ITV Studios Acquires Majority Stake in ‘Sherlock’ Producer Hartswood Films

ITV Studios has acquired a majority stake in Hartswood Films, the award-winning production company known for hit scripted series like ITVX and ITV1’s Douglas Is Cancelled, Prime Video’s psychological thriller The Devil’s Hour, and the BBC’s Emmy-winning Sherlock.

Founded in 1979 by Beryl Vertue, Hartswood Films is the UK’s longest established scripted producer, with operations in London and Cardiff.

Under the leadership of CEO and Executive Producer Sue Vertue, Director of Operations Debbie Vertue, Managing Director Dan Cheesbrough, and Creative Director and Executive Producer Steven Moffat, Hartswood Films has created numerous acclaimed drama and comedy series for global platforms like the BBC, ITV, Netflix, and Prime Video.

The company collaborates with top-tier producers, writers, and actors including Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss, Benedict Cumberbatch, Stanley Tucci, Hugh Bonneville, Karen Gillan, and Dolly Wells.

Recent projects from Hartswood Films include Dracula and the mini-series thriller Inside Man, produced for the BBC and Netflix. Additionally, series like Wolf and The Control Room have added to its acclaim on the BBC.

Their most celebrated work, the nine-time Emmy-winning series Sherlock, which aired for four seasons, has been sold to over 200 territories worldwide.