Channel 4 has commissioned new three-part adventure series, Secret Africa: Into the Wild, fronted by explorer Lucy Shepherd.
The follow-up to her hit, Secret Amazon, will see her take on a high-stakes trek across Tanzania’s most unforgiving wilderness.
The show is the first commission for Creation Content, co-produced with Lucy Shepherd. It also includes a 4Skills mentoring initiative to develop new production talent.
Alongside her local team, from Africa’s last hunter gather nomadic tribes, Lucy faces big predators, extreme terrain and the raw reality of survival in this rapidly changing fragile environment. Lucy self-films the journey with no crew, just her, her camera and her team on the adventure.
Lucy Shepherd, producer and on-screen explorer, said:“I’m so excited to be co-producing this with Creation and thrilled Channel 4 are so behind my new series. This story isn’t about conquering the wild, it’s about being changed by it. By self-filming every step and travelling with my wonderful team from Hadza and Akie tribe, we’re showing adventure in its rawest form. Expect an uplifting, fascinating, scary and heartfelt story. It has friendship, resilience and those rare moments of awe that remind us what we’ve lost and what’s still worth fighting for. What you’ll see in this series you won’t see anywhere else!”
Jonah Weston, Commissioning Editor at Channel 4, said: “Secret Africa: Into the Wild perfectly reflects Channel 4’s appetite for fearless, human-led storytelling. And shows our commitment to both powerful programming and nurturing future talent.”
Larry Walford, Executive Producer at Creation Content, commented: “To win our first commission and to do it hand-in-hand with Lucy as co-producer is an honour. The 4Skills mentoring deal means that a rising team member will gain hands-on experience from development through to delivery, ensuring our first project grows the industry as well as our story.”
Rachel Job of All3Media International, which will handle global distribution, said: “Secret Africa: Into the Wild is a powerful blend of adventure, cultural insight, and environmental urgency. We’re thrilled to partner with Lucy on such an inspiring journey.”
Secret Africa: Into the Wild is a co-production between Creation Content and Lucy Shepherd for Channel 4. Commissioned by Jonah Weston, Executive Producer is Larry Walford and Head of Production is Andie Clare. Editing by Marty Stalker and Music by Richard Collins. 4Skills mentee is George Watts.
Photo credit: Luke Radcliffe.
Jon Creamer
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