Monkey Kingdom (production company) facts for kids

Universal Television Alternative Studio UK is a British company that makes television shows. For a long time, it was known as Monkey Kingdom. The company is based in London and also has offices in Los Angeles. It was started in the year 2000 by David Granger and Will MacDonald.

In 2010, the large American media company NBCUniversal bought Monkey Kingdom. This made it one of NBCUniversal's main production companies in the United Kingdom.

The company is known for creating many types of TV shows. These include reality shows, game shows, documentaries, and comedies. Some of their most popular shows are Made in Chelsea, The Real Housewives of Cheshire, and the music show TFI Friday.

Universal Television Alternative Studio UK has won many important awards for its shows. These include BAFTAs, an International Emmy, and Rose d'Or awards. This shows that their programs are well-made and popular with viewers.

In 2018, the company made a panel show called Don’t Hate the Playaz. It was special because it was the first British TV panel show to feature a main cast of all-black women.

In May 2025, the company's name was changed from Monkey Kingdom to Universal Television Alternative Studio UK. This happened when its parent company, Universal International Studios, moved it to be part of its American unscripted TV department. The Monkey Kingdom name was retired after 25 years.

Company History

David Granger and Will MacDonald founded the company in 2000. Before starting Monkey Kingdom, they had already produced several hit shows. These included the award-winning Don't Forget Your Toothbrush and The Big Breakfast.

In 2009, the company made a deal with ITV Studios to help them start making scripted shows, which are shows with a story and actors.

A major change happened in 2010 when NBCUniversal bought the company. This allowed the company to grow and make more shows for a global audience. The most recent change was in 2025 when it was renamed Universal Television Alternative Studio UK.

Famous Shows

This company has produced hundreds of hours of television for major channels in the UK and the US. They have worked with the BBC, ITV, and Channel 4. Here are some of their best-known programs.

Reality Shows

• Made in Chelsea: A very popular structured-reality show that follows the lives of young, wealthy people in London. It has won a BAFTA award.
• The Real Housewives of Cheshire: This show follows the lives of a group of women living in Cheshire, England.
• Young, Dumb and Living Off Mum: A series where young adults who are used to a comfortable life have to learn to live on their own.
• First Time Farmers: A show that follows young people as they begin their careers in farming.

Entertainment and Comedy

• TFI Friday: A famous music and entertainment show hosted by Chris Evans.
• The Charlotte Church Show: A comedy and chat show hosted by the singer Charlotte Church. It won a British Comedy Award.
• Don't Hate the Playaz: A hip-hop comedy panel show.
• The Question Jury: A game show where contestants must agree on the right answer. It won a Broadcast Award for Best Daytime Programme.

Documentaries and Factual Shows

• Elton John: Me, Myself & I: A special documentary about the life of the famous musician Elton John.
• The House of Obsessive Compulsives: A show where people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) live together to face their challenges.
• Surviving the Wave: A Thailand Story: A documentary about the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Awards and Recognition

The shows produced by this company have received many awards and nominations over the years. This is a sign of high-quality television production.

• BAFTA Awards: The company won a BAFTA for Made in Chelsea in 2013 for the "Reality & Constructed Factual" category. They were also nominated for TFI Friday.
• Rose d'Or: They have won several Rose d'Or awards, which are major international television awards. They won for the game show Make My Day and the comedy series Swinging.
• Broadcast Awards: They won "Best Daytime Programme" for The Question Jury in 2017.
• National Reality Television Awards: Made in Chelsea has won multiple awards at this event, including "Best Reality Non-Competitive Show".
• British Comedy Awards: The Charlotte Church Show won for "Best Newcomer" in 2006.

These are just a few examples of the many honors the company has earned for its creative and popular shows.