BBC Worldwide has ordered a local business-themed, fact-ent format as its first fully funded series since pledging to treble the number of hours it commissions.
Best In Town is a 10 x 50-minute series, produced by Richard Bacon’s indie Mox Productions, which is part of Sebastian Scott’s Predictable production hub.
In the humorous format, three local businesses compete to discover which is best. Cake shop owners, party planners and hairdressers from towns like Chesterfield, Oxford and Stoke are among the businesses Mox hopesto include once filming starts next year.
The series will air on BBCW’s Entertainment channels around the world in late 2013, with plans to create local versions and sell it on to international broadcasters, including the BBC.
Bacon said it was a coup for the indie to secure a commission from the BBC’s commercial arm. “It’s a great show for BBCW because being slightly distrustful of your nearest rivals is a universal trait,” said Bacon. “BBCW’s global reach and experience when it comes to selling on shows makes this a very exciting proposition.”
BBCW vice-president of commissioning Tracy Forsyth is looking for more fully funded formats that can run for at least 50 episodes. “We are looking for series with themes that will appeal around the world,” she said. “We are still in need of British or expert presenters to front intelligent, returnable programmes.” BBCW is targeting 100 hours of original content by 2014.
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