Armando Iannucci, creator of The Thick of It and recent HBO series The Franchise, has set up a scripted indie to “nurture new creative and production talent”.
The writer, director and broadcaster has unveiled Touchscreen, which he launched with regular collaborator and producer Kevin Loader and development producer Charlotte Draper.
It is backed by BBC Studios, which will distribute its shows globally.
Iannucci started in radio more than 30 years ago, on shows such as Radio 4’s On the Hour and Knowjng Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge and currently co-hosts a R4 series about political language, Strong Message Here, with journalist Helen Lewis.
He produced and wrote for a string of BBC2 shows including On the Hour’s TV counterpart The Day Today, various Alan Partridge shows, The Saturday Night Armistice and The Thick of It, before teaming up with HBO for comedies Veep, Avenue 5 and The Franchise.
He has also directed films including In the Loop and The Death of Stalin and is currently working with The Franchise showrunner Jon Brown on a movie satirising social media.
Iannucci said Touchscreen is “focused on making projects that reflect, confront or celebrate the world we live in”.
He added: “I’ll be continuing my relationship with HBO, and now with Touchscreen I have the opportunity to nurture new creative and production talent and ideas.
“I’m so glad that I’ll be partnering with BBCS to do this, especially as the BBC is where I learnt my craft. The aim of Touchscreen, with the support of BBCS, is to give others the same opportunity to find their voice and reach their audience, and for us together to make shows that are daring, that get people talking and which encourage us all to look at our world afresh.”
