Christian Knowles launches Blue Book Artist Management

Top agent Christian Knowles has launched a new agency, Blue Book Artist Management.

He has launched the company today, with backing from the established production and distribution company DLT Entertainment.

Blue Book replaces CKP. Knowles founded CKP in 2001 to specialise in development of comic talent for TV, radio and live events, which was acquired by the InterTalent Rights Group three years ago.

Knowles brings his previous clients with him to Blue Book Artist Management. The company's roster includes Micky Flanagan, Mark Watson, Hal Cruttenden, Gary Delaney, Justin Moorhouse and Zoe Lyons as well as up-and-coming names like Darren Harriott, Helen Bauer, Eshaan Akbar, Adam Rowe and Stephen Buchanan.

Blue Book Artist Management will be run by Knowles as managing director, alongside agents Helena Bumpus and Jen Littlewood, Jack De'Ath is head of live, with Ben Gladwin as live assistant, Ally Wilson as Edinburgh coordinator, Jo-Anne Greer as bookkeeper and Hollie Cooper as production co-ordinator.

DLT will own a significant stake in the new company, with DLT Entertainment President Donald Taffner Jr sitting on the board alongside Knowles. Blue Book Artist Management will operate from DLT Entertainment's London office.

Knowles first major job in the comedy industry was producing So You Think You're Funny? for Channel 4 from 2000 to 2002. Finalists included Russell Brand, Jason Manford, Nina Conti, Mark Watson, Rhod Gilbert, Justin Moorhouse, Alan Carr, John Bishop, and Greg Davies. He has only gone on to represent a number of these comedians.

He also launched The Boat Show live night at the Tattershall Castle venue in London, which is still running today.

He set up CKP (Christian Knowles Productions) in [z]2001[/y], and in 2007 took Micky Flanagan to the Edinburgh Fringe, and the following year became his agent. Over the last decade he helped Flanagan grow his career to become one of the UK's best known live and TV stand-ups.

The launch of Blue Book Artist Management represents a new chapter for Knowles. He says: "After three exciting years at InterTalent we have left to set up a new agency with all our fantastic clients and team. We're incredibly excited to be part of Donald Taffner's award-winning DLT Entertainment Group, working alongside all the other companies from Acting and Literary agencies to TV production companies in the UK and US. And for anyone wondering about Blue Book's name was inspired by Max Miller, whose jokes still make me laugh - a lot!"

Christian adds: "I'm going to miss everyone at InterTalent I am incredibly grateful for our time together; we will stay in touch."

Blue Book Artist Management marks DLT Entertainment's continued expansion into talent representation within film, TV, publishing and comedy and compliments its existing firm The Galton Agency as well its recently announced investment in two other leading agencies: The Soho Agency and Milburn Browning Associates. In 2018 Geoff Atkinson's Vera Productions came into the DLT fold too.

Donald Taffner Jr says: "Christian is one of the most prolific comedy agents in the UK, with a reputation that precedes him and an incredible roster of clients. His continually innovative and dynamic vision for promoting comedic talent is unparalleled, and we're delighted to launch Blue Book Artist Management with him.

"This new agency launch represents a significant, albeit natural, next step for DLT as we further expand our roster of talent management. With the addition of some of the UK's most high-profile comedy stars to our roster we look forward to fostering collaborative relationships across the business and beyond to create exciting opportunities for the client, for the agency, and for DLT."

BCG Pro record for Blue Book Artist Management