Mentorn options kids political format

Question Time indie Mentorn Media is to remake a French political format featuring hard-hitting questions from children.

The Tinopolis-owned producer has optioned Facing The Classroom from Vivendi Entertainment.

The primetime show, which airs on Canal+ owned channel C8, features politicians seeking election heading back to the classroom to be interrogated by 20 kids.

The candidates will face political questions, language tests and a general knowledge quiz. It will discover whether children are better interviewers than journalists and whether their innocence can get behind the candidates’ spin and pre-packaged talking points.

Mentorn is pitching the show to UK broadcasters.

The format is produced and distributed by Vivendi Entertainment, the French and British firm created following the acquisition of Matthieu Porte’s Can’t Stop Media in 2015.

Porte, executive vice-president of international and development at Vivendi Entertainment said the show, which has also been optioned in seven other territories, had been a “surprise hit” at Mip TV.

“It’s a great example of smart format that makes a much more entertaining and intriguing viewing than any other programmes related to politics and the massive ratings in France proved that,” he said.

“As most countries in the world hold regular elections, the format is very relevant globally and can be adapted nearly everywhere.”