Thursday 17 April 2025 at 4pm BST
Hilco is seeking offers to acquire an entertainment format development slate belonging to Studio 13 Entertainment Limited (In Administration) (“Studio 13” or the “Company”) on behalf of the Joint Administrators of the Company, James Money and Steve Butt of Menzies LLP.
Studio 13 was a dynamic format development company specialising in high-concept, scalable entertainment properties. The Company’s diverse portfolio encompasses potential prime-time game shows, reality competitions, talent-driven formats, and immersive social experiments, each designed to captivate global audiences and drive broad market appeal.
The Company was founded and led by Adrian Woolfe, a key figure behind some of the most commercially successful entertainment formats of the last two decades, including Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. The Company’s development slate reflects a strong heritage in high-engagement, high-drama formats designed to drive both linear ratings and digital interaction, positioning these assets for international success and multi-platform adaptation.
This acquisition represents a rare opportunity to purchase a fully developed and commercially primed entertainment slate with the potential for multi-territory rollout. The new owner will be positioned to drive further development, execute licensing strategies, and leverage market demand for fresh, high-impact entertainment formats.
The Studio 13 development slate includes an extensive range of entertainment concepts across key genres, each designed to capture broad audience appeal and offer multiple revenue-generating opportunities.
High-Stakes Game Shows & Quiz Formats
The portfolio features innovative quiz formats that introduce new gameplay mechanics, audience interactivity, and scalable production models. Among them is The Imposter, a reality-meets-quiz hybrid that blends strategic deception with high-stakes knowledge-based gameplay. Piloted and set to be hosted by well-known British barrister and television presenter Robert Rinder, The Imposter has already secured international interest and offers strong market potential.
Immersive Reality Competitions
Studio 13 has developed bold reality competition formats, from fear-based endurance tests to adventure-driven challenges. Titles in this space push contestants to their limits while integrating deep psychological and social dynamics, making them perfect for prime-time and streaming platforms. Several concepts have already undergone proof-of-concept production, showing a clear demand for high-production-value, engaging reality content.
Premium Talent & Performance-Based Shows
At the heart of Studio 13’s slate is Dancing with Horses, a talent-led equestrian dance competition that brings together elite celebrity contestants, world-class equestrian performers, and stunning visual production. Having completed a pilot production, the format is primed for further development, leveraging the global appeal of competitive dance and high-end spectacle. The show has been positioned as a premium, event-style property with international scalability, though prior cost considerations mean a new acquirer may benefit from repositioning for wider market adoption.
Disruptive Digital and Social Media-Driven Formats
A new wave of content is emerging at the intersection of television and digital platforms, and Studio 13’s slate includes concepts tailored for this evolving space. Social-first talent competitions and influencer-driven reality formats are primed for distribution across YouTube, TikTok, and streaming platforms, allowing for rapid audience engagement and monetisation beyond traditional broadcast models.
Click here to explore the related opportunity to acquire the intellectual property assets of Lucky 13 Holdings Limited (In Administration)
Indicative offers are due Thursday 17 April 2025, 4pm BST
All expressions of interest and indicative offers are to be directed to Hilco in writing. A Bid Submission Form is available on request.
The Joint Administrators act as agents of the Company and without personal liability.
The bidder acknowledges that Hilco acts as an agent for the Joint Administrators who offer for sale only what right, title and interest (if any) the Company possesses in the assets. Such sale will be without any warranties, expressed or implied. The information provided has not been verified by Hilco or the Joint Administrators, and bidders are deemed to have carried out their own due diligence.
VAT, if applicable, at 20% will be added to the price. A non-refundable deposit of 20% will be payable by the buyer within 48 hours of bid acceptance. A buyer’s premium is payable by the winning bidder. Legal completion to occur within 5 business days of bid acceptance. Hilco’s full Terms and Conditions apply.
Associate Director
Manchester Office
