Patrick Schweitzer has been named the new CEO of Red Production Company, the U.K. producer behind such hits as It’s a Sin, Years and Years and the upcoming Neil Gaiman-adapted fantasy series Anansi Boys.
Red parent company Studiocanal unveiled the news on Monday, with Studiocanal CEO Anna Marsh calling Schweitzer “an incredible asset to Red. He already has an extraordinary portfolio of drama to his name and an innate ability to create programming that is relatable to every kind of audience…Patrick’s relationships with writers, acting talent, broadcasters and his team members are second to none. We are thrilled to know that Red is in such excellent hands.”
Over his 30-year-career in television, Schweitzer has worked on such high-end drama series as Grace, Redemption and Whitechapel for ITV, Sky’s hit Gangs of London and Save Me, and such BBC shows as SSGB, The Interceptor and Doctor Who. He was involved in launching numerous returning TV series including Spooks, The Hour, Blackpool and Call the Midwife. Prior to joining Red, Schweitzer spent five years at British production house Tall Story Pictures (Bancroft, The Bay).
“After a wonderful five years at Tall Story and ITV, I couldn’t be more excited to join Red for its next chapter,” Schweitzer said in a statement. “I thrive to collaborate with the best writing talent from across the country to produce great content. To join this highly regarded company and to be working with Studiocanal, whose iconic catalog continues to resonate across the globe, is utterly thrilling…The aim is for us to continue making both mainstream entertainment and bolder character-driven drama, to celebrate stories that encourage new reflection on the familiar and nurture writing that delivers deeper insights into our human condition.”
Alongside Anansi Boys, a co-production with Endor Productions, which will star Whoopi Goldberg, CCH Pounder, Delroy Lindo, Malachi Kirby and Fiona Shaw and is set to air on Amazon Prime Video next year, Red’s recent productions include Sheridan Smith starrer No Return for ITV and Harlan Coben’s Stay Close for Netflix.
