Ross Kemp launches new production company

Ross Kemp is to sever his ties with Tiger Aspect after five years and set up his own production company called Freshwater Films.

According to Broadcast, Freshwater will produce all of the former EastEnders star's future programmes for Sky, with whom he has an exclusive deal.

The company will also work to develop emerging talent for similarly "hard-hitting, factual shows" for which Kemp has become renowned. The resulting programmes could be shown on other broadcasters and also be fronted by women.

Kemp has taken his production team of series producer Matt Bennett and producer Tom Watson to the new Freshwater offices in London's Aldwych, which they will share with Paul O'Grady's production company, Olga TV.

Freshwater's first commission is understood to be the second series of Ross Kemp: Extreme World for Sky 1, which will be five or six parts depending on the commission.

"I can't run around with 18-year-old marines getting shot at forever, although this isn't a retirement plan," Kemp said.

"Like any other start-up indie, I hope to go on to bigger and better things. It's all about getting the orders, and hopefully commissioners from other channels will want to work with us on big-budget shows with high production values."

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