Universal Television Alternative Studio UK

Universal Television Alternative Studio UK (formerly known as Monkey Kingdom) is a British television production company based in London, United Kingdom, with offices in Los Angeles. Established by David Granger and Will MacDonald in 2000, the company was acquired by NBCUniversal in 2010.[1] Monkey was NBCUniversal's third UK production venture following the acquisition of Carnival and the launch of WTTV, NBCUniversal's joint venture with Working Title Films, Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner.[2]

The company creates, develops, produces, and sells entertainment and factual programming in the United Kingdom and the United States. It can be a live studio, structured reality, factual, documentary, entertainment, scripted comedy, digital and brand-driven content.

These include reality show Made in Chelsea, [3] reality/quiz hybrid The Question Jury (the best Daytime Programme 2017),[4] music entertainment show TFI Friday, comedy show The Charlotte Church Show, The Real Housewives of Cheshire, Elton John: Me, Myself & I, The House of Obsessive Compulsives, and hidden camera fixed-rig comedy show Make My Day, and comedy sketch series Swinging.

The company has received several nominations and awards from BAFTA, Rose d'Or, International Emmy, RTS Award, The Comedy Awards and Broadcast Awards for their productions. These include the award-winning structured reality TV show Made in Chelsea, TFI Friday, Elton John: Me, Myself & I, award-winning game show The Question Jury and The Real Housewives of Cheshire.

In 2018, Monkey released the first all-black, all-female line-up on a British TV panel show, Don’t Hate the Playaz. This marked to be an achievement in the entertainment industry as 40% of the senior team of "Made in Chelsea" now comprises individuals from black, Asian, or other minority ethnic backgrounds.[5]

In May 2025 when Monkey Kingdom's parent company Universal International Studios announced its layoffs, they moved their British production company Monkey Kingdom to Universal Studio Group's American unscripted television division Universal Television Alternative Studio, giving them their own British unscripted arm and had it rebranded British production company Monkey Kingdom to Universal Television Alternative Studio UK (UTAS UK) effectively retired the Monkey Kingdom name after 25 years with Monkey Kingdom's production staff being placed under UTAS's team.[6]

Other than that, Monkey has produced shows for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, IKEA, and Amnesty International.

Before founding Monkey, David Granger and Will MacDonald produced International Emmy/BAFTA/Rose d'Or-winning Don't Forget Your Toothbrush, TFI Friday, The Priory, Lock, Stock..., MTV's Most Wanted and The Big Breakfast.

History

In July 2009, Monkey Kingdom signed a deal with ITV Studios's global distribution arm ITV Global Entertainment with them backing and expanding Monkey Kingdom's entry into the scripted television business, Catherine Oldfield became head of Monkey Kingdom's scripted production business.[7]

Programmes Produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio UK

Programmes Produced by Monkey Kingdom

Awards & Nominations

Source:[8]

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2010

2008

2007

2006

2004

2003

• Winner - British LGBT Awards (The Bi Life)
• Nominated - RTS Awards: Best Entertainment Show (Don't Hate The Playaz)

• Nominated - TRIC Awards: Reality Show (Made in Chelsea)
• Nominated - TRIC Awards: Reality Show (The Real Housewives of Cheshire)
• Nominated - O2 Media Awards: Best Entertainment Programme (Tanya's Extreme Therapies)
• Nominated - RTS Awards: Best Daytime Programme (The Question Jury)

• Winner - Broadcast Awards: Best Daytime Programme (The Question Jury)[9]
• Winner - RTS Awards North West: Best Entertainment Programme (The Real Housewives of Cheshire)[10]
• Nominated - Broadcast Awards: Best Music Programme (TFI Friday)
• Nominated - RTS Awards: Best Daytime Programme (The Question Jury)
• Nominated - TRIC Awards: Satellite/Digital Programme (Made in Chelsea)
• Nominated - Televisual Bulldog Awards: Panel, Quiz or Chat Show (The Question Jury)
• Nominated - Format Awards: Best Studio-based Gameshow Format (The Question Jury)

• Nominated - BAFTA: Entertainment Programme (TFI Friday Anniversary Special)

• Winner - Music Week Sync Awards: Most Shazamed TV Show (Made in Chelsea)[11]

• Winner - Music Week Sync Awards: TV Show: Entertainment - Live Performance (Made in Chelsea)
• Nominated - TV Choice Awards: Best Reality Show (Made in Chelsea)
• Nominated - National Reality Television Awards: Best Entertainment (Made in Chelsea)
• Winner - Broadcast Digital Awards: Best Game (Made in Chelsea game)[12]
• Nominated - TRIC Awards: Satellite/Digital Programme (Made in Chelsea)

• Winner - BAFTA: Reality & Constructed Factual (Made in Chelsea)[13]
• Nominated - Broadcast Digital Awards: Best Entertainment Programme (Made in Chelsea)
• Nominated - TV Choice Awards: Best Reality Show (Made in Chelsea)
• Nominated - National Reality Television Awards: Best Entertainment (Made in Chelsea)

• Winner - National Reality Television Awards: Best Reality Non-Competitive Show (Made in Chelsea)[14]
• Winner - National Reality Television Awards: Personality of the Year (Spencer Matthews - Made in Chelsea)[15]
• Winner - National Reality Television Awards: Best Female Personality (Millie Mackintosh - Made in Chelsea)
• Nominated - BAFTA: Reality & Constructed Factual (Made in Chelsea)
• Nominated - TV Choice Awards: Best Reality Show (Made in Chelsea)

• Winner - Thinkbox: Best Advert January/February (IKEA)

• Nominated - Rose d'Or: Best Entertainer, Montreux International Television Festival (The Charlotte Church Show)
• Nominated - Focal Awards: Best Use of Footage in an Entertainment Programme (Elton John: Me, Myself & I)

• Winner - Glamour (magazine): TV Personality of the Year (The Charlotte Church Show)
• Nominated - Televisual Bulldog Awards: Best Panel/Chat Show (The Charlotte Church Show)
• Winner - Rose d'Or: Best Female Comedy Performance, Montreux International Television Festival (Swinging)

• Winner - British Comedy Awards: Best Newcomer (The Charlotte Church Show)[16]
• Nominated - Mental Health Awards: Best TV Documentary (House of Obsessive Compulsives)

• Nominated - Rose d'Or, Montreux International Television Festival (SWAG)
• Nominated - Rose d'Or, Montreux International Television Festival: Best Pilot (Ex-Rated)

• Winner - Rose d'Or, Montreux International Television Festival: Best Gameshow (Make My Day)
• Nominated - Rose d'Or, Montreux International Television Festival: Best Reality (Make My Day)