Future productions of the BBC’s Torchwood and Sherlock could benefit from the corporation’s plan to launch an unprecedented potential bond issue that would mark the first time it has raised money in the capital markets.

The publicly funded broadcaster is thought to have hired Barclays and Lloyds to work on a bond deal. If it presses ahead, a debt issue could run to hundreds of millions of pounds and be launched within weeks. The BBC would use the proceeds of any debt issue to finance its commercial division, BBC Worldwide.

This wholly owned subsidiary of the BBC exploits the broadcaster’s brands and programmes, including making revenues from selling popular shows overseas and making revenues from DVDs and CDs.

Profits from BBC Worldwide are channelled back