Mike and Tim Duffy‘s U.S. indie Ugly Brother Studios has signed a deal to launch Jamie Laing (pictured) – the star of UK series Made in Chelsea and heir to the McVitie’s biscuit empire – in the States.
Ugly Brother penned a deal with the 25-year-old following meetings at MIPCOM in Cannes last month, and the brothers are now meeting with U.S. networks to pitch a reality series featuring the star.
The proposed show will be a fish-out-of-water format following the heir as he heads to the States to go on “an adventure of a lifetime,” Ugly Brother co-founder Mike Duffy told realscreen. “While the show will certainly feature Laing as a fish-out-of-water, he’s got American friends in high places who will be hosting him along the way.
“It’s no surprise Jamie has the celebrity status that he does – he’s one of the most charismatic, likable characters with whom we’ve worked,” he added. “We have no doubt that Jamie can anchor another hit series Stateside.”
Laing’s great-great-grandfather was credited with inventing a number of popular UK snacks – including the Jaffa Cake, digestive, and rich tea biscuits – and as an heir to the McVitie’s empire, Laing and his siblings stand to inherit a biscuit empire worth several billion dollars.
The news comes after Mike and Tim (pictured below) launched their California-based indie in January, opening shop with backing from Sky Vision. Prior to setting up the firm, Mike served as the exec VP at T Group Productions, while Tim was U.S. net Spike TV’s senior VP of original series.
Made in Chelsea, meanwhile, is a BAFTA-winning, ensemble, structured-reality show, which launched on UK network E4 in 2011 and is now on its eighth season.
