Pinewood Studios, renowned for its association with blockbuster movie franchises such as James Bond, Marvel, and Sonic the Hedgehog, has announced the closure of its television production department next year. This decision will impact the studios that host popular TV shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and Taskmaster.
The closure follows an internal review of the studio’s operations, focusing on light entertainment and comedy programming. In a statement, the group that owns Pinewood Studios expressed pride in the contributions of its TV team, stating: “We are very proud of the work the TV team has delivered over the years, having hosted many major titles for the UK’s broadcasters.”
Importantly, the closure will not affect productions already booked for 2024 and 2025, nor will it impact television projects taking place at other Pinewood locations. The site has previously provided three fully-equipped studios for the production of sitcoms, panel shows, and live broadcasts. Notable shows filmed there include Red Dwarf, Would I Lie To You?, and Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars.
Pinewood Studios has indicated that it is consulting with the staff affected by the closure as part of the transition. The decision comes after significant agreements were made with major streaming services; in 2019, Disney signed a deal to lease 20 of the stages at the site, shortly after Netflix secured a similar arrangement at Pinewood’s Shepperton Studios.
