Zodiak Media Group is delighted to announce the acquisition of Bwark, the independent producer of award winning comedy series The Inbetweeners.

Bwark has enjoyed recent success with hit E4 comedy The Inbetweeners, an astutely reminiscent tale following the antics of four friends as they navigate the hormonal minefield of sixth form adolescence. The third series drew a record audience in October 2010 (both for E4 and 4OD) and The Inbetweeners movie premieres on 16th August before going on national and international release. Bwark has also enjoyed success with TV series Free Agents (Channel Four), Angelo’s (Five), and The Persuasionists (BBC2). The company was founded in 2004 by Iain Morris and Damon Beesley (both former Channel 4 commissioning editors) who also created and wrote The Inbetweeners. Mark Lesbirel (currently Director of Publishing and Home Entertainment, Zodiak Rights) will join Bwark as Managing Director. With the deal, Zodiak’s Media Group’s first since acquiring RDF Media Group last summer, Bwark joins the group’s UK, Netherlands and Belgium division run by Divisional CEO Joely Fether.

She commented, “Since they founded Bwark seven years ago, Iain and Damon have firmly established their position as two of the UK’s most talented comedy writers and producers. The Inbetweeners sits proudly amongst the best classic comedy series of the last decade and it’s incredibly exciting to have their talent and ability within the Zodiak Media Group. We are hugely excited about working with Iain and Damon to grow our comedy output in the UK and, over the coming years, in the US as well”.

Damon Beesley/Iain Morris said "It's the start of a new chapter for Bwark and we could not be more excited about working together with Joely, Mark and the rest of the Zodiak team. We're looking forward to benefitting from the Zodiak group's global network to build on our existing successes and future hit comedies. With the announcement of this deal and The Inbetweeners Movie released next month it feels like a landmark summer for Bwark."

Zodiak Media Group were advised by Olswang. Iain Morris and Damon Beesley were advised by Ingenious Corporate Finance and Marriott Harrison.