COMMISSIONERS


Sue Murphy Head of Factual Entertainment


Gordon, Gino and Fred: Road Trip ITV


ITV’s factual entertainment commissioning team, always on the hunt for returnable ideas with punch and scale, is now also on a mission to find factual for younger viewers that are coming to the broadcaster via its digital channels.


Factual entertainment can build big audiences in the all-important 9pm slot for ITV. To land a returnable show in primetime - the likes of Spun Gold’s The Real Full Monty or Wall to Wall’s coveted Long Lost Family - the current commissioning catchphrase to follow is “personalities, pressure and purpose.”


There’s a real focus on finding a returnable true crime format, which could be inspired by Netflix titles Tiger King, or Don’t F*** with Cats. Dramatised true crime has been powerful on ITV and it wants factual ideas that can follow through. If it’s not a format, then new takes on iconic crime stories are welcome as singles.


HOUSEHOLD NAMES


Access to iconic institutions, brands or organizations is another item always on the ITV wish list. As are


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innovative formats. Shows that are admired on other channels include Channel 4’s Gogglebox and the BBC’s Repair Shop. For pressure, personality and purpose, think of Channel 4’s 24 Hours in A&E or Studio Lambert format Undercover Boss, which had an ITV reboot in 2021. There’s already a new sports competition format cooking at the broadcaster, but it’s open to other competition ideas in other territories.


Big talent helps any idea; new talent might arrive courtesy of an ensemble piece. More women and more diversity are both good.


ITV’s stable of national treasures anchor quite a bit of factual programming for the channel. British comedian Griff Rhys Jones has been filmed by Essential Media Group on his trip from the tip to the toe of New Zealand. Coming up, Joanna Lumley returns with a new three-part series Secret Cities that explores the delights of Rome, Paris and Berlin. Martin Clunes is exploring the islands of the Pacific, while Bradley Walsh and son Barney return with a new series of Hungry Bear’s Breaking Dad,


which involves travelling in their RV from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia.


SUNNY, FUNNY TONE


So, ITV has plenty of travelogue, but it does want the same ‘sunny funny’ tone in other programming. It wants challenges, joy, friendships, revelations, triumph and laughter, in an unfolding story, but not involving trains, planes, automobiles, or striding out.


Other recent and upcoming shows include 10-parter Against The Odds, with inspiring stories from the world of sport. It’s funded by Coral and developed by the 7Stars content team, Supernova, with ITV Sport. The Secret Life of Pets uses the very latest camera technology to show new aspects of the lifes of our furry friends.


Documentaries coming up include ITV’s Ghislaine Maxwell production, from Fremantle, presented by Ranvir Singh, which will include testimony from alleged victims and Ghislaine’s siblings, some speaking publicly for the first time.


ITV’s investigative journalism Exposure Strand has included a recent film from Hardcash, Britain’s Virginity Clinics Uncovered, and Secure Hospital Uncovered, directed by Tom Stone.


For the younger audience, true crime has been on the agenda, with a trio of social media murders: The Murder of Grace Millane, by Firecracker Films, The Murder of Alex Rodda, from Crackit Productions and The Murder of Molly McLaren, made by Knickerbockerglory Productions. The films all used material from social media accounts and mobile phone footage to show how events unfolded.


DATING AND OBDOCS


Meanwhile, in pursuit of Love Island’s ratings dream, reality format The Cabins from ITV Studios’ label 12 Yard Productions, has been a big hit for 2021 and will be back in 2022. Elsewhere, dating format Ready to Mingle, produced by Potato, part of ITV Studios, has recently launched.


ITV 2 has been after a range of factual titles that will shine a spotlight on issues such as social media, health


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