Perls and Moorhouse team up for TV venture

MANCHESTER PR and marketing firm MC2 has teamed up with comedian Justin Moorhouse to launch a new TV production company.

Working Men’s Productions also involves the producer and writer Jim Poyser and will be based at The Greenhouse at MediaCityUK.

In a statement the founders said it had been created to, “create laugh out loud comedy for television with a distinctive northern edge”.

It is working on a range of ideas, from TV sitcoms to radio programmes, and MC2’s involvement will see it explore “content for brands and other broadcast channels”.

Justin Moorhouse, a stand-up comedian, has also appeared in Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights and the Ken Loach film Looking For Eric. Jim Poyser wrote the BBC One crime drama The Driver and has also worked on Shameless.

Mr Moorhouse said: “There is a real appetite from broadcasters for content with a Northern flavour. Jim and I have built up an impressive contacts book over the years which stands us in great stead. There’s so much fantastic northern talent that we can call upon. MediaCityUK is the perfect environment for us. There’s a great eco-system of writers and good access to key decision makers within the industry. We want to ensure that the best comedy is written, produced and filmed here in the north. MediaCityUK is a place where that can happen.”

MC2’s chief executive Mike Perls said: “As an agency we have to constantly look to the future. The way content is created and consumed is changing, which means we need to adapt. It’s always been the plan for us to have a side of the business solely focused on the production of content. We’re seeing brands producing not just their own content, but developing bespoke channels too. We’ve now got the tools to deliver this for our clients. Justin and Jim really are best in class and it’s a privilege for us to be working with them.”