Zinc to overhaul long-running Middle Eastern format

Zinc Media has secured its first entertainment commission in the Middle East, overhauling long-running format Stars of Science. 

The superindie’s label The Edge, which is based in Media City Qatar, has been drafted in to reinvent the eighteenth series of the educational whittle series, which was previously produced by Lebanese label Khayal Production. 

Leading the refresh will be executive producer by Andrea Hamilton (pictured), whose credits include The Voice and Strictly Come Dancing ,and who oversees Zinc’s UK-based entertainment label Electric Violet.  

Stars of Science is one of the Middle East’s longest-running formats and follows inventors from across the region as they develop ideas with the potential to change lives and industries. It is funded by Qatar Foundation, a state-led non-profit organisation that focuses on education, scientific research and community development and is commissioned by Qatar Science and Technology Park. 

Over 12 weeks, the contestants develop their solutions in a shared innovation space, under the guidance of a team of engineers and product developers, with judges selecting who stays each week until three finalists remain to compete for a share of the Grand Prize. 

Zinc billed the upcoming series as a “full creative reset” of the format, broadening the show’s entertainment appeal while retaining the science and innovation at the heart of the format.  

The series will be produced in both Arabic and English and Zinc Distribution will handle international sales for the format, which is hosted on YouTube and airs across a host of international and regional Arabic broadcasters. 

Casting is currently underway and the series is set to film later this year.  

The commission marks a significant expansion of Zinc’s international entertainment ambitions, as well as its growing presence in the Middle East.  

 Hamilton said: “Stars of Science already has an extraordinary legacy and cultural relevance across the region. The opportunity now is to evolve the format for a new generation of viewers, bringing more scale, emotion, jeopardy and entertainment storytelling while keeping innovation at the heart of the show. We want audiences to connect not just with the inventions, but with the people behind them.”  

Faye Jackson, chief marketing officer at Zinc, added: “This is a hugely important commission for Zinc and a major milestone for our Middle East business. Our new operation under Media City Qatar lets us bring the full firepower of Zinc to the region, premium production, entertainment expertise, international distribution and strategic communications, all working together behind one show.”