Nov 07 - Broadcast - C4I has signed a first-look deal with new factual indie Verve Productions

The deal, for an undisclosed sum, will give the distributor first option on all projects commissioned from the indie, set up in February by former BBC producer Liz Tucker.

Tucker worked in BBC specialist factual for 13 years to 2005, primarily on science and education co-productions such as Horizon films God on the Brain, Sudden Death and Premature Babies. She also produced and directed Firefly's acclaimed doc The Man Who Faked His Life for Channel 4, which was sold to 40 countries worldwide.

Verve aims to produce peak-time documentaries ranging from high-end history and science docs to historical and medical exposés, which Tucker said would reflect her desire for "edgy and passionate" programmes that were not afraid to be controversial.

Tucker's first commission is a medical doc for Five's Extraordinary People strand.

"Co-productions often need different versions for different markets and you need some input on that early on," she said. "If C4I determines that there isn't much international appeal for any project, I probably wouldn't go any further with it."

C4I head of sales and co-production Christina Willoughby said she was excited about working with Tucker: "Everyone speaks highly of her focus and vision of what she sets out to achieve,"