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. 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.
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, reality/quiz hybrid The Question Jury (the best Daytime Programme 2017), 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.
In May 2025 when Monkey's parent company Universal International Studios announced its layoffs, they moved the studio to Universal Studio Group's American unscripted television division Universal Television Alternative Studio, giving them their own British unscripted arm and rebranding to Universal Television Alternative Studio UK (UTAS UK), effectively retiring the Monkey name after 25 years with their production staff being placed under UTAS's team.
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.
Programmes Produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio UK
2026 ProgrammeBroadcasterThe Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 19)ITV2The Real Housewives of London (series 2)HayuSaturday Night Live UKSky One
2025 ProgrammeBroadcasterThe Real Housewives of London (series 1)Hayu
Programmes Produced by Monkey Kingdom
2025 ProgrammeBroadcasterThe Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 18)ITVBe
2024 ProgrammeBroadcasterThe Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 17)ITVBeThe Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 16 special: The Real Housewives of Cheshire: Pride)ITVBe
2023 ProgrammeBroadcasterThe Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 16)ITVBe
2022 ProgrammeBroadcasterThe Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 15 special: The Real Housewives of Cheshire: Christmas Cruising)ITVBeThe Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 15)ITVBeThe Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 14 special: Real Housewives and the Menopause)ITVBeThe Real Housewives of Jersey (series 2)ITVBe
2021 ProgrammeBroadcasterThe Emily Atack Show (series 2)ITV2The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 14)ITVBeThe Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 13)ITVBeThe Real Housewives of Jersey (series 2)ITVBeThe Real Housewives of Jersey (series 1)ITVBePete & Sam's Reality NewsE4Pete & Sam's Reality News (series 2)E4Wonder RapsSky Kids
2020 ProgrammeBroadcasterThe Emily Atack Show (series 1)ITV2Celebrity Karaoke Club (series 1)ITV2The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 12)ITVBeThe Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 11)ITVBeThe Real Housewives of Jersey (series 1)ITVBe
2019 ProgrammeBroadcasterThe Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 10)ITVBeThe Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 9)ITVBe
2018 ProgrammeBroadcasterMade in Chelsea (series 15)E4The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 8)ITVBeThe Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 7)ITVBe
2017 ProgrammeBroadcasterMade in Chelsea (series 14)E4Made in Chelsea (series 13)E4Made in Chelsea: IbizaE4The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 6)ITVBeThe Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 5)ITVBeTamara's WorldITVBe
2016 ProgrammeBroadcasterNewlyweds (series 3)BravoTour GroupBravoAlan Carr's Grease NightChannel 4The Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 4)ITVBeThe Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 3)ITVBeMade in Chelsea (series 12)E4Made in Chelsea: South of FranceE4Made in Chelsea (series 11)E4The Question Jury (series 1)Channel 4
2015 ProgrammeBroadcasterNewlyweds: Where are they Now?BravoNewlyweds (series 2)BravoThe Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 2)ITVBeThe Real Housewives of Cheshire (series 1)ITVBeTFI FridayChannel 4TFI Friday (anniversary special)Channel 4Made in Chelsea: LAE4Made in Chelsea (series 10)E4Made in Chelsea (series 9)E4
2014 ProgrammeBroadcasterYoung, Dumb and Living Off Mum (international - Australia)Seven NetworkYoung, Lazy and Driving Us CrazySeven NetworkHitchedSky LivingFirst Time Farmers (series 2)Channel 4Made in Chelsea (series 8)E4Made in Chelsea (series 7)E4Made in Chelsea: NYCE4
2013 ProgrammeBroadcasterTrust Me, I'm a Game Show HostTBSParty On!E!First Time Farmers (series 1)Channel 4Made in Chelsea (series 6)E4Made in Chelsea (series 5)E4Newlyweds (series 1)Bravo
2012 ProgrammeBroadcasterSex, Lies and Rinsing GuysChannel 4Summer DazeChannel 4/T4E! Live from the Red Carpet (BAFTAs)E!Made in Chelsea (series 4)E4Made in Chelsea (series 3)E4
2011 ProgrammeBroadcasterMeet the MiddletonsChannel 4Home for the HolidaysChannel 4Made in Chelsea (series 2)E4Young, Dumb and Living Off Mum (series 3)BBC Three
2010 ProgrammeBroadcasterA Comedy RoastChannel 4IKEAVarious (UK)Young, Dumb and Living Off Mum (series 2)BBC3Young, Dumb and Living Off Mum/Young and Spoiled (Ung Och Bortskamd) (international - Sweden)AVT
2009 ProgrammeBroadcasterTeen America: RodeoBBC SwitchTeen America: ChristiansBBC SwitchMan vs. CartoonTruTVCash PointBBC ComedyMake My Day USATV LandMake My DayChannel 4Young, Dumb and Living Off Mum (series 1)BBC3
2008 ProgrammeBroadcasterFast Food Junkies Go NativeChannel 4Class of 2008BBC TwoSoundBBC TwoBest Friend RehabFiverPrince Charles' Other MistressChannel 4The Passions of Girls AloudITV2The Secret World of Sam KingBeboOrange UnlitN/A (UK) - DigitalThe Feeling: Face the MusicChannel 4/T4The Secret Policeman's Ball 2008Channel 4The Charlotte Church Show (series 3)Channel 4
2007 ProgrammeBroadcasterHigh School DanceE4The Charlotte Church Show (series 2)Channel 4Raised by the Hand of GodFiveTrapped By My TwinChannel 4Dragonette - Channel 4 Music FeatureChannel 4Fist of Zen (series 2)MTVElton John: Me, Myself & IITVGirls Aloud: Off the RecordE4Grand Slam USAGSNGrand Slam (Spain)CuatroMake My Day (international)N/A
2006 ProgrammeBroadcasterMovie LoungeFiveThe 9/11 LiarsChannel 4The House of AgoraphobicsChannel 4Fist of Zen (series 1)MTVThe Curse of SupermanChannel 4Honey I Suckle the KidsFive/SundanceWhateverChannel 4Dispatches - NHS Postcode LotteryChannel 4The Charlotte Church Show (series 1)Channel 4Transmission ImpossibleChannel 4Swinging (series 2)Five/Sundance
2005 ProgrammeBroadcasterPushy ParentsFiveX-Rated: Top 20 Most Controversial TV MomentsE4Empire AwardsFiveWhatever: Comedy LabChannel 4Al Murray's Showbiz FightsChannel 4My Kind of Town (TV series)ABCThe House of Obsessive CompulsivesChannel 4Swinging (series 1)FivePatty Edwards: Sex TherapistChannel 5Julian Clary's Showbiz Hissy FitsChannel 4
2004 He's Starsky, I'm HutchChannel 4Steven Spielberg: the Man and his MoviesFiveBareTroubleEd vs. SpencerSky One/BBC AmericaHitler's Favorite RoyalChannel 4What Sadie Did NextE4The ChartFive
2003 SwagFiveSurviving the Wave: A Thailand StoryBBC ThreeEx-RatedChannel 4Make My Day (series 2)Channel 4TRBLTroubleRather Good VideosChannel 4The World's Best New Year's Eve Party CountdownChannel 5Ash: Love & DestructionChannel 4Grand SlamChannel 4
2002 +Make My Day (series 1)Channel 4Swept Away: the Making OfMTVThe House of AstonishmentFiveBorn SloppyChannel 4
Awards & Nominations Source:
2019 Winner - British LGBT Awards (The Bi Life) Nominated - RTS Awards: Best Entertainment Show (Don't Hate The Playaz)
2018 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)
2017 Winner - Broadcast Awards: Best Daytime Programme (The Question Jury) Winner - RTS Awards North West: Best Entertainment Programme (The Real Housewives of Cheshire) 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)
2016 Nominated - BAFTA: Entertainment Programme (TFI Friday Anniversary Special)
2015 Winner - Music Week Sync Awards: Most Shazamed TV Show (Made in Chelsea)
2014 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) Nominated - TRIC Awards: Satellite/Digital Programme (Made in Chelsea)
2013 Winner - BAFTA: Reality & Constructed Factual (Made in Chelsea) 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)
2012 Winner - National Reality Television Awards: Best Reality Non-Competitive Show (Made in Chelsea) Winner - National Reality Television Awards: Personality of the Year (Spencer Matthews - Made in Chelsea) 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)
2010 Winner - Thinkbox: Best Advert January/February (IKEA)
2008 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)
2007 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)
2006 Winner - British Comedy Awards: Best Newcomer (The Charlotte Church Show) Nominated - Mental Health Awards: Best TV Documentary (House of Obsessive Compulsives)
2004 Nominated - Rose d'Or, Montreux International Television Festival (SWAG)