A-list Winchester tops £1m

MEL Gibson is set to join the growing list of A-list actors starring in the movies of Winchester Entertainment.

Described as a drama-thriller, his upcoming film Sam & George is in the early stages of development and is one of six major projects for which Winchester has invested in script development.

Winchester's films division far outperformed its television arm as the $60m (£39m) grossing Heartbreakers, starring Sigourney Weaver, started to pay off and the group sold rights to the forthcoming Last Orders, starring Michael Caine, Scorched with Woody Harrelson and Runaway Jane with Teri Hatcher and Rob Lowe. Most of those deals were struck after 11 September.

Shawn Taylor, formerly group finance director of Hit Entertainment, which owns Bob the Builder, has been appointed chief operating and financial officer.

Turnover in the six months to 30 September was £4.13m against £2.42m a year earlier. But increased costs from strengthening management meant pre-tax profits only crept up to £1.02m from £970,000 a year earlier.

The maiden interim dividend payment is 0.5p.