SMB acts for Samphire Films in minority stake investment by BBC Studios

SMB is pleased to have acted for Samphire Films, a production company founded by Sophie Leonard (creator of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test and Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action) and David Hodgkinson (former BBC Documentaries commissioning editor),  in its minority stake investment by BBC Studios.

The transaction will enable Samphire to advance its ambitious growth plans for new channel and platform-defining content, focusing on premium documentary and constructed factual brands globally.

The SMB team was led by Partner Peter Weiss, with support from Senior Associate Lucy Newman as well as Media Senior Associate Blaise Gaymer who advised on the global distribution and format rights aspects of the deal. Employment Partner Tamara Ludlow and Associate Amy Pertwee also advised.

SMB wishes Samphire Films all the best in its future endeavours.

More information on the deal can be found here: https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/bbcstudios/2025/bbc-studios-invests-in-samphire-films