Producer John Edwards will exit Endemol Shine Australia, but stay on for Offspring rebirth

ONE of Australia’s leading TV producers is to go out on his own, with John Edwards confirming his exit from the merged media company, Endemol Shine.

For Sydney: TV producer John Edwards and actress Kat Stewart during filming of the TV show Tangle in Melbourne.

ONE of Australia’s leading television producers John Edwards has confirmed he will leave the merged media house, Endemol Shine Australia, with plans to start his own production company.

The man credited with some of the country’s most popular drama programs — including Offspring, Puberty Blues, Love My Way, The Secret Life Of Us and Tangle — is the latest executive to leave ESA in the wake of the company’s behind-the-scenes shake-up this year.

Edwards told NewsCorp Australia “it was time” to explore personal projects, but confirmed he will continue to consult on Channel 10s returning season of Offspring in 2016.

New horizons ... former Endemol Shine executive producer John Edwards is to go out on his own. Picture: Ben King.

“I’m very excited to be building a new business. I look forward to working together with ESA on Offspring and other future opportunities as they emerge.”

In a statement, ESA chief executives, Mark and Carl Fennessy paid tribute to Edwards, who last week delivered the esteemed Hector Crawford memorial lecture at the SPA (Screen Producers Australia) conference.

“John Edwards is a true industry legend and one of the finest producers in the country. John leaves us on the very best of terms. We thank him for his many years working with Endemol and wish him well in his future endeavours.”

Rebirth ... Edwards will continue to consult on the new season of Channel 10s drama series, Offspring next year. Picture: Supplied/Ten.

Despite disappointing ratings for key productions this year — including Nine’s ambitious centenary series, Gallipoli and ABC’s stunning drama, The Beautiful Lie — Edwards’ exit was not performance-related.

“This was more of a life decision for John and one he’s been considering for a while now,” Fennessy said.

Edwards is the latest local Endemol executive to leave the combined business, with its former CEO Janeen Faithfull leaving four months after the joint venture was announced in December last year (she now consults to Nine).

The new company’s transition also included the temporary resignation of the Fennessy brothers in April, only for the former Shine bosses to be re-signed to lead the merged company by Endemol Shine Group’s UK-based head Sophie Turner two months later.

Ratings challenge ... ABC’s The Beautiful Lie, starring Benedict Samuel and Sarah Snook, struggled to draw FTA audiences but enjoyed huge success on iView. Picture: Supplied/ABC.

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