BBC2 show to explore future of family firms

BBC2 is to take a fresh stab at the world of business with a formatted show about family-run companies.

Each episode of Keep It in the Family will follow a family for a fortnight. In the first week the parents train their children in the family business and in the second they leave them in charge to see how they get on. Finally, the families decide whether they will sell the business when the parents retire or pass it on to the children.

The 4 x 60-minute series was ordered from Twofour by BBC commissioning executive Lisa Edwards.

"Keep It in the Family will be an intriguing observation into the world of business and family, highlighting the dynamics, morals and values that cross generations," she said.

Edwards will executive produce for the BBC and Joe Houlihan will exec for Twofour. The series is expected to air next year.