Gypsy Weddings-maker Firecracker up for sale Founded in 2003 by Mark Soldinger, Firecracker spent many years specialising in so-called "shock docs" about people with physical deformities, such as Our Daughter The Mermaid or The Boy Who'll Never Grow. The controversial series, which tracks young gypsy girls as they prepare to get married, achieved record ratings for the broadcaster and spawned a string of spin-off and copy-cat shows, such as Thelma's Gypsy Girls. However, it also met with criticism from gypsy campaign groups who claimed it was exploiting their community. The production company's 2012 accounts have not yet been lodged at Companies House but it is understood that its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation for the year to April stand at around £3m. The company has offices in London and Los Angeles, and secures more than half of its business from America, where Mr Soldinger now lives. Firecracker is one of a number of television production firms to put themselves on the market in recent months. TwoFour Group, the Plymouth-based company behind Hotel Inspector, is seeking a buyer while Have I Got News For You-maker, Hat Trick Productions, is in talks with ITV.