The BBC has commissioned a new show featuring friends Joe Marler and Joe Wilkinson taking a canal trip together.
The Friend Ship (w/t), produced by Zeppotron (a Banijay UK company), is a new 6 x 30 series that “combines Joe Wilkinson’s passion for canals, Marler’s passion for fun and their shared passion for utter childlike silliness.”
After becoming firm friends on Celebrity Traitors, Joe Wilkinson is whisking his new buddy Joe Marler off on a barging adventure across the UK that finishes at the Falkirk Wheel – a masterpiece of engineering that connects two separate stretches of canal.
Along the way they’ll make various stops “as they try to seek out fun wherever it may hide” – North Wales, the West Country, Birmingham, the Pennines, London and Edinburgh – meeting groups of friends from all walks of life and settling into the pace of canal life.
Joe Wilkinson says: “I love canals, I love Joe Marler, I love drizzle. Making this show is absolute heaven for me.”
Joe Marler says: “I’m really excited to be spending an intense amount of time with my favourite hundy, Joe. Less looking forward to the claustrophobic canal boat he’s asked me to spend it on. But if we can get through that, I’m sure our bond will be stronger than ever. And if not, well, at least you know who your friends are.”
Patrick McMahon, Commissioning Editor, Factual at the BBC, comments: “The nation took Joe and Joe to their hearts as their friendship blossomed on Celebrity Traitors, so we’re delighted to offer BBC viewers the chance to see them take their relationship to the next level as they set off in search of fun, adventure and the Falkirk Wheel.”
Peter Holmes, Managing Director at Zeppotron, says: “If I had to choose two people to steer a narrow boat into a canal wall it would be Joe Wilkinson and Joe Marler. Here’s hoping their blossoming friendship can survive the perils of Britain’s beautiful waterways.”
The Friend Ship (w/t) was commissioned for BBC Two and iPlayer by Catherine Catton, in her capacity as Head of Commissioning for Factual Entertainment and Events. The commissioning editor is Patrick McMahon. The series is produced by Zeppotron (a Banijay UK company). The series producer is Kiera Spilsbury and the executive producer is Peter Holmes. The series director is Phil Ashton.
Filming has started and transmission details will be announced in due course.
(Image: Zeppotron [a Banijay UK company] / BBC)
Jon Creamer
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