BBC Worldwide Channels Expands Commissioning Slate

LONDON: A new round of commissions have been made by BBC Worldwide Channels for its portfolio of networks, with 112 hours of new content coming for 2011, including the murder mystery Dripping in Chocolate.

In 2010, BBC Worldwide Channels commissioned 34 hours, with this year’s 112 hours representing a substantial increase. Among the shows given the greenlight is Year of Adventures, inspired by Ben Fogle’s Lonely Planet book of the same name. The 5×50-minute show will be produced by BBC Bristol, to air on international feeds of BBC Knowledge, BBC HD and BBC Entertainment in January 2012.

The feature-length murder mystery Dripping in Chocolate is for the Australian UKTV channel. A Southern Star production, the 90-minute Dripping in Chocolate sees a detective and a chocolatier form an unlikely duo to help solve a murder. The program is set to air in April 2012.

For the preschool channel CBeebies comes two seasons of Mr. Bloom’s Nursery. The 26×20-minute show is a mix of live action and puppets. Produced by the BBC, this brand-new show will air on international feeds of CBeebies in 2012.

David Weiland, BBC Worldwide’s senior VP of programming and TV channels, said, “We are now delivering on our strategy to commission both local and global programming for our international channels with this brilliant and varied slate of new titles. Constantly adding to our programming mix keeps our channels compelling, and these new program commissions will complement the high-quality British content that we already feature. The numerous new commissions announced in recent weeks underline the fact that BBC Worldwide Channels now has the scale and ambition to get solidly into original production. This is only the start and we have lots of other ideas in development and hope to announce more throughout 2011.”

These three shows join the slate of new commissions already announced, including Come Dine With Me South Africa, a local version of ITV Studios’ hit format. Come Dine With Me South Africa is being made by South African production company Rapid Blue, and is set to premiere on BBC Entertainment this fall.
 
Free Rein features screen legends Bryan Brown and Rachel Ward (The Thorn Birds) as they go in search of the spirit of Australia on a horseback adventure across The Kimberley, the Outback’s last frontier. Free Rein is a Lonely Planet TV and Freehand production for international feeds of BBC Knowledge, BBC HD and BBC Entertainment. The Kangaroo Gang: Thieves by Appointment is for UKTV in Australia and BBC Knowledge globally. The program will tell the story of the brazen Australian shoplifting gang, one of the most spectacularly successful in history. The title comes from The Full Box productions and is based on the book King of Thieves, by best-selling author Adam Shand. The comedy pilot Some Say Love is in development for UKTV in Australia. Some Say Love is an observational sketch-comedy series about the universal ups and downs of relationships, produced by Freehand.
 
In the way of kids’ fare, new titles include Andy’s Wild Adventures, made by the BBC’s Natural History Unit; Baby Jake; Jollywobbles; season one of Zingzillas Zing Bop; season two of Gigglebiz; season two of ZingZillas; season three of Show Me Show Me; and season six of Nina & the Neurons.