Five Commissions The Business Inspector

LONDON: Self-made millionaire Hilary Devey will work to transform struggling small British companies in The Business Inspector, which Optomen will be producing for Five.

Sponsored by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the 4×1-hour series will follow Devey as she works with small operations—from one-man bands to kitchen-table entrepreneurs—to transform them by supplying business know-how to use towards their passion projects. "Britain’s brimming with creativity but a terrifying number of businesses go bust each year and this shouldn’t be happening," Devey said. "I am going to teach businesses how to improve their all round business knowledge and direction, cash flow, marketing strategy and in some cases even their enthusiasm."

The series extends Five’s successful Inspector format. The channel’s latest season of The Hotel Inspector was its highest rating ever, averaging 2.1 million viewers.

Five’s head of factual programs, Andrew O’Connell, said: “Hilary is a fantastic new talent for Five and her enthusiasm, expertise and experience make her the ideal presenter to help transform floundering businesses and teach them practical skills.”

Optomen’s editor for factual, Becky Clarke, commented: “Hilary Devey is like no other business woman out there. She’s an amazing combination of down to earth grit coupled with an extraordinary business mind—for any small business person working with her this will be a life-changing experience.”