GENRE REPORT
ENTERTAINMENT
KATIE RAWCLIFFE HEAD OF ENTERTAINMENT COMMISSIONING, ITV
range of audiences – and therefore big numbers of viewers – making them attractive to broadcasters. Crucially, live entertainment plays to the strengths of traditional broadcasters, and differentiates them from the streamers. Channel 4 head of entertainment Phil
Harris says many plans had to be put on hold during lockdown. “We’re coming out of this period of development hibernation, and maybe of more safety in terms of our choices.” During the pandemic, he points out that broadcasters and producers didn’t have the ‘bandwidth’ to experiment and innovate – but now people are ready to try new things. Channel 4 is set to return to dock10 studios in
Manchester later this autumn to pilot a number of panel shows. The broadcaster has booked the studio space following an innovative run-through programme last year which Harris introduced to develop ideas in an affordable and sustainable way from a range of independent production companies from around the country. As part of the initiative, the broadcaster tested
seven primetime quiz ideas in a short window with two ideas being commissioned for full series. One of them, Quizness fronted by comedian Tom Allen, is produced by CPL Productions. Harris is also on the hunt for a 9pm celebrity-
“RIGHT NOW, ENTERTAINMENT TV IS IN A REALLY GOOD PLACE”
DANIEL NETTLETON, BANDICOOT
How is the entertainment market at the moment? There’s loads of demand. We always want broad, family, massive audience [shows]. In the current landscape, that’s got to be our USP. We can still bring people around the TV set together, especially with those big, live, stripped shows like I’m A Celebrity, BGT and Masked Singer. They create a conversation. We are looking for the next big version of that. What has worked well for you recently? In the pandemic we launched Beat the Chasers, in a strip at nine o’clock. That was about engagement - bringing people in to take part in something. We’ve done quite a bit of quiz and game. Nostalgia still works and is something we’re interested in. Family Fortunes did brilliantly with Gino. People know the format, they can grab on to it and don’t have to think too hard to watch it - and Gino brings something to it. Catch Phrase is another one. It doesn’t waver. It’s about familiarity, and proper family entertainment. And the Epic Game Show – it’s very familiar looking but with an original spin. What are you looking for? We’ve just come out of the studio with several things, which show you what we’ve been looking at. Starstruck gives you the nostalgia of Stars in Their Eyes but with a brand new spin. There’s a guessing element to it…it’s got brilliant transformation…it’s got the nostalgia, but it feels really contemporary in the way it is staged. We’ve just finished doing a big physical game show The Void. It’s dead simple but really strong in terms of what the producers, Gameface, have brought to it. Through the pandemic, we have looked at a lot of new games, a lot of quiz. We’ve got some things coming that we’re going to record in that area. But now it’s all opened up a bit, I think it’s about the bigger proposition. People have been looking for this for years, but what is the next I’m a Celebrity? What is the next big reality format for us? What’s the next big shiny show? We are looking for the next big thing.
Summer 2021
televisual.com 35
I CAN SEE YOUR VOICE
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