CPL Productions (formerly Celador) is an independent television and radio production company run by Danielle Lux, Murray Boland and Janet Oakes. It was formed in the United Kingdom in 1981 as an independent television

production company A production company, production house or production studio is a studio that creates works in the fields of performing arts, new media art, film, television show, television, radio, comics, interactive arts, video games, websites, music, and video ...

. It created and produced a number of popular

light entertainment Light entertainment encompasses a broad range of television and radio programming that includes comedies, variety shows, game shows, quiz shows and the like. In the UK In the early days of the BBC, virtually all broadcast entertainment would b ...

shows and is best known for the TV format ''

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'' (WWTBAM) is an international television game show franchise of British origin, created by David Briggs, Mike Whitehill and Steven Knight. In its format, currently owned and licensed by Sony Pictures Televis ...

'' and the film ''

Slumdog Millionaire ''Slumdog Millionaire'' is a 2008 British drama film that is a loose adaptation of the novel '' Q & A'' (2005) by Indian author Vikas Swarup. It narrates the story of 18-year-old Jamal Malik from the Juhu slums of Mumbai. Starring Dev Patel ...

'' which, in 2009, collected seven

BAFTA The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA, ) is an independent trade association and charity that supports, develops, and promotes the arts of film, television and video games in the United Kingdom. In addition to its annual awa ...

s, four

Golden Globes The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Januar ...

and eight

Oscars The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence i ...

including

Best Director Best Director is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards. It may refer to: Film awards * AACTA Award for Best Direction * Academy Award for Best Director * As ...

and

Best Picture The following is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various films, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Bes ...

. The name Celador is a re-spelling of " cellar door", a phrase whose sound is often noted to be particularly

euphonious Phonaesthetics (also spelled phonesthetics in North America) is the study of the beauty and pleasantness associated with the sounds of certain words or parts of words. The term was first used in this sense, perhaps by during the mid-20th century ...

History

Formerly known as Celador, the company was founded by Paul Smith and included

Jasper Carrott Robert Norman Davis (born 14 March 1945), known by his stage name, Jasper Carrott, is an English comedian, writer, actor, singer and television presenter. His credits include '' An Audience With Jasper Carrott'' (1978), '' The Secret Policeman ...

as one of its founder shareholders. After establishing itself as a leading UK production company it expanded into TV format licensing, film production and radio station ownership and operation. By 2006, Celador was owned by Complete Communications Corporation, a firm which Smith (who owned 18%) wanted to break up so he could concentrate on radio and film production. Managing director and former 1990s ''Top of the Pops'' presenter Adrian Woolfe wanted to buy the television division outright as part of a management buyout with Danielle Lux, but this was split into parts with Lux completing the buy-out of Celador Productions without Woolfe and the rights to ''

''. In 2009, Celador Productions re-named to CPL, before becoming a division of

ProSieben ProSieben (, ''sieben'' is German for "seven"; often stylized as Pro7) is a German free-to-air television network owned by ProSiebenSat.1 Media. It was launched on 1 January 1989. It is Germany's second-largest privately owned television company ...

's Seven.One Studios (formerly Red Arrow Studios) in 2012.

''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?''

Celador International and the rights and associated properties of ''

'' were acquired by Dutch group

2waytraffic 2waytraffic was a television production company based in Hilversum, Netherlands. It was established in 2004 by former Endemol executives Kees Abrahams, Unico Glorie, Taco Ketelaar, and Henk Keilman. The company had offices in London, New York, Bu ...

, eventually becoming part of

Sony Pictures Television Sony Pictures Television Inc. (abbreviated as SPT) is an American television production company, production and broadcast syndication, distribution studio. Based at the Sony Pictures Studios complex in Culver City, California, it is a division o ...

. In 2004, Celador commenced legal action against

The Walt Disney Company The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was founded on October 16 ...

for what it claimed were unpaid profits from the American version of the programme, licensed by Disney for its

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting * Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine broadcast company * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial American ...

TV channel. At a jury trial in Los Angeles in June 2010, Celador was awarded $269m (£177m) in damages after the jury ruled that it failed to receive a fair share of profits.

CPL Productions

As of 2022, CPL Productions is making a new version of ''

You Are What You Eat ''You Are What You Eat'' is a British dieting programme presented by Trisha Goddard and Amir Khan that broadcasts on Channel 5. The show was originally broadcast on Channel 4, before moving to Channel 5 in 2022 for its revived series. Both ...

'' with Trisha Goddard and Amir Khan for Channel 5 and has teamed up with the Ranga Bee production company to make a six-part comedy series, written and created by Romesh Ranganathan and Benjamin Green for BBC Studios, called ''Avoidance''.

Television

*''Hold the Front Page'' *''Britain's Greatest Obsessions'' *''Life and Rhymes'' *''Quizness'' *''Rob & Romesh Vs.'' *''Trip Hazard'' *''90 Day Fiance UK'' *''Brief Encounters'' *''Ellie & Natasia'' *''High Strangeness'' *''Love is Blind (UK Version)'' *''Avoidance'' (co-production with Ranga Bee) *'' Married at First Sight'' (UK version) *''

'' (Channel 5 version) *''

A League of Their Own (British game show) ''A League of Their Own'' is a British sports-based comedy panel game show that was first broadcast on Sky One on 11 March 2010. The show is currently hosted by Romesh Ranganathan and features Jamie Redknapp and Jill Scott as team captains a ...

'' (Sky TV)

Radio

* Gossip and Goddesses with Granny Kumar * Hennikay * Influencers * Ruby Wax Talking Human * Scrambled EGG

Celador Entertainment

Television

*''

All About Me ''All About Me'' is a British television sitcom starring Jasper Carrott about a multicultural family living in Birmingham. It was broadcast on BBC One from 8 March 2002 to 29 October 2004. ''All About Me'' was created by Steven Knight, who also ...

'' *'' Britain's Brainiest Kid'' (format now owned by

) *''

Canned Carrott ''Canned Carrott'' is a comedy stand-up and sketch-show by Jasper Carrott. It gave rise to a spin-off series, and made the names of regular contributors Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis. Two of the regular sketches were "Wiggy" and "The Detectives". ...

'' (as well as many other stand up shows with

) *''

Commercial Breakdown ''Commercial Breakdown'' is a light entertainment show that shows humorous television advertisements from around the world and ran from 29 December 1989 to 3 August 2008 and aired on BBC One. British adverts were initially not allowed because ...

'' (originally called ''Carrott's Commercial Breakdown'') *'' The Detectives'' (with Jasper Carrott) *''

Everybody's Equal ''Everybody's Equal'' is a game show that originally aired on ITV from 7 June 1989 to 22 July 1991 and hosted by Chris Tarrant. It was later revived under the name ''Whittle'' and aired on Channel 5 from 31 March to 30 December 1997 with Tim ...

'' *'' The Hypnotic World of Paul McKenna'' *''

It's Been a Bad Week ''It’s Been a Bad Week'' was a British radio comedy on BBC Radio 2, that first broadcast on 11 February 1999. It was presented by Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis, and is also referred to as ''Punt and Dennis: It's Been a Bad Week''. More than 100 ep ...

'' *''

The People Versus ''The People Versus'' was a British game show that aired on ITV from 13 August 2000 to 18 June 2002. Series 1 was hosted by Kirsty Young and Series 2 by Kaye Adams. The central format was that the questions were sent in by the viewers. Forma ...

'' *'' Richard Digance's Greatest Bits'' *''

Talking Telephone Numbers ''Talking Telephone Numbers'' is a British game show that aired on ITV from 28 February 1994 to 29 December 1997 and was hosted by Phillip Schofield and initially Emma Forbes, who was later replaced by Claudia Winkleman. The show's format feat ...

'' *''Turn Back Your Body Clock'' *'' Wayne Dobson Close-up'' *''

'' (format now owned by

) *''

Winning Lines ''Winning Lines'' is a National Lottery (United Kingdom), National Lottery game show that was broadcast on BBC One from 12 June 1999 to 16 October 2004. It was originally hosted by Simon Mayo and then by Phillip Schofield. Gameplay Round 1 Fort ...

'' *''

'' (Channel 4 version)

Films

*'' Dirty Pretty Things'' (2002) directed by Stephen Frears and starring

Audrey Tautou Audrey Justine Tautou (; born 9 August 1976) is a French actress. She made her acting debut at age 18 on television, and her feature film debut in '' Venus Beauty Institute'' (1999), for which she received critical acclaim and won the César Awa ...

and

Chiwetel Ejiofor Chiwetel Umeadi Ejiofor ( ; born 10 July 1977) is a British actor. He is the recipient of various accolades, including a British Academy Film Award and a Laurence Olivier Award, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award, two Primetime Emm ...

*'' Separate Lies'' (2005) written and directed by

Julian Fellowes Julian Alexander Kitchener-Fellowes, Baron Fellowes of West Stafford (born 17 August 1949), known professionally as Julian Fellowes, is an English actor, novelist, writer, producer, film director, and Conservative peer. He has received nume ...

and starring

Emily Watson Emily Margaret Watson (born 14 January 1967) is an English actress. She began her career on stage and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1992. In 2002, she starred in productions of ''Twelfth Night'' and ''Uncle Vanya'' at the Donmar Ware ...

Tom Wilkinson Thomas Geoffrey Wilkinson (5 February 1948 – 30 December 2023) was an English actor. Known for his roles on stage and screen, he received numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award as well ...

and

Rupert Everett Rupert James Hector Everett (; born 29 May 1959) is an English actor. He first came to public attention in 1981 when he was cast in Julian Mitchell's play and subsequent film '' Another Country'' (1984) as a gay pupil at an English public scho ...

*''

The Descent ''The Descent'' is a 2005 British horror film written and directed by Neil Marshall. The film stars actresses Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza, Alex Reid, Saskia Mulder, Nora-Jane Noone and MyAnna Buring. The plot follows six women who e ...

'' (2006) directed by

Neil Marshall Neil Marshall (born 25 May 1970) is an English film and television director, editor, producer, and screenwriter. He directed the horror films ''Dog Soldiers (film), Dog Soldiers'' (2002) and ''The Descent'' (2005), the science fiction action f ...

and starring Shauna Macdonald,

Natalie Mendoza Natalie Jackson Mendoza (born 12 August 1978) is an Australian actress. She is best known for her roles as Jackie Clunes, in the British drama series '' Hotel Babylon'' (2006–2008) and as Juno Kaplan in the horror film ''The Descent'' (2005), ...

, Alex Reid,

Saskia Mulder Saskia Mulder (born 18 May 1973 in the Hague) is a Dutch film and television actress. She is the younger sister of model Karen Mulder. Career Mulder appeared in ''The Beach (film), The Beach'' and the British horror movie ''The Descent''.Moore, ...

Nora-Jane Noone Nora-Jane Noone (born 8 March 1984) is an Irish actress. In 2020, ''The Irish Times'' ranked her 47th on its list of the greatest Irish film actors of all time. She made her screen debut in her breakthrough role film ''The Magdalene Sisters'' ( ...

and

MyAnna Buring My Anna Margaretha Buring Rantapää (born 22 September 1979), known professionally as MyAnna Buring (), is a Swedish-born British actress. Her films include ''The Descent'' (2005), ''Kill List'' (2011), and ''The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn � ...

*''

'' (2008) *''

The Descent Part 2 ''The Descent Part 2'' is a 2009 British adventure horror film and sequel to the 2005 horror film ''The Descent''. It was directed by Jon Harris from a screenplay by James McCarthy, J Blakeson, and James Watkins. The film was produced by Chr ...

'' (2009) *''

The Scouting Book for Boys ''The Scouting Book for Boys'' is a 2009 British drama thriller film directed by Tom Harper in his directorial debut, produced by Ivana MacKinnon and written by Jack Thorne. It stars Thomas Turgoose, Holliday Grainger, Rafe Spall, Susan Lynch, T ...

'' (2010) *''

Centurion In the Roman army during classical antiquity, a centurion (; , . ; , or ), was a commander, nominally of a century (), a military unit originally consisting of 100 legionaries. The size of the century changed over time; from the 1st century BC ...

'' (2010)

Celador Radio

Celador previously owned twenty-seven UK commercial radio stations including The Breeze and Sam FM networks and Fire Radio. In January 2017 Celador Radio acquired Anglian Radio's five stations (North Norfolk Radio, Radio Norwich, The Beach, Town 102 and Dream 100) which broadcast across the Anglian region. In 2019 Celador Radio disposed of its entire radio division to Bauer Media. The final portfolio comprised the following

radio stations Radio broadcasting is the broadcasting of audio signal, audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a lan ...

, which were sold to

Bauer Radio Bauer Media Audio UK is a UK-based radio division of Bauer Media Group owning brands; Absolute Radio, Greatest Hits Radio, Jazz FM, Hits Radio, KISS, Planet Rock, Magic, Kerrang! Radio and Heat Radio. History In early 2008, German ma ...

in February 2019.

The Breeze Network

The Breeze (Andover) Greatest Hits Radio Berkshire & North Hampshire (Andover) (formerly Andover Sound and The Breeze Andover) is an Independent Local Radio station in England, serving Andover and northwest Hampshire, and parts of east Wiltshire, previously from stu ...

The Breeze (Bristol) The Breeze (Bristol) was an Independent Local Radio station serving Bristol. The station was folded into Greatest Hits Radio South West, as part of a rebrand, on 1 September 2020. History It started out as Kute FM on 105.8 MHz FM in Febr ...

The Breeze (Basingstoke & North Hampshire) The Breeze Basingstoke & North Hampshire was an Independent Local Radio station serving Basingstoke and the surrounding area of North Hampshire until it was purchased in 2019 by Bauer Radio and became part of Greatest Hits Radio South in 2020. ...

The Breeze (Bath) The Breeze (Bath) was an Independent Local Radio station serving Bath, Somerset. The station was folded into Greatest Hits Radio South West, as part of a rebrand, on 1 September 2020. History Ownerships The Breeze, originally known as Bath F ...

The Breeze (Bridgwater & West Somerset) The Breeze (Bridgwater & West Somerset) formerly Quay West and Total Star Somerset was an Independent Local Radio station serving the Sedgemoor District, Bridgwater and West Somerset. The station was folded into Greatest Hits Radio South West ...

* The Breeze (Cheltenham & North Gloucestershire) *

The Breeze (East Hampshire & South West Surrey) Easy Radio South Coast is an Independent Local Radio station based in Southampton, England, owned and operated by Nation Broadcasting. It broadcasts to the South Coast of England. The station has been part of the Easy Radio network since Septembe ...

The Breeze (Frome & West Wiltshire) Greatest Hits Radio Somerset (West Somerset) is an Independent Local Radio station serving Warminster, Westbury / Trowbridge in West Wiltshire / Frome in East Somerset. The station, formerly known as The Breeze (Frome and West Somerset), was fo ...

The Breeze (Newbury) Greatest Hits Radio Berkshire & North Hampshire (Newbury) (formerly ''Kick FM'' and ''Newbury Sound'') is an Independent Local Radio station serving Newbury and West Berkshire. The station is owned & operated by Bauer Radio and was previously p ...

* The Breeze (North Dorset) *

The Breeze (North Somerset) The Breeze (North Somerset) was an Independent Local Radio station serving North Somerset, England. The station was folded into Greatest Hits Radio South West, as part of a rebrand, on 1 September 2020. History The Breeze started life as 107. ...

*The Breeze (Portsmouth) *The Breeze (Reading) *The Breeze (Southampton) *

The Breeze (South Devon) The Breeze (South Devon) was an Independent Local Radio station serving South Devon, England. The station was folded into Greatest Hits Radio South West, as part of a rebrand, on 1 September 2020. The Breeze South Devon The Breeze South D ...

*The Breeze (Winchester) *

The Breeze (Yeovil & South Somerset) Greatest Hits Radio Somerset (Yeovil) is an Independent Local Radio station serving Yeovil, South Somerset and West Dorset in England. The station, formerly known as The Breeze (Yeovil and South Somerset), was folded into Greatest Hits Radio So ...

Sam FM Stations

Sam FM (Bristol) Sam FM was an adult hits format radio station that broadcast on 106.5 MHz FM broadcasting, FM in Bristol, United Kingdom and owned by Bauer Radio. The station formed part of the Hits Radio network, although its entire output and playlist was ...

Sam FM (South Coast) Nation Radio South is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting on 106 Hertz, MHz & 106.6 Hertz, MHz FM across the The Solent, South Coast of England, and on Digital Audio Broadcasting, DAB on the South Hampshire, Bournemouth, Sussex, Sali ...

Sam FM (Swindon) Sam FM Swindon was an Independent Local Radio station based in Swindon, England, broadcasting on the 107.7 FM frequency between 2006 and 2020. The station was formed by The Local Radio Company, who wanted to create a local radio rival to GWR ...

*Sam FM (Thames Valley)

Anglian Radio Network

Dream 100 FM Dream 100 was an Independent Local Radio station owned and operated by Bauer. It broadcast to Tendring and Essex from studios in Colchester and Ipswich, airing the same music programming as sister station Town 102. The station was folded into ...

(

Colchester Colchester ( ) is a city in northeastern Essex, England. It is the second-largest settlement in the county, with a population of 130,245 at the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 Census. The demonym is ''Colcestrian''. Colchester occupies the ...

) *

Town 102 Town 102 was an Independent Local Radio station serving Ipswich that was owned by Tindle Radio, Anglian Radio Group and Bauer Radio. It broadcast from 2006 to 2020. Launched in 2006, in its later years, Town 102 carried identical content to An ...

(

Ipswich Ipswich () is a port town and Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in Suffolk, England. It is the county town, and largest in Suffolk, followed by Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds, and the third-largest population centre in East Anglia, ...

) * The Beach (

Great Yarmouth Great Yarmouth ( ), often called Yarmouth, is a seaside resort, seaside town which gives its name to the wider Borough of Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, England; it straddles the River Yare and is located east of Norwich. Its fishing industry, m ...

Lowestoft Lowestoft ( ) is a coastal town and civil parish in the East Suffolk (district), East Suffolk district of Suffolk, England.OS Explorer Map OL40: The Broads: (1:25 000) : . As the List of extreme points of the United Kingdom, most easterly UK se ...

) *

North Norfolk Radio North Norfolk Radio was an Independent Local Radio station in North Norfolk, England, owned and operated by Bauer Radio as part of the Greatest Hits Radio network. It was closed on 1 September 2020 and merged with Greatest Hits Radio Norfolk & ...

(

Cromer Cromer ( ) is a coastal town and civil parish on the north coast of the North Norfolk district of the county of Norfolk, England. It is north of Norwich, northwest of North Walsham and east of Sheringham on the North Sea coastline. The local ...

Sheringham Sheringham (; population 7,367) is a seaside town and civil parish in the county of Norfolk, England.Ordnance Survey (2002). ''OS Explorer Map 252 - Norfolk Coast East''. . The motto of the town, granted in 1953 to the Sheringham Urban District ...

) *

Radio Norwich 99.9 Greatest Hits Radio Norfolk & North Suffolk (Norwich) (formerly Radio Norwich 99.9) is an Independent Local Radio station owned and operated by Bauer Radio, Bauer, broadcasting to Norwich and the surrounding area. The station was merged with Nor ...

(

Norwich Norwich () is a cathedral city and district of the county of Norfolk, England, of which it is the county town. It lies by the River Wensum, about north-east of London, north of Ipswich and east of Peterborough. The population of the Norwich ...

)

Other stations

Fire Radio Hits Radio Dorset, formerly Fire Radio, is an Independent Local Radio station owned and operated by Bauer as part of the Hits Radio Network. The station broadcasts to Bournemouth, Poole, and Christchurch, Dorset from studios outside its broad ...

(Bournemouth and Poole)

People

Paul Smith is chairman of Celador Entertainment Limited which is the parent company for Celador Films, Celador Radio, Celador Theatrical and Lusam Music.

Ellis Watson Ellis Watson has held senior positions at companies such as Menzies, FirstGroup, Syco and DC Thomson. Information Watson was on the Board of Menzies Distribution from 2005 until mid-2009. He left Menzies in 2009 to take up a position on the board ...

was the CEO until 2003. Following the new structure of Celador's previous constituent divisions, Celador Productions, (renamed CPL Productions) is now run by managing director (since 2003) Danielle Lux. Christian Colson left Celador Films as Managing Director in 2009 to form Cloud Nine Films, now renamed

Cloud Eight Films Cloud Eight Films (originally known as Cloud Eight) is a British production company founded on 19 December 2008 by Christian Colson, based in London, England. It is known for film such as ''127 Hours'', '' Selma'' and ''Steve Jobs'' and currentl ...

. In the last few years, former managing director Adrian Woolfe has teamed up with Claudia Rosencrantz, the person who commissioned ''Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?'' originally at ITV, to launch the Studio 1 production company and an entertainment news network called LIT, which has been available to stream via

Peacock Peafowl is a common name for two bird species of the genus '' Pavo'' and one species of the closely related genus '' Afropavo'' within the tribe Pavonini of the family Phasianidae (the pheasants and their allies). Male peafowl are referred t ...

since January 2021.

References

External links

*{{Official website, https://www.cplproductions.co.uk/ Television production companies of the United Kingdom Film production companies of the United Kingdom Mass media companies established in 1981 Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange