Endemol Shutters ‘FlipSide’ Digital Talent Firm, As Dan & Phil Head To New Shop

Endemol Shine Group has shuttered its U.K. digital talent management firm FlipSide Talent, which formerly repped noteworthy creators like Daniel Howell and Phil Lester, Emma Pickles, Thomas ‘TomSka’ Ridgewell, and Jana Vlogs.

FlipSide Talent was formed in 2014 by Endemol Shine Group after its acquisition of the ChannelFlip multi-channel network in 2012. The London-based talent management division was led by Fleur Brooklin Smith and Mike Cook — though as of this month its website began to redirect to the homepage of Endemol Shine UK. “FlipSide has ceased to exist as a business within the Endemol Shine UK group,” the company told Tubefilter in a statement. “Its originators Mike Cook and Fleur Brooklin Smith have set up a new independent venture in which we wish them the very best.”

Brooklin Smith and Cook’s new venture is called Above The Fray, and it reps the aforementioned creators, as well as U.K. stars like Lucy Wood, Grace and Amanda Mandeville, Mikey Pearce, Stuart Ashen, Marc Zapanta, and more. It was officially established late last month, according to a public filing. Other employees at the new venture include talent coordinator Charlie Hicks and talent managers Adam Spence and Marianne Turton, according to the company’s website.

“After a great three years being part of Channel Flip and then Endemol Shine UK, we felt that it was time to take a leaf from our clients’ books and give ourselves creative and commercial freedom,” Brooklin Smith and Cook told Tubefilter in a statement. “We are thrilled that so many of our talent have joined us in the new venture and we hope to work with many more established and fledgling creators in the future.”

FlipSide’s shuttering arrives at something of a turbulent time in the U.K. digital talent management industry. Earlier this month, Caspar Lee and Joe Sugg announced their departure from top talent management firm Gleam Futures to launch their own company — and it appears as though fellow vlogger Alfie Deyes has also departed Gleam. Gleam was acquired by ad giant Dentsu Aegis in June.

In addition to its apparent shuttering of FlipSide, Endemol also closed up shop on another digital media-based operation, Endemol Shine Beyond USA, earlier this year.