Former ABC, ITV, Sky Executive Duncan Gray Sets Up Twenty Six 03

 Posted on August 11, 2024  |  4 minutes  |  814 words  |  Patria Henriques

British TV producer Duncan Gray, who has held senior creative executive roles at U.S. network ABC, British broadcaster ITV and U.K. pay TV operator Sky, and served as an exec producer on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” has launched production company Twenty Six 03. The company will focus on producing primetime entertainment programs for the global market.

Gray said: “We’re on the verge of announcing a big and exciting commission, and as a 100% independent company, we can concentrate on high-quality programming without any of the margin and distribution issues that get in the way of creativity in some bigger content businesses.”

Gray’s past roles include controller of entertainment at Granada, developing and launching ITV’s flagship entertainment series including “Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway,” which is now being produced in the U.S. as “Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris” on NBC.

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In the U.S., Gray served as VP, alternative series and specials at ABC Entertainment, during which time he launched “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and acted as an exec producer on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” for three years.

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He was also controller of entertainment at ITV, where he was responsible for commissioning “Britain’s Got Talent,” and head of entertainment for Sky 1, where he commissioned “A League of Their Own” and “Got to Dance.”

Gray started his career as researcher for Chris Evans on Greater London Radio before joining Evans as development researcher at Planet 24, where he developed “The Big Breakfast” and acted as series editor of entertainment format “The Word.”

In 1996 Gray became Planet 24’s development executive in Los Angeles, where he developed “Survivor” before returning to the U.K. as executive producer of “The Big Breakfast,” revitalizing the show with presenters Johnny Vaughan and Denise Van Outen.

Gray subsequently founded At It Productions, and in 1998 was appointed controller of entertainment at Granada, developing and launching ITV’s flagship entertainment series including “Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway,” “Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes” and “Popstars: The Rivals.”

In 2003, he moved to the U.S. to take up the role of VP, alternative series and specials at ABC Entertainment. Gray moved back to the U.K. in 2006 to become controller of entertainment at ITV. Subsequent moves included becoming head of entertainment for Sky 1. His most recent role was creative director at Princess Productions, which is part of the Endemol Shine Group.

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