Universal Television Alternative Studio UK
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founders | David Granger Will MacDonald |
Key people | Helen Kruger Blatt (managing director) |
| Products | Television programs |
| Parent | Universal International Studios (2010–present) |
| Website | monkeykingdom |
Universal Television Alternative Studio UK (formerly known as Monkey Kingdom) is a British television production company based in London, United Kingdom, with offices in Los Angeles. Established by David Granger and Will MacDonald in 2000, the company was acquired by NBCUniversal in 2010.[1] Monkey was NBCUniversal's third UK production venture following the acquisition of Carnival and the launch of WTTV, NBCUniversal's joint venture with Working Title Films, Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner.[2]
The company creates, develops, produces, and sells entertainment and factual programming in the United Kingdom and the United States. It can be a live studio, structured reality, factual, documentary, entertainment, scripted comedy, digital and brand-driven content.
These include reality show Made in Chelsea, [3] reality/quiz hybrid The Question Jury (the best Daytime Programme 2017),[4] music entertainment show TFI Friday, comedy show The Charlotte Church Show, The Real Housewives of Cheshire, Elton John: Me, Myself & I, The House of Obsessive Compulsives, and hidden camera fixed-rig comedy show Make My Day, and comedy sketch series Swinging.
The company has received several nominations and awards from BAFTA, Rose d'Or, International Emmy, RTS Award, The Comedy Awards and Broadcast Awards for their productions. These include the award-winning structured reality TV show Made in Chelsea, TFI Friday, Elton John: Me, Myself & I, award-winning game show The Question Jury and The Real Housewives of Cheshire.
In 2018, Monkey released the first all-black, all-female line-up on a British TV panel show, Don’t Hate the Playaz. This marked to be an achievement in the entertainment industry as 40% of the senior team of "Made in Chelsea" now comprises individuals from black, Asian, or other minority ethnic backgrounds.[5]
In May 2025 when Monkey Kingdom's parent company Universal International Studios announced its layoffs, they moved their British production company Monkey Kingdom to Universal Studio Group's American unscripted television division Universal Television Alternative Studio, giving them their own British unscripted arm and had it rebranded British production company Monkey Kingdom to Universal Television Alternative Studio UK (UTAS UK) effectively retired the Monkey Kingdom name after 25 years with Monkey Kingdom's production staff being placed under UTAS's team.[6]
Other than that, Monkey has produced shows for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, IKEA, and Amnesty International.
Before founding Monkey, David Granger and Will MacDonald produced International Emmy/BAFTA/Rose d'Or-winning Don't Forget Your Toothbrush, TFI Friday, The Priory, Lock, Stock..., MTV's Most Wanted and The Big Breakfast.
History
In July 2009, Monkey Kingdom signed a deal with ITV Studios's global distribution arm ITV Global Entertainment with them backing and expanding Monkey Kingdom's entry into the scripted television business, Catherine Oldfield became head of Monkey Kingdom's scripted production business.[7]
Programmes Produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio UK
2025
| Programme | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| The Real Housewives of London (series 1) | Hayu |
Programmes Produced by Monkey Kingdom
2025
| Programme | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 18) | ITVBe |
2024
| Programme | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 17) | ITVBe |
| The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 16 special: The Real Housewives of Cheshire: Pride) | ITVBe |
2023
| Programme | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 16) | ITVBe |
2022
| Programme | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 15 special: The Real Housewives of Cheshire: Christmas Cruising) | ITVBe |
| The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 15) | ITVBe |
| The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 14 special: Real Housewives and the Menopause) | ITVBe |
| The Real Housewives of Jersey (series 2) | ITVBe |
2021
| Programme | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| The Emily Atack Show (series 2) | ITV2 |
| The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 14) | ITVBe |
| The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 13) | ITVBe |
| The Real Housewives of Jersey (series 2) | ITVBe |
| The Real Housewives of Jersey (series 1) | ITVBe |
| Pete & Sam's Reality News | E4 |
| Pete & Sam's Reality News (series 2) | E4 |
| Wonder Raps | Sky Kids |
2020
| Programme | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| The Emily Atack Show (series 1) | ITV2 |
| Celebrity Karaoke Club (series 1) | ITV2 |
| The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 12) | ITVBe |
| The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 11) | ITVBe |
| The Real Housewives of Jersey (series 1) | ITVBe |
2019
| Programme | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 10) | ITVBe |
| The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 9) | ITVBe |
2018
| Programme | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Made in Chelsea (series 15) | E4 |
| The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 8) | ITVBe |
| The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 7) | ITVBe |
2017
| Programme | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Made in Chelsea (series 14) | E4 |
| Made in Chelsea (series 13) | E4 |
| Made in Chelsea: Ibiza | E4 |
| The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 6) | ITVBe |
| The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 5) | ITVBe |
| Tamara's World | ITVBe |
2016
| Programme | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Newlyweds (series 3) | Bravo |
| Tour Group | Bravo |
| Alan Carr's Grease Night | Channel 4 |
| The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 4) | ITVBe |
| The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 3) | ITVBe |
| Made in Chelsea (series 12) | E4 |
| Made in Chelsea: South of France | E4 |
| Made in Chelsea (series 11) | E4 |
| The Question Jury (series 1) | Channel 4 |
2015
| Programme | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Newlyweds: Where are they Now? | Bravo |
| Newlyweds (series 2) | Bravo |
| The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 2) | ITVBe |
| The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 1) | ITVBe |
| TFI Friday | Channel 4 |
| TFI Friday (anniversary special) | Channel 4 |
| Made in Chelsea: LA | E4 |
| Made in Chelsea (series 10) | E4 |
| Made in Chelsea (series 9) | E4 |
2014
| Programme | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Young, Dumb and Living Off Mum (international - Australia) | Seven Network |
| Young, Lazy and Driving Us Crazy | Seven Network |
| Hitched | Sky Living |
| First Time Farmers (series 2) | Channel 4 |
| Made in Chelsea (series 8) | E4 |
| Made in Chelsea (series 7) | E4 |
| Made in Chelsea: NYC | E4 |
2013
| Programme | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Trust Me, I'm a Game Show Host | TBS |
| Party On! | E! |
| First Time Farmers (series 1) | Channel 4 |
| Made in Chelsea (series 6) | E4 |
| Made in Chelsea (series 5) | E4 |
| Newlyweds (series 1) | Bravo |
2012
| Programme | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Sex, Lies and Rinsing Guys | Channel 4 |
| Summer Daze | Channel 4/T4 |
| E! Live from the Red Carpet (BAFTAs) | E! |
| Made in Chelsea (series 4) | E4 |
| Made in Chelsea (series 3) | E4 |
2011
| Programme | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Meet the Middletons | Channel 4 |
| Home for the Holidays | Channel 4 |
| Made in Chelsea (series 2) | E4 |
| Young, Dumb and Living Off Mum (series 3) | BBC Three |
2010
| Programme | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| A Comedy Roast | Channel 4 |
| IKEA | Various (UK) |
| Young, Dumb and Living Off Mum (series 2) | BBC3 |
| Young, Dumb and Living Off Mum/Young and Spoiled (Ung Och Bortskamd) (international - Sweden) | AVT |
2009
| Programme | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Teen America: Rodeo | BBC Switch |
| Teen America: Christians | BBC Switch |
| Man vs. Cartoon | TruTV |
| Cash Point | BBC Comedy |
| Make My Day USA | TV Land |
| Make My Day | Channel 4 |
| Young, Dumb and Living Off Mum (series 1) | BBC3 |
2008
| Programme | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Fast Food Junkies Go Native | Channel 4 |
| Class of 2008 | BBC Two |
| Sound | BBC Two |
| Best Friend Rehab | Fiver |
| Prince Charles' Other Mistress | Channel 4 |
| The Passions of Girls Aloud | ITV2 |
| The Secret World of Sam King | Bebo |
| Orange Unlit | N/A (UK) - Digital |
| The Feeling: Face the Music | Channel 4/T4 |
| The Secret Policeman's Ball 2008 | Channel 4 |
| The Charlotte Church Show (series 3) | Channel 4 |
2007
| Programme | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| High School Dance | E4 |
| The Charlotte Church Show (series 2) | Channel 4 |
| Raised by the Hand of God | Five |
| Trapped By My Twin | Channel 4 |
| Dragonette - Channel 4 Music Feature | Channel 4 |
| Fist of Zen (series 2) | MTV |
| Elton John: Me, Myself & I | ITV |
| Girls Aloud: Off the Record | E4 |
| Grand Slam USA | GSN |
| Grand Slam (Spain) | Cuatro |
| Make My Day (international) | N/A |
2006
| Programme | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Movie Lounge | Five |
| The 9/11 Liars | Channel 4 |
| The House of Agoraphobics | Channel 4 |
| Fist of Zen (series 1) | MTV |
| The Curse of Superman | Channel 4 |
| Honey I Suckle the Kids | Five/Sundance |
| Whatever | Channel 4 |
| Dispatches - NHS Postcode Lottery | Channel 4 |
| The Charlotte Church Show (series 1) | Channel 4 |
| Transmission Impossible | Channel 4 |
| Swinging (series 2) | Five/Sundance |
2005
| Programme | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Pushy Parents | Five |
| X-Rated: Top 20 Most Controversial TV Moments | E4 |
| Empire Awards | Five |
| Whatever: Comedy Lab | Channel 4 |
| Al Murray's Showbiz Fights | Channel 4 |
| My Kind of Town (TV series) | ABC |
| The House of Obsessive Compulsives | Channel 4 |
| Swinging (series 1) | Five |
| Patty Edwards: Sex Therapist | Channel 5 |
| Julian Clary's Showbiz Hissy Fits | Channel 4 |
2004
| He's Starsky, I'm Hutch | Channel 4 |
| Steven Spielberg: the Man and his Movies | Five |
| Bare | Trouble |
| Ed vs. Spencer | Sky One/BBC America |
| Hitler's Favorite Royal | Channel 4 |
| What Sadie Did Next | E4 |
| The Chart | Five |
2003
| Swag | Five |
| Surviving the Wave: A Thailand Story | BBC Three |
| Ex-Rated | Channel 4 |
| Make My Day (series 2) | Channel 4 |
| TRBL | Trouble |
| Rather Good Videos | Channel 4 |
| The World's Best New Year's Eve Party Countdown | Channel 5 |
| Ash: Love & Destruction | Channel 4 |
| Grand Slam | Channel 4 |
2002
| Make My Day (series 1) | Channel 4 |
| Swept Away: the Making Of | MTV |
| The House of Astonishment | Five |
| Born Sloppy | Channel 4 |
Awards & Nominations
Source:[8]
2019
- Winner - British LGBT Awards (The Bi Life)
- Nominated - RTS Awards: Best Entertainment Show (Don't Hate The Playaz)
2018
- Nominated - TRIC Awards: Reality Show (Made in Chelsea)
- Nominated - TRIC Awards: Reality Show (The Real Housewives of Cheshire)
- Nominated - O2 Media Awards: Best Entertainment Programme (Tanya's Extreme Therapies)
- Nominated - RTS Awards: Best Daytime Programme (The Question Jury)
2017
- Winner - Broadcast Awards: Best Daytime Programme (The Question Jury)[9]
- Winner - RTS Awards North West: Best Entertainment Programme (The Real Housewives of Cheshire)[10]
- Nominated - Broadcast Awards: Best Music Programme (TFI Friday)
- Nominated - RTS Awards: Best Daytime Programme (The Question Jury)
- Nominated - TRIC Awards: Satellite/Digital Programme (Made in Chelsea)
- Nominated - Televisual Bulldog Awards: Panel, Quiz or Chat Show (The Question Jury)
- Nominated - Format Awards: Best Studio-based Gameshow Format (The Question Jury)
2016
- Nominated - BAFTA: Entertainment Programme (TFI Friday Anniversary Special)
2015
- Winner - Music Week Sync Awards: Most Shazamed TV Show (Made in Chelsea)[11]
2014
- Winner - Music Week Sync Awards: TV Show: Entertainment - Live Performance (Made in Chelsea)
- Nominated - TV Choice Awards: Best Reality Show (Made in Chelsea)
- Nominated - National Reality Television Awards: Best Entertainment (Made in Chelsea)
- Winner - Broadcast Digital Awards: Best Game (Made in Chelsea game)[12]
- Nominated - TRIC Awards: Satellite/Digital Programme (Made in Chelsea)
2013
- Winner - BAFTA: Reality & Constructed Factual (Made in Chelsea)[13]
- Nominated - Broadcast Digital Awards: Best Entertainment Programme (Made in Chelsea)
- Nominated - TV Choice Awards: Best Reality Show (Made in Chelsea)
- Nominated - National Reality Television Awards: Best Entertainment (Made in Chelsea)
2012
- Winner - National Reality Television Awards: Best Reality Non-Competitive Show (Made in Chelsea)[14]
- Winner - National Reality Television Awards: Personality of the Year (Spencer Matthews - Made in Chelsea)[15]
- Winner - National Reality Television Awards: Best Female Personality (Millie Mackintosh - Made in Chelsea)
- Nominated - BAFTA: Reality & Constructed Factual (Made in Chelsea)
- Nominated - TV Choice Awards: Best Reality Show (Made in Chelsea)
2010
2008
- Nominated - Rose d'Or: Best Entertainer, Montreux International Television Festival (The Charlotte Church Show)
- Nominated - Focal Awards: Best Use of Footage in an Entertainment Programme (Elton John: Me, Myself & I)
2007
- Winner - Glamour (magazine): TV Personality of the Year (The Charlotte Church Show)
- Nominated - Televisual Bulldog Awards: Best Panel/Chat Show (The Charlotte Church Show)
- Winner - Rose d'Or: Best Female Comedy Performance, Montreux International Television Festival (Swinging)
2006
- Winner - British Comedy Awards: Best Newcomer (The Charlotte Church Show)[16]
- Nominated - Mental Health Awards: Best TV Documentary (House of Obsessive Compulsives)
2004
- Nominated - Rose d'Or, Montreux International Television Festival (SWAG)
- Nominated - Rose d'Or, Montreux International Television Festival: Best Pilot (Ex-Rated)
2003
- Winner - Rose d'Or, Montreux International Television Festival: Best Gameshow (Make My Day)
- Nominated - Rose d'Or, Montreux International Television Festival: Best Reality (Make My Day)
References
- ^ "NBCUniversal Acquires Monkey Kingdom". The Hollywood Reporter. 16 November 2010.
- ^ "NBCUniversal to rule Monkey Kingdom". 16 November 2010.
- ^ Murray, Robin (2018-11-06). "Made In Chelsea producers looking for Bristolians for new show". BristolLive. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
- ^ "The Question Jury awarded Best Daytime Programme".
- ^ "Multiplatform Production Company of the Year: Monkey". Broadcast. 2021-10-06. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
- ^ "NBC unveils UTAS UK as Monkey successor". The Talent Manager. 12 May 2025.
- ^ "ITV Announces Exclusive Deal With Monkey Kingdom". 4rfv. July 23, 2009.
- ^ "Monkey Kingdom - Awards".
- ^ Awards, Broadcast (2017-02-01). "The Question Jury wins Best Daytime Programme at the BroadcastAwards". @BroadcastAwards. Retrieved 2019-06-04.
- ^ "Regional Awards - North West 2017". Royal Television Society. 2017-11-01. Retrieved 2019-06-04.
- ^ "Sync Awards 2015 winners revealed - M Magazine". M magazine: PRS for Music online magazine. 2015-10-16. Retrieved 2019-06-04.
- ^ "Winners 2014". Broadcast Digital Awards. Retrieved 2019-06-04.
- ^ "2013 Television Reality And Constructed Factual - BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 2019-06-04.
- ^ "2012 – National Reality TV Awards". Retrieved 2019-06-04.
- ^ "2012 – National Reality TV Awards". Retrieved 2019-06-04.
- ^ "The British Comedy Awards - Winners 2006". www.britishcomedyawards.com. Retrieved 2019-06-04.