Baby Cow Productions Limited is a British comedy television production company based in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

and

Manchester Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...

, founded by

Steve Coogan Stephen John Coogan (; born 14 October 1965) is an English-Irish actor, comedian, screenwriter and producer. His accolades include four BAFTA Awards and three British Comedy Awards, and nominations for two Academy Awards and a Golden Globe Aw ...

and Henry Normal. Since its establishment it has diversified into radio, animation and film. According to their website, Baby Cow "produces bold, high-quality scripted entertainment across all genres for television, film and radio." The company's name is a reference to Coogan's early characters Paul and Pauline Calf.

History

The company was founded in 1999 by

and Henry Normal, with Coogan assuming the role of Creative Director and Normal assuming the role of CEO. In 2008,

BBC Worldwide BBC Worldwide Ltd. was the wholly owned commercial subsidiary of the BBC, formed out of a restructuring of its predecessor BBC Enterprises in January 1995. The company monetised BBC brands, selling BBC and other British programming for broadcas ...

bought a 25% stake in the company. The acquisition was made at a time when BBC Worldwide was being criticised for its "out of control" ventures, though Normal told ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

'' that BBC Worldwide had not made the highest bid. In April 2016, Normal stood down as CEO and left the full time position. He remained a consultant of the company for the following year and supported the company while they looked to replace him. Coogan then assumed a broader role as part of his transition. Upon his departure, Normal commented that “After sixteen and a half years I've decided to take a long overdue break from TV and film production to pursue creative endeavours in other fields. I'm very proud to have been part of a company that has nurtured young talent, sought out originality and produced quality award-winning shows year after year. Steve has such a great team around him and with further support from BBC Worldwide, I know Baby Cow will achieve even greater success in the years to come.” Coogan then went on to add that “Henry has devoted himself brilliantly to the company over the years and deserves to pursue more personal projects. I salute him. He leaves behind a passionate team with great taste and the company he co-founded is in a strong place to grow." Normal was eventually replaced with

Christine Langan Christine Langan (born January 1965) is an English film producer who was appointed Head of BBC Films in 2009. In 2016, she left the role to become CEO of comedy television production company Baby Cow Productions. After graduating from Cambri ...

, who was the CEO until November 2020. She left her role as head of

BBC Films BBC Film (formerly BBC Films) is the feature film-making arm of the BBC. It was founded on 18 June 1990, and has produced or co-produced some of the most successful British films of recent years, including ''Truly, Madly, Deeply (film), Truly, ...

for the job. BBC Worldwide then increased their stake in the company to 73% after Normal's departure. Langan has taken an executive producer role on every Baby Cow productions since she took the job including ''

Camping Camping is a form of outdoor recreation or outdoor education involving overnight stays with a basic temporary shelter such as a tent. Camping can also include a recreational vehicle, sheltered cabins, a permanent tent, a shelter such as a Bivy bag ...

'', ''The Killing Machine'', ''

This Time with Alan Partridge ''This Time with Alan Partridge'' is a British sitcom first broadcast in 2019 on BBC One. It stars Steve Coogan as the inept broadcaster Alan Partridge in a parody, spoof of day-time magazine programmes such as ''The One Show'' and ''Good Mornin ...

'' and a new show entitled '' The Witchfinder'', starring

Tim Key Timothy Key (born 2 September 1976) is an English poet, comedian, actor and screenwriter. He has performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, both as a solo act and as part of the comedy group Cowards (comedy troupe), Cowards, and plays Alan Pa ...

and Daisy May Cooper, which premiered in the spring of 2022.

Awards and nominations

RTS Craft Awards 2018

*Costume Design – Entertainment & Non Drama – Howard Burden for ''Zapped'' (Series 2) Baby Cow Productions / Black Dog Productions / Itchy Coo Productions for Dave

BAFTAS 2017

*Won Best Male Comedy Performance –

for ''

Alan Partridge Alan Gordon Partridge is an English comedy character portrayed by Steve Coogan. A parody of British television personalities, Partridge is a tactless and inept broadcaster with an inflated sense of celebrity. Since his debut in 1991, he has ap ...

's Scissored Isle'' *Nominated Best Comedy Writer – Steve Coogan, Neil Gibbons and Rob Gibbons for ''Alan Partridge's Scissored Isle''

International Emmy Awards 2017

*Won Best Comedy – ''Alan Partridge's Scissored Isle''.

Writers’ Guild of Great Britain Awards 2014

*Nominated: Best Situation Comedy – ''Up The Women'' (

Jessica Hynes Jessica Hynes (''née'' Stevenson) is a British actress, director and writer. Best known as a comedy actress, she has played Cheryl in ''The Royle Family'' (1998–2010), Siobhan Sharpe in ''Twenty Twelve'' (2011–2012) and ''W1A'' (2014–2 ...

) *Nominated: Screenplay – ''

Philomena Philomena ( ), also known as Saint Philomena (; ) or Philomena of Rome ( 10 January 291 10 August 304) was a virgin (title)#Virgin martyrs, virgin martyr whose remains were discovered on May 24–25, 1802, in the Catacomb of Priscilla. Three ti ...

'' ( Jeff Pope & Steve Coogan)

Golden Globe Awards 2014

*Nominated: Best Performance by an Actress in a motion picture –

Judi Dench Dame Judith Olivia Dench (born 9 December 1934) is an English actress. Widely considered one of Britain's greatest actors, she is noted for her versatility, having appeared in films and television, as well as for her numerous roles on the stage ...

– ''Philomena'' *Nominated: Best Screenplay – Steve Coogan & Jeff Pope – ''Philomena'' *Nominated: Best Drama Motion Picture – ''Philomena''

Productions

News

* LIVING News (2006–2009) and (2010–2012) for LIVING 5 x 29 mins

Television

* ''

Chivalry Chivalry, or the chivalric language, is an informal and varying code of conduct that developed in Europe between 1170 and 1220. It is associated with the medieval Christianity, Christian institution of knighthood, with knights being members of ...

'' (2022) for

Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation. It is state-owned enterprise, publicly owned but, unlike the BBC, it receives no public funding and is funded en ...

* '' The Witchfinder'' (2022) for BBC TWO * '' High & Dry'' (2018) for Channel 4, based on the 2014 online programme *''

Red Dwarf A red dwarf is the smallest kind of star on the main sequence. Red dwarfs are by far the most common type of fusing star in the Milky Way, at least in the neighborhood of the Sun. However, due to their low luminosity, individual red dwarfs are ...

'' XII (2017) for Dave 6 × 30 minutes *''

'' XI (2016) for Dave 6 × 30 minutes *''Wussywat the Clumsy Cat'' (2014) for

CBeebies CBeebies is a British free-to-air Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast children's television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is also the brand used for all BBC content targeted for children aged six year ...

52 × 5 mins *''High & Dry'' (2014) for Channel 4 Online "Comedy Blaps" *''British Muslim Comedy'' (2014) Channel 4 Online *''Undercover'' (2014) for Dave 6 × 30mins *''Moone Boy'' series 3 (2014) *''UNCLE'' series 2 (2014) for BBC3 *'' Sensitive Skin'' (2014) for

Movie Central Movie Central (occasionally abbreviated as "MC", mostly in program guides) was a Canadian English language Category A premium cable and satellite television channel that was owned by Corus Entertainment. Movie Central was designated to operat ...

The Movie Network Crave (formerly The Movie Network or TMN) is a Television in Canada, Canadian premium television network and Streaming service provider, streaming service owned by the Bell Media subsidiary of BCE Inc. Launched in 1983 as the national service ...

, 6 × 30 mins episodes *''Up The Women'' series 2 (2015) for BBC 2 *''Timeless'' (2014) for SKY 1 HD *''The Trip to Italy'' (2014) for BBC2 6 × 30mins *''Moone Boy'' series 2 (2014) for SKY1 HD 6 × 30 mins *''Over To Bill'' (2014) for BBC 1 *''Behind The Moone'' (2014) for SKY 1 HD 1 × 30mins *''UNCLE'' series 1 (2014) BBC THREE & BBC1 *''Liam Williams'' Blaps (2014) Channel 4 Online *''Warren United'' (2014) for ITV4 6 × 22mins *''Hebburn'' Christmas Special (2013) BBC TWO *''Hebburn'' Series 2 (2013) BBC2 6 × 30 mins *''Starlings'' Series 2 (2013) for SKY1 HD 8 × 60mins *''Up The Women'' Series 1 (2013) BBC FOUR 3 × 30mins *''Gifted'' (2013) for Sky Arts 1 × 30mins *''Common Ground'' (2013) for Sky Atlantic HD, 10 × 10mins *''Tommy Tiernan's Little Cracker'' (2012) for Sky1 HD *''UNCLE'' Pilot (2012) for BBC THREE 1 × 30mins *''Uncle Wormsley's Christmas'' (2012) for Sky Atlantic HD, 1 × 30mins *''The Cow That Almost Missed Christmas'' (2012) for BBC1, BBC2 and CBEEBIES. 1 × 30mins *''

Hunderby ''Hunderby'' is a British black comedy television series produced by Sky (United Kingdom), Sky and written by Julia Davis. It was first broadcast on Sky Atlantic in 2012. The series won two awards at the British Comedy Awards in 2012; it also ...

'' (2012) for Sky Atlantic. 8 × 30 mins episodes *'' Moone Boy'' (2012) for Sky 1. 6 × 30 mins episodes *''

Hebburn Hebburn is a town in the South Tyneside borough of Tyne and Wear, England. It was formerly in County Durham until 1974 with its own urban district from 1894 until 1974. It is on the south bank of the River Tyne between Gateshead and Jarrow and ...

'' (2012) for BBC2. 6 × 30 mins episodes *'' Starlings'' (2012) for Sky 1. 8 × 60 mins episodes *''Steve Coogan Live n Lewd'' (2012) for Channel 4. 1 × 60 mins episode *'' Alan Partridge: Welcome to the Places of My Life'' (2012) for Sky Atlantic. 1 × 60 mins episode *''Steve Coogan: Stand-Up Down Under'' (2012) for Sky Atlantic. 2 × 60 mins episodes *'' Mid Morning Matters with Alan Partridge: Special Edition'' (2012) for Sky Atlantic. 6 × 30 mins episodes *''Alan Partridge on Open Books With Martin Bryce'' (2012) for Sky Atlantic. 1 × 60 mins episode *'' Nick Helm: Solid Gold Super Hits'' (2012) for Channel 4 online. 3 × 4 mins episode *''Uncle Wormsley's Christmas'' (2012) for Sky Atlantic. 1 × 30 mins episode. *'' Johnny Vegas' Little Cracker'' (2012) for Sky 1. 1 × 11 mins episode *''Totally Tom'' (2011) for E4. 1 × 30 mins episode *''The Man Who Thinks It'' (2011) for Channel 4 *'' The Shadow Line'' (2011) for BBC2. 7 × 60 mins episodes *''Alan Partridge and other less successful characters'' (2010) for Channel 4 *''Doing Chekhov'' (2010) for Sky Arts *''101 Really Bad Ideas'' (2010) for BBC Comedy Online. 6 × 1 mins episodes *''Chekhov'' (2010) for Sky Arts. 4 × 60 mins episodes *'' Mid Morning Matters for Online'' (2010) for Fosters Funny Online. 12 × 11 mins episodes *'' The Trip'' (2010) for BBC2. 6 × 30 mins episodes *''Stand Up Hero 2010'' (2010) for ITV4. 6 × 60 mins episodes *''Ideal Outtakes'' (2010) for BBC3. *''World Cup Diary'' (2010) for ITV4. 1 × 20 mins episode *''Lizzie and Sarah'' (2010) for BBC2. 1 × 30 mins episode *''FHM Stand Up Hero 2009'' (2010) for ITV4. 1 × 60 mins episode *''Gavin and Stacey the Outtakes'' (2010) for BBC3. 1 × 30 mins episode *''Politicians Outtakes'' (2009) for BBC3. 1 × 30 mins episode. (plus 1 × 5 mins, 1 × 10 mins, 1 × 15 mins, 1 × 20 mins) *''Steve Coogan: The Inside Story'' (2009) for BBC2. 1 × 30 mins episode *''The All Star Impressions Show'' (2009) for ITV1. 1 × 30 mins episode *'' Changing Ends'' (2023) for ITV1. 12 × 30 mins episodes. *''Outtakes: US presidents'' (2009) for BBC3. 1 × 30 mins episode *''Home Time'' (2009) for BBC2. 6 × 30 mins episodes *''Brave Young Men'' (2009) for BBC3. 1 × 30 mins episode *'' Gavin and Stacey 12 Days of Christmas'' (2008) for BBC3. 1 × 45 mins episode *'' Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special'' (2008) for BBC1. 1 × 60 mins episode *''Ketch! And HIRO-PON'' (2008) for BBC3. 1 × 30 mins episode *''The Last Word Monologues'' (2008) for BBC3. 3 × 30 mins episodes *''Dolly and Laura'' (2008) for E4. 1 × 15 mins episode *'' The Mighty Boosh. A Journey Through Time and Space'' (2008) for BBC3. 1 × 60 mins episode *''

Karl Pilkington Karl Pilkington (born 23 September 1972) is an English presenter, actor, voice-artist, producer and author. After working with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant as producer on their Xfm radio show, Pilkington became a co-host of '' The Ricky ...

: Satisfied Fool'' (2007) for Channel 4. 1 × 30 mins episode *''The Scariest Night on TV'' (2007) for Sci Fi. *'' Where are the Joneses?'' (2007) for online. 60 × 5 mins episodes *''

Gavin & Stacey ''Gavin & Stacey'' is a British sitcom created, written by and starring James Corden and Ruth Jones about two families: one from Billericay in Essex, and the other from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan. Mathew Horne and ...

'' (three series) (2007–2010) for BBC1, BBC2 and BBC3. 20 × 30 mins episodes *''Classic Coogan'' (2007) for UKTV G2. 8 comedy shorts *''Stuck'' (2007) for BBC4 *''The Former Ambassador'' (2007) for Paramount Comedy Channel. 10 × 1 mins episodes *''The Abbey'' (2007) for ITV1. 1 × 30 mins episode *''Rob Rouse and his Duck'' (2006) for Paramount Comedy Channel. 10 × 1 mins episodes *'' Saxondale'' (two series) (2006–2007) for BBC2. 14 × 30 mins episodes *''Outtakes World Leaders'' (2006) for BBC3. 1 × 30 mins episode *'' Ideal Xmas Special'' (2005) for BBC3. 1 × 30 mins episode *'' Sensitive Skin'' (two series) (2005–07) for BBC2. 12 × 30 mins episodes *'' Monkey Trousers'' for ITV1. 6 × 30 mins episodes *''Glen Wool What's The Story'' (2005) for Channel 4 (Comedy Lab). 1 × 30 mins episode *''MPs Outtakes'' (2005) for BBC3. 1 × 30 mins episode *''Kelsey Grammer Presents The Sketch Show'' (2005) for Fox. 6 × 30 mins episodes *'' Ideal'' (seven series) (2005–2011) for BBC3. 52 × 30 mins episodes *'' The Keith Barret Show'' (two series) (2004–2005) for BBC2. 12 × 30 mins episodes *'' The Big Impression 2004 Christmas Special'' (2004) for BBC1. 1 × 30 mins episode *'' AD/BC: A Rock Opera'' (2004) for BBC3. 1 × 30 mins episode. *''The Keith Barret Christmas Special'' (2004) for BBC2. 1 × 30 mins episode *''Hurrah for Cancer'' (2004) for BBC3. 1 × 30 mins episode *''Slam Poets'' (2004) for BBC3. 1 × 60 mins episode *'' Sven and Nancy's Big Impression'' (2004) for BBC1. 1 × 30 mins episode *'' The Mighty Boosh'' (three series) (2004–2008) for BBC2 and BBC3. 20 × 30 mins episodes *'' I Am Not an Animal'' (2004) for BBC2. 6 × 30 mins episodes *''All Star Comedy Show'' (2004) for ITV1. 2 × 30 mins episodes *''From Bard to Verse'' (2004) for BBC3. 8 × 15 mins episodes *''Sweet and Sour'' (2004) for BBC3. 1 × 30 mins episodes *'' Nighty Night'' (two series) (2004–2005) for BBC2 and BBC3. 12 × 30 mins episodes *'' Posh and Beck's Big Impression (2003) for BBC1. 1 × 30 mins episode *''Posh and Beck's Big Impression Behind The Scenes and Extra Bits'' (2003) for BBC3. 1 × 28 mins episode *'' The Private Life of Samuel Pepys'' (2003) for BBC2. 1 × 60 mins episode *''Whine Gums'' (2003) for BBC3. 8 × 15 mins episodes *'' Brain Candy'' (2003) for BBC3. 14 × 15 mins episode *''Paul and Pauline Calf's Cheese and Ham Sandwich'' (2003) for BBC2 and BBC3. 1 × 28 mins episode *''

Marion and Geoff Marion or MARION may refer to: Arts and entertainment *Marion (band), a British alternative rock group * ''Marion'' (miniseries), a 1974 miniseries * ''Marion'' (1920 film), an Italian silent film * ''Marion'' (2024 film), a UK short People a ...

'' series 2 (2003) for BBC2. 6 × 30 mins episode *'' The Boosh Pilot'' (2003) for BBC3. 1 × 30 mins episode *'' Cruise of the Gods'' (2002) for BBC2. 1 × 90 mins episode *'' Up in Town'' (2002) for BBC2. 6 × 10 mins, 2 × 30 mins episodes *''

The Sketch Show ''The Sketch Show'' is a British television sketch comedy programme, featuring British comedians. It aired on ITV between 2001 and 2004. The show was first commissioned in 2001 and was co-produced by a company owned by Steve Coogan. Despite t ...

'' (two series) (2001–2002) for ITV1. 16 × 30 mins episodes *''Combat Sheep'' (2001) for BBC2. 1 × 30 mins episode *'' Dr Terrible's House of Horrible'' (2001) for BBC2. 6 × 30 mins episodes *''A Small Summer Party'' (2001) for BBC2. 1 × 50 mins episode *''

'' (2000) BBC2 6 × 30 mins episodes *'' Human Remains'' (2000) for BBC2 and BBC3. 6 × 30 mins episodes

Film

*'' The Ballad of Wallis Island'' (2025) *''

Ideal Home ''Ideal Home'' is a British home decorating magazine, published monthly (12 times a year) by Future plc Future plc is a British publishing company. It was started in 1985 by Chris Anderson (entrepreneur), Chris Anderson. It is listed on ...

'' (2018) *'' Mindhorn'' (2016) *'' I Believe in Miracles'' (2015) Feature *''SOS'' (2014) feature *''The Trip To Italy'' (2014) Feature *''

Northern Soul Northern soul is a music and dance movement that emerged in Northern England and the Midlands in the early 1970s. It developed from the British Mod (subculture), mod scene, based on a particular style of African American music, Black American ...

'' (2013) Feature *''

'' (2013) Feature *'' Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa'' (2013) Feature *''The Look of Love'' (2013) Feature *''Svengali'' (2013) Feature *''Gus and his Dirty Dead Dad'' (2013) *''Marvin'' (2011) Animated Short *'' The Trip'' (2010) Feature *'' Down Terrace'' (2009) Feature *'' Snow Cake'' (2006) Feature *''The 10th Man'' (2006) Short *'' A Cock and Bull Story'' (2005) Feature *''Dating Ray Fenwick'' (2005) Short *'' 24 Hour Party People'' (2002) Feature *''The Parole Officer'' (2001) Feature

Animation

*'' I Am Not an Animal'' (2004) for BBC2. 6 x 30 min episodes. *''The Cow that Almost Missed Christmas'' (2012) for

. 1 x 30 mins episode. *''Uncle Wormsley's Christmas'' (2012) for

Sky Atlantic Sky Atlantic is a British pay television channel owned by Sky Group, Sky Group Limited that launched in 2011 and broadcasts in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The channel airs original British-produced dramas like ''Fortitude (TV series), F ...

. 1 x 30 min episodes. *''Warren United'' (2014) for

ITV4 ITV4 is a British free-to-air television channel which first aired on 1 November 2005. It is owned by ITV plc. The channel focuses primarily on general entertainment programming targeting a male audience, including action series and films, ...

. 6 x 30 min episodes. *''Wussywat the Clumsy Cat'' for CBeebies. 52 × 5 mins episodes.

Radio

*'' Nebulous'' (three series) (2005–2008) for BBC Radio 4. 18 x 30 mins episodes

References

External links

* {{Authority control Television production companies of the United Kingdom Mass media companies established in 1999 British companies established in 1999