All Commissioning articles – Page 740

  • News

    ITV demotes sea drama to midweek slot

    2004-01-29T08:30:00Z

    A multimillion-pound ocean-based follow-up to ITV's classic drama Soldier Soldier has been pulled from its primetime slot in ITV's winter schedule amid fears that it would be a ratings failure.

  • News

    Zeal TV to distribute gladiator format

    2004-01-29T08:30:00Z

    Indie Zig Zag has handed the worldwide distribution rights of its Celebrity Gladiator format to Zeal Television. The British version of the show - Gladiator: Benn v Eubank - was screened on Five last August, pitting the former boxing rivals against each other as Roman gladiators. The 90-minute special featured ...

  • News

    Trouble in Paradise for Endemol

    2004-01-29T08:30:00Z

    Endemol UK Productions is to produce a primetime reality show for ITV in which seven couples compete for the right to start a new life and a new business abroad.

  • News

    Extreme wins rights to celebrity race

    2004-01-28T17:15:27Z

    Extreme Entertainment has picked up the exclusive television rights to celebrity-led motor-racing marathon, The Gumball 3000 Rally. The indie will produce both a 6 x 30-minute series and a 90-minute special, following six racers throughout the six-day event from Paris to the Sahara and back. It will also provide an ...

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    News

    BBC clears schedules for Hutton

    2004-01-27T09:28:46Z

    The BBC is to rip up its regular daytime schedule tomorrow (Wednesday) in order to bring gavel to gavel coverage of the Hutton report.

  • News

    Joly poised for BBC1 debut

    2004-01-22T08:30:00Z

    Comedian Dom Joly is to appear in a BBC1 hidden camera show described as a 'grown-up Trigger Happy ' - the last project of his exclusive two-year deal with the corporation.

  • News

    ITV1 goes with second holiday showdown

    2004-01-22T08:30:00Z

    ITV1 controller of factual programming Bridget Boseley has recommissioned RDF Media's reality programme Holiday Showdown. The second series will comprise eight hour-long episodes, plus a special edition, co-produced by Australian broadcaster Nine Network, in which an Australian family will holiday with a British one. Nine Network recently bought the Holiday ...

  • News

    Cash in the attic found again on BBC1

    2004-01-22T08:30:00Z

    Leopard Films is making a fourth series of Cash in the Attic for BBC1. Head of daytime Alison Sharman has ordered 15 x 30-minute shows as well as 10 x 45-minutes. The programme, which sees a team of valuers go into people's homes to try ...

  • News

    BBC3 adds to output

    2004-01-22T08:30:00Z

    BBC3 is to get an intellectual boost with a two-parter about maths, writes Leigh Holmwood.

  • News

    Peter Cook inspires radio 4 homage

    2004-01-22T08:30:00Z

    BBC Radio 4 is to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of Peter Cook by airing a four-part series about the comedian. The project, produced by Tiger Aspect, will feature archive footage of Cook's key performances plus anecdotes about the man from the people who knew him best. The ...

  • News

    Channel 4 makes film of life of Princess

    2004-01-22T08:30:00Z

    Channel 4 has ordered a feature-length dramatisation of the life of Princess Margaret. Filming on Margaret Rose will begin in spring. Indie Touchpaper will produce the piece, while playwright Craig Warner makes his screenwriting debut. C4 head of drama John Yorke said:

  • News

    FX acquires us sports drama for UK

    2004-01-22T08:30:00Z

    FX, the new UK digital satellite channel from Fox, has acquired a new US drama series from Buena Vista International. Playmakers was screened on US sports channel ESPN last year and chronicles the corrupting influence of fame and fortune on a fictional American football ...

  • News

    BBC hosts Bafta tribute to Monkhouse

    2004-01-22T08:30:00Z

    The BBC is to screen a Bafta tribute to comedian Bob Monkhouse, who lost his fight against prostate cancer earlier this month. The 60-minute show, which will be executive produced by BBC creative head of entertainment events Bea Ballard, will feature interviews with celebrities who knew Monkhouse. Commissioned by BBC1 ...

  • News

    Wise Buddah scores BBC radio orders

    2004-01-22T08:30:00Z

    Wise Buddah has secured a clutch of music-themed commissions for BBC radio including a 60-minute documentary on Welsh rockers the Stereophonics for Radio 2 on 21 February. The indie is also making hour-long specials on Sex Pistols guitarist Sid Vicious and Dido for R2. In addition, four episodes of jazz ...

  • News

    Nickelodeon buys Tiger's Mr Bean

    2004-01-22T08:30:00Z

    Children's network Nickelodeon is to air the animated version of ITV sitcom Mr Bean after signing a three-year deal with the programme's creator, Tiger Aspect.

  • News

    Brainpool to develop comedy formats

    2004-01-22T08:30:00Z

    Distraction Formats has landed a deal with German comedy producer Brainpool TV to handle all its international formats rights. Brainpool's catalogue includes comedy chatshow Rent a Host , sitcoms Anke and Axel , and sketch show ...

  • News

    Brand to star as nun in ITV sitcom

    2004-01-22T08:30:00Z

    ITV has made a rare sitcom order, with a new show from Thames Television starring larger than life comedian Jo Brand, writes Paul Revoir.

  • News

    Bravo hypnotises high street

    2004-01-22T08:30:00Z

    The Comedy Unit is taking hypnotism onto the streets in a new series for men's entertainment channel Bravo, writes Michael Rosser.

  • News

    Electric children set for discovery USA

    2004-01-22T08:30:00Z

    Indie Extreme Entertainment has been commissioned by Discovery USA to make a one-hour documentary exploring how humans can affect electronic circuitry. Electric Children will be co-produced by fellow UK indie Illumina TV. The programme will blend case studies with discussion on how this phenomenon could evolve in the future. Extreme ...

  • News

    Mosaic to make Chinese co-pros

    2004-01-22T08:30:00Z

    Indie Mosaic Films has linked up with Shanghai-based Jiateng Knowledge International to jointly develop projects in China for the international market, writes Michael Rosser.