Lion TV’s Glasgow division has received its first original order since Andrew Snowball was appointed this summer to oversee operations.

Noise Squad, a 15 x 45-minute daytime ob doc series about noise enforcement officers, was ordered by BBC Daytime controller Liam Keelan and commissioning executive Jo Street. The series, in which Lion tracks teams in Belfast, York and Westminster, is scheduled to air on BBC1 later this year.

Noise Squad will follow the enforcement officers as they visit complainants to monitor the volume before heading to disturbances, where they may serve fines, confiscate equipment such as karaoke machines and, in some instances, call in the police.

The production unit was embedded in each location for 10 weeks and filmed a variety of day and night-time operations involving noisy neighbours, pets, builders, and even wind chimes.

Snowball, who executive produced the series, said it was a truly regional production that drew heavily on both Scottish and Northern Irish staff.

“A lot of people don’t take too kindly to being told what they can do in their own home,” he added. “There is some confrontation at times but we have been careful to show both sides of each story.”

Snowball, who was head of popular factual for Reef Television before joining Lion in July 2010, said he saw daytime schedules as an untapped area for indies. He added that he will next look to secure an order with Channel 4 Daytime.

Broadcast Greenlight

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