01/04/2005

Leading UK studios and post-production facilities Pinewood Shepperton announced today the acquisition for £2.7 million of another historical film and TV studios in the South-West of London: Teddington Studios.

Teddington is a household name in the British entertainment industry. In the 1930s, the studios had its moments of glory when Warner Brothers established its UK base on its lot and Hollywood stars such as Rex Harrison, Ida Lupino, Margaret Lockwood and Errol Flynn were regular visitors between 1931-1935. Among the few British studios still open during World War II, Teddington were bombed in 1944 but rebuilt and reopened in 1948 by Danny Kay. When British film production plunged in the 1950s, the studios soon turned to television and became Thames Studios in the 1960s. Today, Teddington is a major multi-stage facility for television production where TV hits such as The office have been filmed.

For Shepperton Pinewood studios, the acquisition represents a ‘natural extension to their current TV and sound service activities as explained by the company’s Chief executive Ivan Dunleavy: "This is an exciting opportunity for Pinewood Shepperton and is in line with our long term strategy to diversify our revenue streams in our integrated media businesses".

In Pinewood Shepperton’s recent year end financial report, the company said that its TV and sound services grew faster than its film stage activities and generated 28% of its total revenues. Film production activity still remains its main profit center representing 56% of its £38.5m turnover last year. Recent productions shot at Pinewood Shepperton include Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Batman Begins and King Arthur.