Banijay Group is the world's largest independent content creation Group for television and multimedia platforms. Banijay Group is present in 16 territories.
Banijay Group is the world's largest independent content creation Group for television and multimedia platforms. Banijay Group is present in 16 territories.
Comments Off on Banijay’s MoviePlus Productions Creates Anti-Love Story Corduroy
Content powerhouse Banijay today announces that MoviePlus Productions, part of Banijay, will produce Corduroy, a new original series for HOT. Created by Hadas Ben Aroya (All Eyes Off Me, People That Are Not Me) this new series turns a typical romance on its head, following the forbidden love of Danielle and Ido, depicting a new generation of relationships.
Starring Dar Zuzovsky (Hostages, Scarred), Nibar Madar (A Wonderful Country, Mo’adon Layla), and Erik Berman, Corduroy challenges traditional tropes and explores love through a different lens. Danielle is uninhibited and doesn’t believe in relationships but does have clear boundaries which she defends passionately. One of these involves adultery. However, when she finds herself falling in love with a married man her beliefs are challenged, and an undefinable relationship unfolds. To complicate matters further, her best friend and confidante is also in love with her.
David Mandil, CEO and Producer, MoviePlus comments: “Hadas Ben Aroya is a very talented creator, writer, and director. Our lives aren’t all like ‘typical’ romcoms which is why we wanted to create a series that highlights the unpredictability of feelings and the complexity of human nature.”
Mirit Toovi, Head of Drama at HOT, comments: ”The originality of Corduroy is in the way it portrays relationships for the generation who often seem in self-protection mode, avoiding love and intimacy. Although the creator writes about herself and her surroundings, she manages to distance herself, zoom out, and show something intimate on the one hand but also critical and reflective of everyday reality.”
Movie Plus Productions has a track record in international-spanning local drama series, including critically-acclaimed Our Boys for HBO and KI, Miguel (Canal+); Deus and Jerusalem Brew, Embezzlement for YES Studios, among others.
Beyond drama series, MoviePlus Productions is behind the Academy Award-nominated films, Footnote and Beaufort and A Tale of Love and Darkness, in which Natalie Portman made her directorial debut. Banijay acquired a majority stake in the company in November 2022.
HOT is behind shows which have since been adapted for US TV such as HBO’s In Treatment and Euphoria as well as Losing Alice which was acquired by Apple TV+. HOT is also the Israeli co-producer of The Girl from Oslo, for Netflix.
Comments Off on Warner Bros. Discovery Springs for Upcoming CGI Animation, Shasha & Milo in Latin America
Banijay Kids & Family today announces Warner Bros. Discovery Latin America as broadcast partner for new CGI action-comedy, Shasha & Milo. The news follows Tencent Video’s pickup in China, with Zodiak Kids & Family France (a Banijay Kids & Family company) and South Korean studio, Pingo Entertainment, co-producing the series.
The 25 x 22’ and 12 x 2’ shorts show, aimed at 6-9-year-olds, features 12-year-olds, Shasha and Milo, as they juggle school and their home lives, along with their secret new role as the Crescent Island Guardians. Imbued with the power to transform between human, cat and a formidable hybrid form, they are tasked with protecting the island from villainous cats and their often ridiculous plots to gain ultimate power…whilst navigating the daily complexities of pre-teen life.
Benoît Di Sabatino, CEO, Banijay Kids and Family says: “The show is a huge priority for us, with the potential to become a global brand, and key to that ambition is being able to reach global audiences with our broadcast partners. As always, Warner Bros. Discovery is brilliant to have on board, enabling us to bring the dazzling and gripping story of Shasha & Milo to a wide audience across Latin America.”
Soledad Yañez, Manager of Original Production for Kids and Family in Latin America, Warner Bros. Discovery says: “We are very excited about Sasha & Milo, the story and characters are engaging, animation is looking great and editorially, the show is fully in line with our brands positioning. Besides the potential of the show, having partners like Banijay Kids & Family has contributed to a strong and assertive joint work, that will bring very relevant content to our audience.”
Benoît di Sabatino, Gary Milne and Hee Seok Shin serve as Executive Producers, with Seul Gee Yoo as Co-Director and Creative Producer, and Hyeong Min Kim as Co-Director.
Zodiak Kids and Family Distribution own international distribution rights to the series.
Comments Off on Marie Antoinette’s Reign Extended with CANAL+
Content powerhouse Banijay and Newen today announce the landmark historical drama, Marie Antoinette, has been ordered for a second series by CANAL+, with filming expected to begin in autumn.
Created by Deborah Davis (The Favourite), the new series of Marie Antoinette will continue the extraordinary story of the incredibly modern and avant-garde young queen, played by Emilia Schüle (Ku’damm 56/ 63), with Louis Cunningham (Bridgerton) as the king of France, Louis XVI.
At the height of their power, while Marie-Antoinette and Louis face an unprecedented financial crisis. The incessant attacks of Provence and Chartres against the royal couple stir up the hatred of the nobles while disastrous consequences are looming with The Affair of the Necklace. From Versailles to the Palais-Royal, the revolt rumbles…
The season two writing team is led by Louise Ironside, joined by Charlotte Wolf, Francesca Forristal and Andrew Bampfield. Ed Bazalgette will direct the first four episodes.
The CANAL+ Creation Originale, produced by Capa Drama, Banijay Studios France, will once again be distributed globally by Banijay Rights. The first series has been sold to over 70 territories, including PBS Distribution in the US, BBC First in Australia and BBC Two and iPlayer in the UK, which reported consolidated viewing figures of 2.1 million for its premiere in 2022, and a raft of broadcasters across Europe and LatAm.
Cathy Payne, CEO of Banijay Rights says: “Without a doubt, Marie Antoinette has been a popular drama with our buyers worldwide, and this is testament to the world-class producers in France who have created a premium, returning series for the international market. The flawless, high-quality production is filled with glamourous talent and lavish locations, and we’re thrilled to offer a landmark new season of this unique interpretation of the fashionable French queen to global audiences.”
Marie Antoinette is produced by Claude Chelli and Margaux Balsan for Capa Drama, Stéphanie Chartreux for Banijay Studios France.
Comments Off on Banijay Belgium Signs Up for Special Forces Training on SAS: Who Dares Wins
Content powerhouse, Banijay, today announces Banijay Belgium will adapt SAS: Who Dares Wins, known locally as Special Forces: Wie Durft Wint for VTM.
In Special Forces: Wie DurftWint, 11 famous faces will take part in demanding challenges, but only the best will pass the selection process based on the elite special forces corp. The celebrity recruits, which include singer and presenter, Koen Wauters, ex-basketball player Ann Wauters, and politician, Georges-Louis Bouchez, will head to Morocco to face challenges overseen by four ex-Special Forces operators. However, being in the Special Forces isn’t about who is the strongest or the fastest, it is about attitude and mindset. Which of these celebrities has what it takes?
SAS: Who Dares Wins was created in 2015 by Minnow Films for Channel 4. Banijay now holds the global distribution rights. This commission in Flanders marks the ninth adaptation of the format with successful local versions already produced in territories such as the US, the Netherlands, Denmark, where it recently won a TV Prisen for best reality, and Australia, where series one was the biggest show ever on 7Plus.
Isabelle Dams, Managing Director, Banijay Belgium says: “The celebrities are ready to put their resilience to the test in this adventure reality format. Along with VTM, we’re looking forward to Belgian audiences becoming gripped by the journey of the famous recruits.”
Lucas Green, Global Head of Content Operations at Banijay adds: “Adrenaline-packed, intense, and entertaining, SAS: Who Dares Wins already has a strong fanbase around the world. It is now an established global brand, but we’re really looking forward to seeing how its rich visuals and cinematic storytelling come to life in Belgium, taking the popularity of special forces to a new level.”
Banijay Belgium prides itself on producing innovative content in nearly every genre for both broadcasters and platforms. This includes non-scripted titles Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and Hunted amongst others, as well as premium scripted GR5 and long-running drama, Familie.
Comments Off on The Fur-midable Simon’s Cat Marks its 15-Year Anniversary
Simon’s Cat (part of Banijay UK) today announces it is celebrating its 15th birthday, and in conjunction with Banijay Brands, the commercial arm of content powerhouse Banijay, will release a raft of special content and products.
In March 2008, illustrator Simon Tofield uploaded his first ever video to YouTube…a self-taught animation project inspired by his beloved cat Hugh. That video Cat Man Do became a viral sensation, which 15 years later, has amassed an eyewatering 65 million views on that one film alone, and spawned a globally-loved brand that enjoys incredible success, from a catalogue of online content to gaming, publishing and consumer products.
To celebrate its success, this month, the brand will release a compilation of the very best classic films, reimagined in colour; launch a new Simon’s Cat website, with games, comics, films and more; offer an exclusive signed print of bespoke artwork by Simon Tofield; host a special Q&A session with Simon answering questions from fans on the official social channels; trigger a custom 15th anniversary merch drop including free giveaways; and later this year, release an exclusive set of 15th anniversary pins.
Simon Tofield, creator of Simon’s Cat says: “It brings me immense joy and privilege to be celebrating 15 years of Simon’s Cat. We have grown from a single animation into a global brand with a fantastic and supportive community of fans all around the world. I can’t wait to see what the next 15 years bring for our global superstar feline!”
Alice Bernardi, Director, International Brand Licensing, Banijay Brands says: “It is wonderful to mark this milestone with special products that the fans will love. The instantly recognisable, iconic animation, coupled with a huge social following makes Simon’s Cat a very strong and desirable IP that works incredibly well across all corners of the licensing industry.”
Created by award-winning illustrator, animator and director, Simon Tofield, Simon’s Cat was first seen on YouTube in 2008. Part of Banijay UK, the brand is now a major global success, with over 3bn online views and 21m fans across TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Simon’s Cat has enjoyed international commercial success across multiple categories. It was recently announced that Tactile Games has taken the long-term gaming rights for the brand, following the popularity of mobile titles Simon’s Cat: Crunch Time, Simon’s Cat: Pop Time and Simon’s Cat: Story Time, which have amassed more than 20 million downloads worldwide.
Comments Off on Banijay Iberia Partners with D&I Organisation Fundación Diversidad
Banijay Iberia (a Banijay company) announces it is a sponsoring partner of Fundación Diversidad, the largest European business movement of diversity and inclusion. The company will promote the principles of equality, inclusivity and anti-discrimination among its staff, as well as between collaborators, suppliers, and clients.
Banijay Iberia, a group that includes Cuarzo Producciones, Diagonal TV, Endemol Portugal, Gestmusic, Magnolia, Shine Iberia, Tuiwok Estudios and Zeppelin, among other production companies, has demonstrated its commitment to diversity and inclusivity through its broad offering of series and its casting and recruitment.
Pilar Blasco, CEO, Banijay Iberia, says: “At Banijay Iberia, we believe in the potential of culture and the power of audio-visual products to build a more inclusive, accessible, and supportive society, which fosters positive change. We are hugely sensitive to social realities and we preserve diversity in our content. In parallel, internally at Banijay, we have employee resource groups promoting respect and equality, such as Banijay Embrace, Banijay Pride, Banijay Disability and Banijay Elle. By joining Fundación Diversidad, we reaffirm our commitment to creating safe, open, and responsible environments, for all the people who work with us.”
Sonia Río, Director, Fundación Diversidad, added: “The incorporation of Banijay Iberia into the Foundation is important because we believe that the culture, entertainment and media sector has a fundamental role in the transformation of society and, furthermore, it is capable of taking this message to mass audiences. It is necessary for companies in this sector to have diverse and inclusive workforces, and to put this diversity at the centre of innovation, to broaden the industry’s competitive offering of authentic storytelling, and making, for audiences and clients alike.”
Comments Off on EndemolShine Germany Highlights Low Literacy Levels with Banijay’s The Write Offs
Banijay, the content powerhouse, today announces that EndemolShine Germany, part of Banijay Germany, will adapt TheWrite Offs for ZDF. The format created by Banijay UK’s Shine TV will be known locally as Lost for Words (w/t) and presented by Sabine Heinrich.
The Write Offs gives a group of adults the incredible opportunity to change their lives and address the one thing that may be holding them back. Can you imagine not being able to navigate public transport or read a text? For many, this is a reality, as globally a large proportion of people struggle with the basic literacy skills necessary for everyday situations. In this empowering format, adults receive one-to-one tuition and embark on an eye-opening journey as they face tasks that encourage them to go outside of their comfort zones. The series concludes with a heart-warming and dramatic performance for their loved ones.
Fabian Tobias, Managing Director at EndemolShine Germany says: “The Write Offs shines a light on an issue that affects 6 million people in Germany and up to now rarely discussed. Just as in the UK, Denmark, and Australia, we hope this new series will provide uplifting and relevant content whilst also inspiring those who do struggle with their literacy.”
Lucas Green, Global Head of Content Operations at Banijay says: “The Write Offsresonates worldwide, because shockingly-low literacy rates are not exclusive to one country. This is a daily reality for many people globally, and the show raises awareness and starts discussions among the wider public. It is powerful, empowering, stigma-reducing, and we’re looking forward to seeing where it goes next.”
Originally created by Shine TV for UK broadcaster Channel 4, this commission marks the fourth adaptation of the factual series with The Write Offs having travelled to Denmark and Australia where a second series recently aired on SBS. Described in the UK as ‘a heart-warming, inspiring and education watch’, by Stylist UK and in Australia as ‘an unexpectedly joyous documentary series’, by The Saturday Paper Australia, the show has received international acclaim. In addition, the show had a positive social impact – a study from SBS found that 94% of Australians felt more aware of adult literacy following series one, and 91% said it gave hope to Australians with lower literacy.
EndemolShine Germany is a leading production and entertainment company in Germany and is behind some of the nation’s best-loved non-scripted shows, with titles such as Big Brother VIP, Kitchen Impossible, Limitless Win, The Masked Singer, and Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
Comments Off on NBC Revs Up to Launch Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge
NBC gets the show on the road with a series order of “Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge,” an epic car makeover competition series based on one of the world’s most popular toys.
Hosted by Rutledge Wood (“Top Gear US,” “Floor Is Lava”), who will also serve as one of the show’s judges, the 10-episode series will give Hot Wheels® superfans the opportunity of a lifetime – turning a nostalgic car from their past into the life-sized Hot Wheels of their dreams. The season-finale winning creation will spin its wheels by launching as an official Hot Wheels die-cast car.
“Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge” is an original format developed and produced by Endemol Shine North America in association with Workerbee under license from Mattel Inc. Executive producers are showrunner Tim Warren, along with Andy Thomas, Sharon Levy, DJ Nurre and Michael Heyerman from Endemol Shine North America; Rick Murray and Chris Hale from Workerbee (a Banijay UK Company); and Fred Soulie and Phil Breman from Mattel Television.
“Everyone remembers their first car, the life experiences they had and the friends who came along for the ride. Hot Wheels is a legendary brand that has created a space for imaginations to run free,” said Corie Henson, EVP, Unscripted Programming, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. “Our prolific partners at Endemol Shine North America and Mattel have created larger-than-life family viewing with edge and humor all led by car enthusiast Rutledge Wood, whose creativity, credibility and passion for Hot Wheels makes him the perfect person to drive this wild competition.”
Each episode will invite two passionate car fans and Hot Wheels lovers into the Chrome Zone, where they will each face off in transforming an ordinary vehicle into an extraordinary Hot Wheels showstopper, inspired by personal stories and pop culture touchstones. Working alongside a team of automotive magicians known as “The Car Pool,” the two Superfans will create their designs in high-tech, decked-out garages. Raising the stakes of the competition is the Inspirationator 5000, a larger-than-life vending machine that will rev up in each episode to present the Superfans with a twist in the road.
Riding shotgun will be a rotating panel of celebrity guest judges joining resident experts Hertrech (“Hert”) Eugene Jr., an influencer in car culture and the drift scene, and Dalal Elsheikh, designer for the Ford Motor Company and Hot Wheels Brand Ambassador. Wood, Eugene and Elsheikh, along with the celebrity guests, will review the transformations and crown a winner. The winner of each episode will take home $25,000 and the chance to get into the finale, where three lucky finalists will transform another car in hopes of winning a legendary prize – an additional $50,000 and the honor of having their design made into an official Hot Wheels die-cast car.
More than 16 Hot Wheels cars are sold per second across the globe, and this all-new “Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge” die-cast car will join the ranks of the 8 billion+ Hot Wheels that have been produced to date.
Comments Off on Totally Spies! Springs into Action for Webtoon Series
Banijay Kids and Family, part of content powerhouse Banijay, today announces a partnership with Belgian publisher Editions Dupuis, part of Média-Participations, to transform the hit spy-fi animation, Totally Spies!, into a unique webtoon for digital platform ONO.
An increasingly popular genre of comics, developed for digital smartphone reading, the vertical strips will bring the characters of Totally Spies! to a new medium. The webtoon will be available as a weekly serialisation in French, and available for foreign rights.
2D-animated franchise Totally Spies!, produced by Zodiak Kids & Family France, is set to return to screens in 2024 with a brand-new series, following its original six-season run between 2001 and 2013. The upcoming series follows the three legendary secret agents, Sam, Clover and Alex, as they move to a new city and take on a fresh crop of villains.
Annick Bizet, New Business & Strategic Alliances Director, Banijay Kids & Family says: “Totally Spies! is a globally-loved show with a strong existing fanbase, and given the excitement for the new series, demand from fans for brand extensions is high. Webtoons offer a new and modern reading format for young audiences, and this project will ensure we continue catering to our audiences and the changing ways in which they consume their entertainment.”
Stéphane Ferrand, Senior Publishing Director, Editions Dupuis adds: “Strong, leading female characters, action and adventure, humour, fashion, gadgets…Totally Spies! is one of those rare transgenerational licences whose ingredients conceal an ever-relevant modernity. The webtoon is now a favoured medium for reading content among young people around the world and the marriage between this and such a strong IP was inevitable.”
Delphine Dumont, Chief Commercial Officer, Banijay Kids & Family says: “We are so pleased to announce this very exciting deal which marks the start of our relaunch strategy of this iconic brand, prior to the new series reveal on M6/GULLI (France) and Discovery Kids LatAm in 2024. Lots more to come for our favourite spies!”
Dupuis is a 100-year-old Belgian publisher behind a number of successful series for children and adults such as Spirou, Lucky Luke, Kid Paddle or Largo Winch, which have become household names amongst European comics readers. The company strives to reinvent itself, driving its expansion into other fields such as animation and digital platforms like ONO.
Comments Off on Tiger Aspect Kids & Family and Little Tiger to Collaborate on TV Options
Tiger Aspect Kids & Family (part of Banijay Kids & Family) today announces it will join forces with children’s publisher Little Tiger, with the intention to option and develop future animated and live action TV projects, aimed at children of all ages and families.
Little Tiger’s rich portfolio of bestselling and far-reaching books, featuring unforgettable characters, striking worlds and wide-ranging concepts, are the perfect source material to create innovative and entertaining TV for children and families. With Tiger Aspect Kids & Family’s presence internationally and its strong creative team, the collaboration aligns both companies ambitions to nurture talent and grow in the entertainment space.
Tom Beattie, Managing Director at Tiger Aspect Kids & Family said: “This felt like a perfect partnership, not just because we both have ‘Tiger’ in the company names. Little Tiger creates some brilliant characters and worlds that fit with the Tiger Aspect Kids & Family DNA, and so it made sense to work more closely together. We have a proven track record of taking books to screen and we’re excited with what is to come.”
David Bucknor, Managing Director at Little Tiger said: “Children’s books have always provided a treasure trove of stories to inspire film and TV. Over the last few years, we have seen a marked increase in interest in our books, from producers keen to feed the ever-growing number of platforms and distributors hungry for content. As we embark on this exciting collaboration with Tiger Aspect Kids & Family, we look forward to working together creatively, and finding new ways of sharing our stories with screen audiences.”
Under the leadership of MD Tom Beattie, Tiger Aspect Kids & Family creates bold, funny and iconic content for all ages, from pre-school through to family. Spanning live-action series and animated shows, notable credits for the multi-BAFTA award-winning company include Aliens Love Underpants, Charlie and Lola, Mr Bean: The Animated Series, Danny & Mick, Tinga Tinga Tales Corpse Talk and the recently announced Super Happy Magic Forest.
The deal was negotiated by Jude Evans on behalf of Little Tiger and Tiger Aspect Kids & Family’s Dee Stevens.
Comments Off on Banijay Spotlights Premium Portfolio for London TV Screenings
Content powerhouse, Banijay, today confirms the line-up for its bespoke London TV Screenings event on Wednesday 1 March at BAFTA. It marks the second physical participation in the wider annual distribution gathering, which runs from Monday 27 February to Friday 3 March.
Shining a light on scripted, Banijay Rights’ premium offering includes UK dramas Three Little Birds for ITV and BritBox International, This Town and The Sixth Commandment for the BBC, Domina for MGM+ and Sky, Safe Home for SBS, as well as feature documentary LARA (w/t).
This year’s stellar scripted offering will be complemented by Banijay’s unscripted formats fronted by its Creative Networks team. Included are fresh interior design competition, TheBig Interiors Battle; addictive dating and relationship shows, Love Triangle, Date My Mate, Save the Date; entertainment newcomers,Boomerissima and Cover Night; competition titles Blow Up and MasterChef Young Talent; and sneak peeks will be on offer for much-anticipated adventure reality, The Summit, and comedy entertainment, No Strings Attached.
As part of the exclusive, invite-only event, This Town creator, writer and executive producer, Steven Knight, stars of Three Little Birds Rochelle Neil, Yazmin Belo, and Saffron Coomber, will be interviewed live on the BAFTA stage, as well as The Sixth Commandment writer Sarah Phelps and director Saul Dibb; Safe Home star Aisha Dee, Domina creator Simon Burke and award-winning LARA (w/t) director Mags Gavan.
Cathy Payne, CEO at Banijay Rights says: “This year’s Banijay at BAFTA event is set to have the strongest line-up yet, and we’re proud to create a truly must-attend showcase for international buyers, with a high-calibre of talent supporting us on stage. With an extensive range of genres, bringing globally relevant themes to audiences, we expect our eclectic roster of content to be immensely popular.”
James Townley, Global Head of Content Development & Lucas Green, Global Head of Content Operations at Banijay comment: “From Love Triangle to Blow Up and No Strings Attached, at Banijay, we have a strong pipeline of emerging IP that we’re proud to present. This is down to our creatives who we are delighted to support in super-charging their ambitious ideas and getting them on-screen and travelling the world.”
Banijay Rights’ footprint in the premium documentary space has expanded over the last year, and along with Banijay Benelux joint venture Scenery, it’s lining up LARA (w/t). Directed by the BAFTA and Emmy award-winning Mags Gavan, the film recounts an extraordinary reconciliation story between Jorge Lara and Juan Pablo Escobar – the son of notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar.
On the scripted front, Banijay Rights is highlighting Three Little Birds, the six-part drama created by Sir Lenny Henry which depicts his mother’s stories of leaving Jamaica in the 1950s. The project is produced by Tiger Aspect Productions in association with Douglas Road Productions – both Banijay UK companies. Meanwhile, from Kudos, (a Banijay UK company) and Nebulastar, and co-produced with Mercury Studios, in association with Kudos North, Stigma Films, and Nick Angel for the BBC, This Town tells the story of an extended family and four young people who are drawn into the world of ska and two-tone music. This marks the first project of the Kudos-Knight creative partnership deal which supports the Birmingham film and TV industry.
The Sixth Commandment, from Wild Mercury Productions (a Banijay UK company) and True Vision Productions, is a true crime drama which explores the deaths of Peter Farquhar and Anne Moore-Martin in a small English village, while Domina returns for a second season, from Tiger Aspect Productions in association with MGM+ Studios, continuing the epic sweeping drama series that takes place during one of the most provocative periods in Roman history.
In addition, thriller Safe Home, the first commission for Imogen Banks’ new production company Kindling Pictures, which follows Phoebe, played by Aisha Dee, a 20-something professional who leaves her job at a prestigious law firm to work at a struggling family violence legal centre. As interconnecting stories unfold, relationships are tested and pressure mounts to save the centre.
Joining Banijay’s factual competition offering is brand-new interior design format, The
Big Interiors Battle from Banijay UK’s Remarkable Factual. Eight people with an eye for design receive the keys to an apartment where they are challenged to transform a different room each week. Will their key card work when they next try to enter or have, they been locked out the competition?
Love Triangle is a bold new relationship show created by the producers of Married at First Sight Australia, Endemol Shine Australia. It challenges a group of singles to relinquish their grasp on what they think their perfect partner should look like and instead choose, sight unseen. Following its successful first season on Stan, it has been recommissioned for a second series. Produced by Dragonfly in the UK, Date My Mate also explores modern dating. Based on the Endemol Shine Australia format Date Night, singles swipe through prospective suitors on the formats’ dedicated real-life app and then watch the subsequent dates unfold. In addition, in Save the Date single women tired of the dating world gain total control of their love life by setting a wedding date, before they have even begun to search for their partner. Will setting a love deadline help them find the one? Created by Endemol Shine Israel, Endemol Shine Finland produced the first series for Nelonen.
Boomerissima, created by Banijay Italia, is all about proving the superiority of your generation. Each episode sees celebrities from different eras pitted against each other highlighting TV shows, movies, music, famous names, adverts, etc to refute stereotypes and highlight whether things were better in the past or the present. The first series concluded on Rai 2 this month, outperforming the channels slot average across all demographics. Next up, how would Flowers by Miley Cyrus sound as rap or Beyonce’s Crazy in Love as a ballad? Cover Night is the singing contest from Shine Iberia that sees young talented singers (16+) go head-to-head as they transform hit songs into different genres and add their own twist to covers, accompanied by a live band.
Elsewhere, there are strong signs competition entertainment combos are here to stay with brand new formats from the Netherlands, and the Nordics. Amongst Banijay’s successful formats is Blow Up, created by EndemolShine Nederland and now commissioned in four territories. The first season which aired in the Netherlands last summer was the number one show in the slot on all commercial key demos with the slot average up 168% for 6-12-year-olds. Banijay also has the latest spin-off from MasterChef, the world’s most successful cookery television format which was created by Franc Roddam, starring a new generation of promising chefs, aged 13 to 18. Created by Danish company Metronome, and Nordisk Banijay in Norway, for Viaplay Group, this exciting and authentic new iteration aims to equip a future generation with the best tools within the industry, providing them with the platform and experience to one day, hopefully, fulfil their chef dreams.
On the first-look side, The Summit is a new and highly anticipated blockbuster adventure reality series created and developed exclusively with the 9Network by Endemol Shine Australia. Set in New Zealand’s rugged southern Alps, a group of strangers carrying an equal share of 1 million Australian dollars must reach the peak of a distant mountain in just 14 days to win the cash. All that stands in the way are a series of adrenaline-charged challenges and human nature. In a thrilling tale of endurance, survival, and greed; morals will be tested, physical limits pushed, and bonds broken. Will they work together or turn on each other as the going gets tough? And if they reach the summit in time…who will walk away with the money? Combining comedy with entertainment, RDF Television’s No Strings Attached invites a different celebrity in each episode to read an erotic piece of creative writing where they are the lead role. The adult fan fiction brought to life by puppet versions of the stars will encounter romance, scandal, mystery, intrigue, and farce.
More than 20 distributors join founder members Banijay Rights, Alll3Media International, Entertainment One, Fremantle and ITV Studios in showcasing their catalogues at this year’s London TV Screenings.
Comments Off on Lucy Bedford promoted to Managing Director of Tiger Aspect
Lucy Bedford is to take over leadership of Tiger Aspect becoming Managing Director. She will be responsible for the creative leadership of the business, working closely with Head of Comedy, David Simpson, and newly appointed Creative Director, Drama, Gabriel Silver, to build the slate of the scripted indie whose recent credits include Bad Education (BBC Three); Domina (Epix / Sky); Man Like Mobeen (BBC Three); Deep Fake Neighbour Wars (ITV X) and the upcoming Three Little Birds (ITV).
Previously Head of Drama at Tiger Aspect, a role she took up in 2019, Lucy has been instrumental in building up the drama slate and evolving the company’s drama strategy over the past 3 years. Credits include The Good Karma Hospital (ITV, series 2, 3 & 4), Domina (Epix and Sky, series 1 and 2) and the upcoming Three Little Birds (ITV and Britbox). She has also Executive Produced high-profile co-productions including the recent Litvinenko (ITV Studios and Tiger Aspect for ITV X) as well as building a pipeline of upcoming projects.
Lucy reports directly to Banijay UK CEO Patrick Holland and takes up her new role with immediate effect.
Lucy’s first appointment in the role is Gabriel Silver who she has appointed as Creative Director, Drama. Working closely with writers and talent to further build the drama pipeline, Gabriel will help steer the overall strategic direction of Tiger’s drama slate while working as an Executive Producer on specific projects.
A drama specialist, previously Director of Commissioning, Drama at Sky studios, where credits included Emmy and BAFTA-winning series Chernobyl and global hit Gangs of London, and returning franchises Britannia and COBRA. Recent commissions include Mary & George and Day of the Jackal.
Lucy will continue to work in partnership on the commercial and operational business growth strategy with Chief Commercial Officer Zoe Brown and Chief Operating Officer Helen Wright.
Patrick Holland, CEO Banijay UK said; “Lucy is an exceptional creative leader who has brought great clarity and purpose to the Tiger Aspect development slate. And with Three Little Birds and the second series of Domina soon to deliver, she’s responsible for major shows with phenomenal creative ambition.
I’m so excited that she’ll be taking the reins of the business and with David Simpson’s burgeoning comedy slate (Deep Fake Neighbour Wars, the rebirth of Bad Education, the return of Man Like Mobeen) and the addition of Gabriel Silver as Creative Director, together they will be a formidable editorial leadership team.
Helen Wright and Zoe Brown remain in their senior roles driving the business forward operationally and commercially. There are exciting times ahead.”
Lucy Bedford added; “I am beyond thrilled to welcome Gabriel to Tiger. His exceptional taste, deep relationships and finely tuned creativity will be invaluable as we continue to expand our scripted offering in the UK and international market. With him, David, Zoe and Helen alongside, I am full of excitement about the next chapter of my own journey at Tiger telling stories that resonate, entertain and inspire while leading a team with an unswerving commitment to putting talent at the heart of all we do.”
Gabriel Silver said: ‘I’m delighted to be joining Lucy, and the entire Tiger Aspect and Banijay team at a moment of renewed creative ambition at this stellar scripted label. After several years in commissioning, I can’t wait to work directly with the brilliant writers and creative talent from our enviable drama community.”
Lucy joined Tiger Aspect as an Executive Producer in 2014, being promoted to Head of Drama in 2019. Prior to joining Tiger Aspect, Lucy was an Executive Producer at Ecosse Films where amongst others, she Executive Produced three series of the hit BBC show Mistresses. She also spent 10 years within the comedy and drama department at Granada Television.
Gabriel joined Sky in 2017 as Senior Commissioning Editor and Executive Producer at Sky Studios before being promoted to Director of Commissioning in 2021. Prior to his time at Sky, Gabriel worked at a range of indies including Left Bank Pictures and Kudos.