EXCLUSIVE: Amelia Brown, Managing Director of Britain’s Got Talent, The x factor and Too hot to touch Producer Thames, leaves after two decades to build an entertainment production company.
Brown tendered her resignation a few weeks ago and will step out in July. She has been with Thames since 2003 and became chief executive when the company merged with Talkback in 2017 – a merger that was reversed two years later, after which she retained her post.
She will set up her own production company later this year, becoming the second Fremantle label boss to be announced in the past two weeks that she is leaving the company, following Fatima Salaria, who is stepping down The Apprentice Indie Naked in Spring.
Amelia Brown (left) with David Walliams and Britain’s Got Talent managers at the BAFTAs
During her long spell at Thames, Brown has mentored ITV stars The x factor and Britain’s Got Talentfor which she has been a key creative in almost every series.
Simon Cowell’s creations are produced alongside Cowell’s Syco clapboard and linen The x factor not aired for five years BGT remains a key tenet of ITV’s annual entertainment programme. The show was last signed by former Be sure to come dance Judge Bruno Tonioli to replace David Walliams after Walliams was caught making derogatory remarks about it BGT Participants published in a Guardian Report. Brown is overseeing filming of the final season when news of her departure broke.
Elsewhere, Brown oversaw the hit Netflix format Too hot to touch along with the British version of the Korean format i can see your voice for the BBC, Channel 4 Whoever cares wins Reporting and BBC Three dinner with my ex Shows in production include ITVs Mamma Mia! I have a dream and E4 The big celebrity detox.
Simon Andreae, CEO of Fremantle UK, described Brown as “one of the best in the business”.
“She has guided Thames through massive success with our genre-defining talent show hits and has been responsible for growing the label’s roster while developing relationships with new broadcasters and streamers,” he added. “While we are very sad to see her go, we have known for some time that one day she would like to start her own business.”
Brown said she “loved” her time at Thames – a 20-year stint that included around a decade of freelance work.
“After years of dreaming of starting my own business, now is the time to take that leap and I want to thank every single person who has helped and supported me over the past twenty years,” she added added.