Laura Whitmore pivots from Love Island to investigative docs

Laura Whitmore is turning her sights to an ITVX investigative doc series, having opted to step down as Love Island host due to her hectic schedule.

Rumpus Media is behind Laura Whitmore Investigates… which will follow the presenter as she travels the UK exploring controversial issues. An initial two eps of the show have been commissioned, which will air on ITV2 following its VoD debut.

Yesterday, Whitmore revealed that she was quitting as host of ITV2 juggernaut Love Island after three series, citing the commitment required to fly back and forth to South Africa amid “new conflicting projects”.

ITV head of factual Jo Clinton-Davis said Whitmore will resonate well with ITVX’s anticipated audience.

“Laura and the subject she’s immersing herself in are of particular interest to that younger demographic and will give her a chance to showcase her journalistic skills,” Clinton-Davis added.

Rumpus’ Fintan Maguire will exec the show.

It will join Optomen’s Olivia Attwood’s Perfect Body, in which the former Love Island star will examine the impact of cosmetic surgery.

It will sit on ITVX, due to launch in November, alongside the previously-announced Optomen’s Olivia Attwood’s Perfect Body (w/t).

Laura Whitmore Investigates forms part of a four-strong slate which also includes a boxset series The Royal Family (w/t) from 72 Films, A Murder In the Family from Knickerbockerglory and the return of the Social Media Murders strand.

Clinton-Davis said that the slate is designed to pull in younger audiences and “offer a surprise to viewers” with head of factual entertainment development Kate Teckman adding that the orders “broaden the palette” of the genre for the broadcaster.

The shows reflect ITVX’s two-pronged factual strategy – with investigative films in which presenters immerse themselves in worlds and territories, supported by boxset series in which contributor testimony and archive helps unravel a story.

“We’re expanding in different ways,” said Clinton-Davis. “Focusing on human interest stories and unfolding scandal.”

Knickerbockerglory’s A Murder in the Family embodies the latter narrative doc approach, according to Teckman.

The series comprises three standalone films centring on three murders in which the victim and perpetrator are family, using found footage and piecing the story together from the victim’s perspective without a voiceover.

“The access to the individuals and archive in this series takes it to a completely different dimension,” Teckman said.

The show will be exec produced by Jonathan Stadlen with Cathy Durbin as series producer.

Elsewhere 72’s The Royal Family (w/t) goes behind the scenes to tell the story of the royals through the perspective of the major personal challenges that faced the Queen and the monarchy throughout her reign with rare archive footage.

The boxset will span 5 x 60-minute episodes and is made in association with All3Media International.

Ella Wright and Kate Quine are series producers and directors, with David Glover acting as executive producer.

Finally, Social Media Murders is returning for an extended second series of five episodes, after its debut three-part run drew 1m (4.5%).

“Its success demonstrated there is an appetite among a younger audience for this sort of factual programming,” said Teckman.

The debut run of film was produced by Knickerbockerglory, Firecracker and Crackit with production companies yet to be revealed for the follow-up.

Forward planning

Clinton-Davis set out a desire to be pitched more biographies as ITVX gathers pace.

“A biography is an interesting way of capturing a zeitgeist and personal story, especially if it can offer a modern day parable or window into the time of iconic figures and emblems of our era,” she added.

She is particularly interested in “Icarus figures” who have had it all before falling from grace.

The pair also said that ITVX is enabling them to work with smaller indies and increase their commissioning range.

“It’s increased exponentially,” Clinton-Davis continued. “Anybody can have access to a great story and we’ll work with them to make it happen.”

Teckman pointed to anthology series Social Media Murders as an example of how indies can build a relationship with the broadcaster.

“We will back smaller indies properly,” said Clinton-Davis. “The streamers have very deep pockets but there’s still a major kudos and reach that comes with making a show for ITV, and with a streaming platform, it has the opportunity for another life.”

Last month, ITV chief Kevin Lygo touted the upcoming service, set to launch in Q4 this year, as a “virtuous circle” enabling shows to generate much larger audiences, due to its windowing strategy.