to Kill is currently airing on Channel 4 to great critical acclaim.  

ITV Studios’ distribution business, ITV Studios Global Entertainment, will manage international distribution of new series.  

Julian Bellamy, Managing Director, ITV Studios, said: “I'm delighted to welcome Simon and the World Productions team into the ITVS family. World has made a name for itself as one the country's foremost drama producers with a raft of brilliant, stand out series from BBC’s Line of Duty to Channel 4's Born to Kill. I can't wait to work with Simon’s team as they drive World Productions into a new phase of growth in the UK and beyond." 

Simon Heath said: "We're delighted to be linking up with Julian and his terrific team at ITVS. With their support, we're looking to build on the success of the last five years and expand into the future." 

World Productions CEO Roger Charteris will step down from the business, with Creative Director and new CEO Simon Heath and Managing Director Roderick Seligman continuing to oversee the creative and day-to-day management.  

Roger Charteris said: "We are immensely proud of how far World Productions has come and to be handing over a company which is producing some of the very finest British television drama."   

Press contact: mike.large@itv.com