Formerly known as Celador, the company was founded by Paul Smith and included
Jasper Carrott as one of its founder shareholders. After establishing itself as a leading UK production company it expanded into TV format licensing, film production and radio station ownership and operation. By 2006, Celador was owned by Complete Communications Corporation, a firm which Smith (who owned 18%) wanted to break up so he could concentrate on radio and film production. Managing director and former 1990s
Top of the Pops presenter Adrian Woolfe wanted to buy the television division outright as part of a management buyout with Danielle Lux, but this was split into parts with Lux completing the buy-out of Celador Productions without Woolfe and the rights to
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. In 2009, Celador Productions re-named to CPL, before becoming a division of
ProSieben's Seven.One Studios (formerly Red Arrow Studios) in 2012.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Celador International and the rights and associated properties of
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? were acquired by Dutch group
2waytraffic, eventually becoming part of
Sony Pictures Television. In 2004, Celador commenced legal action against
The Walt Disney Company for what it claimed were unpaid profits from
the American version of the programme, licensed by Disney for its
ABC TV channel. At a jury trial in Los Angeles in June 2010, Celador was awarded $269m (£177m) in damages after the jury ruled that it failed to receive a fair share of profits. ==CPL Productions==