The BBC has announced a slate of new factual entertainment titles with new shows from Rumpus, Ricochet, BBC Studios , Multistory Media and DSP.
The commissions include two new series for BBC Two: Britain’s Top Takeaways celebrates the nation’s best loved takeaways as they battle for supremacy whilst Master of Ceremonies follows the search for Britain’s best wedding guru. On BBC Three, new series Dubai Hustle turns the spotlight on the young Brits trying to make it big in Dubai. Following the success of his Misadventures series, Romesh Ranganathan is turning his skills to solving crime in new BBC Two series, The Misinvestigations of Romesh Ranganathan. Also announced today is the return of Interior Design Masters for two new series fronted by Alan Carr, now on BBC One.
Catherine Catton, Head of Commissioning, Popular Factual and Factual Entertainment says: “Factual entertainment at the BBC is in fantastic shape – the last series of Sewing Bee was a massive hit with its biggest launch ever, whilst Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency had a huge impact, raising awareness about mental health issues in an accessible way for a young audience.
“The new commissions I’m announcing today demonstrate the strength of the department, with three new series that celebrate and engage with contemporary British life in a timely and relevant way: after a really tough year, we’re helping couples from across the country plan their dream weddings, showcasing the talent of the nation’s best independent takeaways and following some of the young people heading to Dubai in the hope of making it big. In addition, I’m delighted that, following the success of Misadventures, Romesh is broadening his brief with a fantastic new BBC Two series immersing himself in the world of mystery celebrity deaths.
“I’m also thrilled to say that our smash-hit series Interior Design Masters, which concluded with an incredible 4.1m watching the final, is returning for two more series fronted by the brilliant Alan Carr and now on BBC One.
“Factual Entertainment at the BBC is all about bringing viewers joy and pleasure, and I hope that these new shows continue to do just that.”
BRITAIN’S TOP TAKEAWAYS (working title)
Britain’s Top Takeaways (w/t) is a brand new eight-part series for BBC Two and iPlayer that sees some of the nation’s best-loved independent takeaways battling for supremacy in a fast food showdown that crowns a different winner each week.
Hosted by Sara Cox, this celebration of Britain’s booming home delivery scene follows five takeaways from the same sector in each stand-alone episode. Drawn from across the UK, they’ll compete in a specially built kitchen set in a former foundry in the heart of Manchester.
There they’ll cook up a storm of delights that will have audiences salivating. Their dishes are biked to households within delivery distance of the Top Takeaway Kitchen, who have the difficult decision of judging that episode’s winner.
Each takeaway brings a delicious curated menu featuring a classic dish, chef’s special, vegetarian option and sides. Our families and friends choose dishes from the five menus but the takeaways have no idea when or what they’ll order. It’s a fast and furious service!
As soon the food is ready, it’s raced to the door of the people who ordered it who critique the dishes they’ve chosen. There’s no let up for the takeaway teams as the next order comes in, and at the end of a frenetic night, they finally collapse while they wait for the final scores – to see if their business can triumph as that episode’s Top Takeaway.
Presenter and broadcaster Sara Cox said: “When I first heard about this show they had me at takeaway! Especially in recent times, the takeaway has become something of an event in our house. We look forward to burgers, noodles, curry – all delicious and delivered to our front door, so I’m thrilled to be celebrating the takeaway and finding the very best in Britain, and if that means eating all the left over chips and putting on half a stone, so be it.”
Britain’s Top Takeaways (w/t), (8×60’) is produced by Ricochet, a Warner Bros International Television Production UK Company. It was commissioned by Patrick Holland, Director of Factual and Arts and Catherine Catton, Head of Popular Factual and Factual Entertainment. The Commissioning Editor is Patrick McMahon and the Executive Producers for Ricochet are Sarah Thomson-Woolley and Rob Butterfield.
MASTER OF CEREMONIES (working title)
This 6 x 60 min brand new competition format for BBC Two and iPlayer sees a cast of fledgling wedding planners battle it out to prove they have what it takes to become Britain’s next best wedding guru.
The series will be fronted by a big-name host and features two illustrious judges at the very top of the wedding industry.
Each week the planners will be tasked with creating dream weddings for deserving couples around the UK, many of whom had their plans left in tatters due to lockdown.
At the heart of every episode are our couple and their family. It’s for the planners to work together to pull off the couple’s dream wedding in just a matter of days. The planners will be talented, creative and have great organisational skills, but they’ll be attempting the seemingly impossible as they go all out to turn around incredible weddings against the clock, knowing that if they fail, they could be booted out of the competition at any time by the no-nonsense judges.
Each wedding will be a true celebration of the wedding couples’ love. And the fulfilment of their wishes will be at the very heart of the process; but can the planners pull off their wildest wedding dreams?
Master of Ceremonies (w/t), (6×60’) for BBC Two and iPlayer series made by BBC Studios Factual Entertainment Productions, was commissioned by Patrick Holland, Director, Factual, Arts and Classical Music Television and Catherine Catton, Head of Commissioning Popular Factual and Factual Entertainment. The Executive Producers for BBC Studios are Adeline Ramage Rooney and Kelly Sparks. The Commissioning Editor is Ricky Cooper.
DUBAI HUSTLE
Welcome to Dubai – the ultimate instagram city; the kingdom of bling where social media stars and global influencers come to pose and party. It is also the place where young Brits flock, not just to let go, but also to make their fortune in one of the most luxurious cities in the world. As they escape the pandemic and with it, bleak employment prospects, more and more Brits are seeking to work in Dubai’s thriving and opulent property sector.
Dubai Hustle will follow a group of twenty something real estate brokers from across the UK as they try to earn the big bucks in this playground for the super rich. With exclusive access to one of the busiest high end Brit-owned property agencies in the city, this sun-soaked series will follow the young agents’ fortunes as they navigate their way through this cutthroat and highly competitive world. The stakes are high for these plucky Brits; if they don’t land the deal, then a broker from a rival company will. But if they work hard, hustle hard, and have a bit of luck on their side, there’s big money to be made and a lifestyle they could only dream of.
Dubai Hustle, (8×30’) for BBC Three and iPlayer is made by MultiStory Media, part of ITV Studios, and was commissioned by Fiona Campbell, Controller, BBC Three and Catherine Catton, Head of Commissioning Popular Factual and Factual Entertainment. The Executive Producer is Ceri Aston and the Commissioning Editor is Nasfim Haque. ITV Studios will handle international distribution.
THE MISINVESTIGATIONS OF ROMESH RANGANATHAN
Following the huge success of his Misadventures series, Romesh Ranganathan is turning his skills to solving crime in a brand new 3×60’ series, The Misinvestigations of Romesh Ranganathan for BBC Two and iPlayer.
Romesh will aim his razor-sharp wit at a new genre, true crime, and get to the bottom of some of the most mysterioushigh profile deaths that shocked a generation.
He will be diving headlong into the lives and deaths of some of the biggest names of the past 50 years, including Jimi Hendrix and Tupac Shakur and finding out not just how they came to pass away at such a young age but learning about their extraordinary achievements, their enduring legaciesand why their deaths continue to fascinate us.
With the aid of a new assistant in each episode, from criminal psychologists to private detectives – Romesh will leave no stone unturned, meeting friends, colleagues, key witnesses and pathologists – in his attempt to unravel the riddle.
Romesh said: “We wanted a spin off for Misadventures and after we discussed Misinterpretations, Miscalculations and Misunderstandings we finally settled on Misinvestigations. It’s been really interesting to look into these high profile deaths and I am very excited for people to see the show, unless of course people don’t like it in which case I will release a statement explaining how I never really believed in the project.”
Part investigation, part biography, The Misinvestigations of Romesh Ranganathan (3×60’) is made by Rumpus Media for BBC Two and iPlayer and was commissioned by Patrick Holland, Director, Factual, Arts and Classical Music Television and Catherine Catton, Head of Commissioning Popular Factual and Factual Entertainment. The Executive Producers are Emily Hudd and Morgan Roberts. The Commissioning Editor is Max Gogarty.
INTERIOR DESIGN MASTERS SERIES 3 & 4
The BBC has commissioned a further two series of Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr from DSP (a Banijay UK company), which will tx on BBC One.
The third and fourth series of the hit show will be hosted by TV presenter and comedian Alan Carr, who will be joined by former Editor-in-Chief of ELLE Decoration magazine, Michelle Ogundehin. Michelle reprises her role as Head Judge and will enlist the help of design gurus and industry experts as specialist guest judges each week.
The eight-part series, to be produced from DSP’s newly established regional office in Brighton, will see ten talented, up and coming designers tackle a range of design challenges and compete to win a life-changing design contract with a prestigious commercial client.
TV presenter and comedian, Alan Carr says: “I absolutely love presenting Interior Design Masters and am so excited we’re coming back! Last year I found out what ‘ombre’ meant, along with understanding ‘the flow’ of a room, so who knows what interiors tips I’ll pick up from the next batch of designers!”
Series judge and internationally renowned interiors expert, Michelle Ogundehin, says: “It’s great to be back and I’m really looking forward to discovering even more untapped design talent for Interior Design Masters. The designers just get better and better, making it harder to find a reason to send them home each week!”.
The teams of blossoming designers will be confronted with a new commercial space to transform each week as they attempt to impress the judges. Series two challenges ranged from shops, offices, show homes and restaurants.
Working to tight deadlines, the teams will be put to the test throughout the competition as they’re judged on their creative skills as designers, as well as their ability to manage a project from the initial planning to execution. The designers will need to work together, to enable them to remain in the competition and have a chance of scooping the prize.
Interior Design Masters (8×60’) for BBC One and iPlayer is made by DSP and was commissioned by Patrick Holland, Director, Factual, Arts and Classical Music Television and Catherine Catton, Head of Commissioning Popular Factual and Factual Entertainment. It will be executive produced by Donna Clark and Claire Walls for DSP. The Commissioning Editor is Clare Mottershead.
Jon Creamer
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