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.

Tag Archive: BBC Two

  1. Banijay Rights Courts BBC for Marie Antoinette Deal

    Comments Off on Banijay Rights Courts BBC for Marie Antoinette Deal

    Banijay Rights today announces UK public broadcaster BBC Two has pre-bought new eight-part historical drama Marie Antionette.

     

    Produced by Banijay Studios France, CAPA Drama and Les Gens, the acquisition marks the first international deal for this CANAL+ Creation Originale. The agreement was negotiated by Chris Stewart, SVP Sales, UK & Eire, Banijay Rights.

     

    Created and written by Deborah Davis (The Favourite), Marie Antoinette tells the story of the incredibly modern and avant-garde young queen, played by Emilia Schüle (Ku’damm 56/ 63). Joining Deborah Davis in writing the ambitious drama is Louise Ironside (The Split), Avril E. Russell (All on a Summer’s Day) and Chloë Moss (Run Sister Run). The series is directed by Pete Travis (Bloodlands) and Geoffrey Enthoven (Children of Love).

     

    Marie Antoinette is produced by Claude Chelli and Margaux Balsan for Capa Drama, Alban Étienne and Stéphanie Chartreux for Banijay Studios France, and Christophe Toulemonde for Les Gens. Filming has commenced in many prestigious historical places including the Châteaux of Versailles, Vaux-le-Vicomte, Lésigny, Champs, Voisins, and in the emblematic studios of Bry-sur-Marne.

     

    Chris Stewart, SVP Sales, UK & Eire, Banijay Rights, said: “Marie Antoinette is an extraordinary fresh new take on one of France’s most iconic – and controversial – figures, filled with stunning scenery, fine performances and epic costumes. Following on from the success of Versailles on BBC Two, we are excited to again bring the extravagance and excitement of French court life to UK viewers.”

     

    Sue Deeks, Head of Programme Acquisitions, BBC, said: “Marie Antoinette possesses an enduring fascination and Deborah Davis has a very singular vision for her story – we are truly delighted to be bringing this ambitious project to BBC Two and iPlayer.“

     

    Marie Antoinette was barely 14 years old when she left Austria to marry the Dauphin of France. Growing from a stubborn young princess navigating the rules of the French court under pressure to continue the Bourbon line, to a true fashion icon, she impressed with her natural charisma, and recreated life in Versailles in her image: free, independent and feminist ahead of time. Even with rumours undermining her reputation, the notorious figure would defeat the enemies of the Versailles court with courage and dignity.

  2. RDF to Bring Back Puppy Series with 12 New Families for BBC Two

    Comments Off on RDF to Bring Back Puppy Series with 12 New Families for BBC Two

    RDF, a Banijay Group Company, today announces it has been commissioned by BBC Two to make a 6×60’ prime-time specialist factual show: 12 Puppies and Us: The Next Chapter.

    The new series will follow 12 families across Britain who have just become puppy owners, as they navigate their first difficult, but also joyful, few months together. It will also re-visit some of the dogs who featured in previous RDF series, 10 Puppies and Us, that aired on BBC Two in 2018, to find out how the different breeds have developed over the last two years.

    12 Puppies and Us: The Next Chapter will feature both adopted rescue and responsibly-bought puppies, that face a range of behavioural challenges a new puppy can present, from the first ever walkies to toilet training fails. From today’s most popular breeds such as Whippets and Dachshunds, to dogs who provide specialist services and care, this series will explore how to raise a puppy from cradle to adolescence and on to adulthood.

    Dan Barraclough, Executive Producer, RDF said:“The recent lockdown has seen a surge in interest from people wanting to take on a puppy and from a really diverse range of families and backgrounds. From tiny dogs like the Chinese Crested Powderpuff to Great Danes, people are looking into some very different breeds, so it will be intriguing to see how each family deals with the challenges of their particular pup. And they’ll be growing up in dramatically different environments – from city flats to open farmland. It will also be fascinating to be able follow up on the pups from previous series to see how they have developed over 2 years. There will be some recurring bad habits, but also some surprising transformations to marvel at.”

     Abigail Priddle, Commissioning Editor, Specialist Factual, BBC Two said: “I’m so excited to have a new cohort of puppies joining us on BBC TWO. From large dogs to small, rescue pups to responsibly bred, this series will be a wonderful way of sharing in the joys, troubles, tips and training that come with a new four-legged friend.”

    12 Puppies and Us: The Next Chapter was commissioned by Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC Two and Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Science and Natural History. The Commissioning Editor is Abigail Priddle and it is Executive Produced by Dan Barraclough at RDF. RDF is part of Banijay Group, and all worldwide rights to 12 Puppies and Us: The Next Chapter are owned by Banijay Rights.

  3. Sparks to fly: Lightning commissioned for BBC Two

    Comments Off on Sparks to fly: Lightning commissioned for BBC Two

    The BBC has commissioned Fizz and Nice One TV to produce Lightning, a new teatime entertainment show hosted by award winning comic Zoe Lyons.

     

    Lightning sees the traditional quiz show collide with gameshow, in a fast-paced and frantic format designed to leave contestants’ nerves in tatters.

     

    Six challengers battle it out across six adrenaline-pumping rounds while a ruthless spotlight patrols the studio eliminating contestants. The challengers’ motivation is simple: do whatever it takes to stay out of the light.

     

    With dramatic lightning and a thundering soundtrack, Lightning will combine quick-fire questions with physical trials bringing a new pace and tone to the teatime quiz slot on BBC Two.

     

    Zoe Lyons will preside, supporting contestants as they strive to reach the ultimate goal of £3,000 prize money.

     

    Lightning is filmed in Northern Ireland with support from Northern Ireland Screen.

     

    Zoe Lyons said: “It’s incredibly exciting to be the host of Lightning. It’s a dream job for me as I’m a massive quiz fan and – unlike the contestants – I love being in the spotlight.”

     

    Carla-Maria Lawson, BBC Head of Daytime and Early Peak said: “The pace and the calibre of competition in Lightning along with Zoe’s energy and wit, will bring a real buzz to BBC Two teatimes”.

     

    Neale Simpson, Creative Director of Fizz said: “This show combines frenetic Q&A with physical challenges, putting contestants on the spot like no other, and it’s a joy to have Zoe on hand to restore calm after the storm when Lightning strikes!”

     

    Chris Jones, Nice One’s founder said: “BBC Two is the home of clever, funny quiz formats, and our hope is that the nation’s quizzers will really love Lightning.”

     

    Lightning is a 25×30’ series for BBC Two. The format was devised by Banijay Group’s Fizz (part of RDF) and Nice One. The Executive Producers are Neale Simpson (Fizz) and Chris Jones (Nice One).  It was commissioned by Carla-Maria Lawson, BBC Head of Daytime and Early Peak, and Muslim Alim, Commissioning Editor BBC Daytime and Early-Peak.

  4. Top Gear scores a treble in the Nordics

    Comments Off on Top Gear scores a treble in the Nordics

    BBC Studios announced today that the world’s biggest motoring entertainment show, Top Gear, is to have three new local versions commissioned by Discovery Networks Nordics.

     

    Nordisk Film TV, a Banijay Group company and BBC Studios Nordics’ production partner, will produce versions for Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

     

    Discovery Networks Nordics’ Kanal 5 will be the home of the Danish and Swedish versions while TVNorge will host the Norwegian remake. Production will start in the fall with the three new Top Gear series due to air in 2020.

     

    Demonstrating their driving prowess for Norway’s Top Gear will be stunt driver and Formula Drift World Champion (2015) Fredric Aasbø, musician and TV personality Esben “Dansken” Selvig and TV host and vintage car collector Petter Schjerven. Sweden’s presenter line-up includes a six times Speedway World Champion in Tony Rickardsson who will be joined by actor, comedian, musician Marko Lethosalo and Adam Alsing who is one of the country’s best known TV personalities.  In Denmark the Top Gear presenters will be long time TV personality and car enthusiast Felix Smith, actor Dar Salim, known for roles in Game of Thrones, Warrior and The Devil’s Double, and former race car driver Jesper Carlsen who is now working as Relations Manager for Danish Formula 1 driver Kevin Magnussen.

     

    Multi-award-winning with a global audience of around 350m, Top Gear takes the world’s insatiable and limitless appetite for the motor vehicle, strips away the boring stats and adds enthusiasm, thrilling stunts and challenges – bringing petrol-fuelled entertainment to a broad audience. Here, cars are always the starting point for epic road trips, over-ambitious projects, and lashings of good old-fashioned mucking about by presenters and celebrities who really should know better. To date, the BBC Studios’ show has sold to over 200 territories around the world, with local versions produced in China, South Korea, USA, Australia, Russia, Italy and France.

     

    Eivind Landsverk, Nordic programme director, Discovery Networks Nordics: “We are so excited to have the privilege to make local versions of one of the world’s biggest entertainment brands. Our mission at Discovery is to power people’s passion, and auto is one of our core fields of entertainment. That said, the magic of Top Gear lies in the show’s ability to attract not only the motor and engine superfans, but also those who do not know the difference between a Lada and a Lamborghini.”

     

    Jan Salling, Head of BBC Studios Nordics – Formats & Productions: “To have one local version of Top Gear land in the Nordics is exciting but three at once takes it to another level. Audiences in these countries are in for a real treat with their very own fellow citizen petrol heads taking control of the wheel and presenting this iconic show Nordic style.”

     

    Peter Hansen, Chief Creative Officer, Banijay Nordic: “It’s an absolute privilege to be reimagining one of the world’s most legendary unscripted titles for the Nordic audience. Building on our existing partnership with BBC Studios Nordics and relationship with Discovery Networks Nordics, we look forward to adding our own spin to the brand to fuel three new must-watch series.”

     

    Duncan Gray, Top Gear’s Commercial Director: “The continued success of Top Gear France, a BBC Studios production for RMC, has shown that well-made local Top Gear formats can create their own style and find their own audiences. Having worked with Banijay and Discovery Nordics in the initial planning for this, I’m sure they will continue this success and create some outstanding Top Gear TV for the Nordic region.”

     

    Top Gear Series 27, with Chris Harris and new presenters Paddy McGuinness and Freddie Flintoff, premiered on BBC Two in June with a peak audience of 2.8 million viewers.

     

  5. Wonder to Make Dementia Series for BBC Two

    Comments Off on Wonder to Make Dementia Series for BBC Two

    Filmed over the course of two years, Living With Dementia (w/t) will be unique for television, taking a longitudinal look at the illness. The length of filming will allow for the exploration of everyday life with dementia in all its complexities, and will allow us work with people with dementia and their families to track changes, subtle or significant, over a longer period of time.

    The series will follow up to six people with dementia at different stages of the condition, to capture a powerfully candid insight into what it is like for them and the people around them. It will explore the complexity of this life-changing illness, how it can vary from day to day and how small shifts in the brain can have an unpredictable impact on people.

    Contributors will be opening up their lives, allowing the series to follow the major events, but also the small, everyday moments that show how each person makes sense of their condition. What does it mean to deal with the shifting sands of a changing brain? How do identities and relationships change as dementia progresses? Life doesn’t end as dementia begins and this series will chart the ups and downs of each person’s journey.

    Living With Dementia (w/t), a 2 x 6o series for BBC Two, is made by Wonder. The Executive Producer for Wonder is Alexandra Fraser. It was commissioned by Tom McDonald, Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual and Natural History and Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC Two. The Commissioning Editor is Abigail Priddle.