Rare TV has unveiled a new US commission and promoted Christian Broadhurst to SVP of development and production, stepping up from his role as VP of US development.
The new series, Dr Bob’s Wild Diaries (20 x 20’), produced for the Outdoor Channel in the US, follows Alaska fishing guide Bob Ledda who spent 25 years as an ER doctor on the Kenai Peninsula. An experienced pilot, Ledda now runs fly-in fishing service All Alaska Outdoors Lodge. Filmed from June to September, the series tracks Dr Bob as he flies to remote locations, sharing the hidden fishing spots he’s discovered over three decades in the air.
Broadhurst has spent the past decade at Rare TV, securing 144 hours of US primetime commissions as VP of US Development and overseeing a further 100+ hours as executive producer since 2019. His promotion follows the continued success of Smithsonian Channel’s Ice Airport Alaska, recently recommissioned for a seventh season, and Extreme Airport Africa, alongside greenlights including Life on the Edge (Outdoor Channel), Eyewitness D-Day (National Geographic) and Ross Kemp: Searching for Michael Jackson’s Zoo (ITV).
Alexander Gardiner, Chair of Rare TV, said: “Christian has been instrumental in reshaping our US broadcast strategy, developing returning hits like Extreme Airport Africa and Ice Airport Alaska that have transformed the business. He plays a key role in production, securing remarkable access and building outstanding teams. He’s central to our confidence in Rare’s future.”
Broadhurst added: “Over ten years, we’ve refined a formula that allows us to apply our creativity to niche areas with strong returning value. Wild Diaries is a great example of how we pivoted during the downturn to produce high-quality factual content on YouTube-style tariffs. Creating a 20×20’ series was a learning curve, but at its heart is an exceptional fly-in, fly-out fishing pilot in Dr Bob. Ice Airport Alaska and Extreme Airport Africa are love letters to aviation, celebrating the pilots and ground crews who show up every day to fly the impossible.”
Jon Creamer
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