Banijay today announces that international adventure-reality format, The Island, is getting its first Danish celebrity version for Kanal 5 and discovery+, produced by Banijay’s Nordisk Film TV. Under the local title Øen VIP, the series is the fourth adaptation of the celebrity version worldwide and will feature eight well-known Danes as they are set ashore on a tropical desert island, where they must survive 14 days – completely on their own.
The Island is a ground-breaking format that explores whether modern men and women are tough and resourceful enough to survive on a remote uninhabited island, while stripped of all modern conveniences and the basics of their everyday life. The format also incorporates the pioneering use of embedded crew, that participate on an equal footing with the participants and must join the community in order to survive.
Øen VIP puts the celebrity Danes under pressure when they are deprived of the comforts of modern life for a fortnight and must live on an island without civilization in the Pacific Ocean. The cast includes influencer Philine Roepstorff, TV presenter Mille Gori, 33, TV doctor Charlotte Bøving, actor Sebastian Bull, model Oliver Bjerrehuus, chef Thomas Rode, professional skateboarder Rune Glifberg, and professional dancer Frederik Nonnemann.
Ulrik Jørgensen, CEO Nordisk Film TV Denmark says: “We can’t wait to bring Celebrity Island to the Danish audience and allow them to see well-known faces in a whole new light. Seeing the celebrities stripped of their modern comforts you can’t help but wonder how you would get on if you suddenly had to survive on a deserted island.”
Lucas Green, Global Head of Content Operations at Banijay says: “Celebrity Island offers a gripping insight into the grit, capabilities, and survival skills of well-known faces, when they are stripped of their possessions and home comforts. This is a unique format without the usual trappings of big prizes, eliminations, and winners, and it’s fantastic to see it continue to travel to new markets.”
Pil Gundelach Brandstrup, Nordic programme director at Warner Bros. Discovery says: “Øen VIP is another addition to the large range of adventure programmes offered by Warner Bros Discovery. Øen VIP is without comparison among the toughest and most authentic reality programmes in the genre. We will experience the participants in some conditions that will mean that we get really close to them – for better or for worse. The programme offers hard times and humor, struggle and conflicts, development and realisations. The cast each get a perspective on their own lives, as they live in Denmark with many things that are taken for granted. And we also hope that the programme can both help to entertain the viewers, but also give food for thought in relation to our own everyday life.”
The eight-episode run will premiere on Kanal 5 and discovery+ at the beginning of 2023.
The Island was originally created by Shine TV and Bear Grylls Ventures LLP © in 2014. It has been adapted in nine territories with over 20 seasons aired, and the Danish version, produced by Nordisk Film TV (a Banijay company), will be the fourth celebrity iteration. Banijay represents the format internationally.
The Island has received an RTS award and a BAFTA Television Award for Best Reality & Constructed Factual. The UK versions were consistently the number one show for day for Channel 4. The recent version in Sweden was the most streamed local production on discovery+.