Boldprint Studios, the production company behind Channel 4’s Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones, has announced a new partnership with Brixton-based talent management agency Diving Bell to develop a slate of original digital-first content.
The collaboration unites two creative powerhouses with complementary expertise. Diving Bell, co-founded by Justin Girdler and Kim Butler, has built a reputation for managing generation-defining digital creators and securing strategic brand partnerships worldwide. Boldprint, founded in 2024 by Phil Harris and led alongside Creative Director Lou Hutchinson, has already made its mark with thought-provoking unscripted formats, distributed internationally by Fremantle.
Together, the two companies aim to produce culturally sharp, talent-led projects across multiple platforms, tapping into the growing demand for entertainment that resonates with digital-native audiences. Several projects are already in the works, though details remain under wraps.
The partnership builds on a longstanding relationship, with both companies sharing creative space in Brixton, South London. For Diving Bell, this move marks a natural extension of its role in shaping talent narratives, following successes such as Love & Rage: Munroe Bergdorf, a Universal Pictures documentary chronicling Bergdorf’s rise as a cultural figure and advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community.
For Boldprint, the collaboration cements its mission to deliver bold and innovative unscripted formats. Its debut commission, Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones, has been nominated for Best Popular Factual at the Edinburgh TV Festival, while presenters Matt and Emma Willis have been longlisted for a Grierson Award for their contribution.
Speaking on the announcement, Diving Bell co-founders Justin Girdler and Kim Butler said:
“We have loved working across various content opportunities with brands, networks, and platforms alongside our talent and have been looking for a way to grab the bull by the horns and start making more content ourselves. Boldprint share our passion for intelligent, impactful storytelling. They are fast-moving, creative, and great fun to work with – the perfect production partners to help us take things forward.”
Phil Harris, CEO & Founder of Boldprint Studios, added:
“This partnership is rooted in shared values and creative trust. With Diving Bell’s unmatched instinct for talent and our experience in format and execution, we’re excited about what’s coming next.”
With the creative talent of Diving Bell and the production expertise of Boldprint Studios, the partnership signals an exciting new chapter for talent-led digital storytelling.
