EXCLUSIVE: Rollercoaster Television has become a standalone indie as ITV Studios concludes its investment after five years.

The UK indie, which was behind Neil Patrick Harris show What’s in the Box? for Netflix, is rebranding as Rollercoaster Studios and has struck a production and distribution deal with ITV Studios in lieu of the investment.

Rollercoaster, which is run by ex-Remarkable bosses James Fox and Dom Waugh, launched in the summer of 2021 and at that point was wholly owned by ITV. Since then, it has been behind What’s in the Box?, a competition show in which pairs of contestants face off in trivia rounds racing to correctly guess what’s inside each box. Rollercoaster has also produced two seasons of ITV’s You Bet! reboot hosted by Stephen Mulhern and Holly Willoughby.

“Large-scale entertainment” will continue to be Rollercoaster Studios’ focus but it will also push into talent-led podcasts, vodcasts and digital-first content, it said.

Fox and Waugh are both staying on, along with production chief Sarah Boyce.

Fox and Waugh said: “We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve created so far with ITV Studios but it’s time to evolve. Our ambition for the future is to take strategic advantage of global opportunities in formats and storytelling, focusing on multiplatform audiences.”

ITV Studios unscripted boss Tim Carter called the pair “dynamic entertainment producers with a proven track-record of developing and overseeing numerous successful hit shows.”

ITV Studios doesn’t often end its investment in indies. In 2024, Israeli indie Armoza Formats left ITV Studios after founder Avi Armoza bought his label back.