Editing Talkback Thames

{{Short description|British television production company}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Talkback Thames
| logo = Talkback Thames current logo.png
| logo_size = 235px
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2025
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| fate = Split into successor brands (original)
| predecessor = {{plainlist|
* [[Talkback (production company)|Talkback Productions]]
* [[Thames Television]]
}}
| founded = {{start date and age|df=yes|2003|2|10}} (original)<br>{{start date and age|df=yes|2025|1|1}} (relaunch)
| defunct = {{end date and age|df=yes|2012|1|1}} (original)
| hq_location_city = [[London]], England
| hq_location_country = United Kingdom
| key_people = Charlie Irwin (MD)
| owner = 
| parent = [[Fremantle (company)|Fremantle UK]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.talkbackthames.com/}}
}}

'''Talkback Thames''' is a [[British television]] production company, a division of [[Fremantle (company)|FremantleMedia]] (now Fremantle), part of the [[RTL Group]], which in turn is owned by [[Bertelsmann]]. It was formed by the merger of [[Talkback (production company)|Talkback Productions]] and [[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 (production company)|Thames]] and [[Talkback (production company)|Talkback]].

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, the two brands ceased to be used separately and a new logo was introduced for Talkback Thames, with all productions being produced under that label.

The company also included, as subsidiaries, several other production companies owned by Fremantle, including the UK arm of [[Reg Grundy Organisation#United States & United Kingdom|Reg Grundy Productions]]; comedy specialists Alomo Productions and [[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]], who had been CEO of Talkback Thames from 2005 to 2010. She in turn, replaced [[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]].

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/09/talkback-thames-merge-again-1236090248/|title=Talkback & Thames To Merge Once Again|first=Max|last=Goldbart|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=16 September 2024}}</ref>

==Reorganisation==
[[File:Talkback Thames % 282005% 29.webp|thumb|right|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 [[Fremantle (company)|FremantleMedia]] UK production arm:
* Boundless for factual shows.<ref name="split">{{Cite news |last=Conlan |first=Tara |date=2011-11-23 |title=Talkback Thames to be split up |language=en-GB |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/nov/23/talkback-thames-to-split-up |access-date=23 November 2011 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
* Retort for scripted comedy.<ref name="split"/>
* [[Talkback (production company)|Talkback]] for comedy entertainment.<ref name="split"/>
* [[Thames (production company)|Thames]] for entertainment shows.<ref name="split"/>

The splitting of Talkback Thames happened as planned on New Year's Day, 1 January 2012.<ref>{{cite web|date= 22 November 2011|url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/indies/talkback-thames-brand-to-disappear/5034907.article|title=Talkback Thames brand to disappear|last=Campbell|first=Lisa|work=[[Broadcast (magazine)|Broadcast]]|access-date=22 November 2011}}</ref>

==Productions==
*''[[All Star Family Fortunes]]'' for ITV.
*''[[The Apprentice (British TV series)|The Apprentice]]'' – Originally, a Talkback production for BBC One.
*''[[As the Bell Rings (United Kingdom)|As the Bell Rings]]'' for Disney Channel.
*''[[The Bill]]'' – Originally, a Thames production for ITV.
*''[[Bo' Selecta!]]'' – Originally, a Talkback production for Channel 4.
*''[[Britain's Got Talent]]'' in association with [[Syco Entertainment]] for ITV.
*''[[Celebrity Juice]]'' for ITV2.
*''[[Da Ali G Show]]'' – Originally, a Talkback production for Channel 4.
*''[[Dale's Supermarket Sweep]]'' for ITV. – Originally produced by Talbot Television, Central, Fremantle Productions (UK), Grundy and Carlton.
*''[[Escape to the Country]]'' – Originally, a Talkback production for BBC Two.
*''[[Family Affairs]]'' – Originally, a Thames production for Channel 5.
*''[[Grand Designs]]'' – Originally, a Talkback production for Channel 4.
*''[[Grease is the Word]]'' in association with [[Syco Entertainment]] for ITV.
*''[[Great British Railway Journeys]]'' for BBC Two.
*''[[Green Wing]]'' for Channel 4.
*''[[Hole in the Wall (British game show)|Hole in the Wall]]'' for BBC One.
*''[[How Clean Is Your House?]]'' – Originally, a Talkback production for Channel 4.
*''[[The IT Crowd]]'' for Channel 4.
*''[[The King Is Dead (TV series)|The King Is Dead]]'' for BBC Three.
*''[[Manhunt – Solving Britain's Crimes]]'' for ITV.
*''[[Monday Monday]]'' – Comedy drama for ITV.
*''[[Never Mind the Buzzcocks]]'' – Originally, a Talkback production for BBC Two.
*''[[Open House with Gloria Hunniford]]'' – Originally, a Thames production for Channel 5.
*''[[PhoneShop]]'' for E4.
*''[[PokerFace]]'' in association with Gallowgate for ITV.
*''[[Pop Idol]]'' – Originally, a Thames production in association with [[19 Management]] for ITV.
*''[[The Price Is Right (British game show)|The Price Is Right]]'' for ITV – Originally produced by Central, Yorkshire, Talbot Television, Fremantle Productions (UK) and Grundy.
*''[[Property Ladder (UK TV series)|Property Ladder]]'' – Originally, a Talkback production for Channel 4.
*''[[QI]]'' – Originally, a Talkback production in association with [[Quite Interesting Limited]] for BBC Four, BBC One and BBC Two.
*''[[Richard Bacon's Beer & Pizza Club]]'' for ITV4.
*''[[The Rob Brydon Show]]'' for BBC Two.
*''[[The Sharon Osbourne Show]]'' for ITV.
*''[[Thank God You're Here (UK TV series)|Thank God, You're Here!]]'' for ITV.
*''[[They Think It's All Over (TV series)|They Think It's All Over?]]'' – Originally, a Talkback production for BBC One.
*''[[Wish You Were Here...?]]/Do You Still Wish You Were Here...?'' – Originally, a Thames production for ITV.
*''[[The X Factor (British TV series)|The X Factor]]'' in association with [[Syco Entertainment]] for ITV.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://www.talkbackthames.com/}}

{{Bertelsmann}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:RTL Group]]
[[Category:Former Bertelsmann subsidiaries]]
[[Category:Television production companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Mass media companies established in 2003]]
[[Category:Mass media companies disestablished in 2012]]
[[Category:Mass media companies established in 2025]]
[[Category:Peabody Award winners]]
[[Category:Re-established companies]]