BBC Worldwide Channels Secures Optomen Programming

LONDON: Optomen International has sold 50 hours of programming featuring Gordon Ramsay, Heston Blumenthal and Mary Portas to BBC Worldwide Channels in Asia, Central Europe and Africa.

BBC Lifestyle Asia picked up retail specialist Mary Portas’ latest series, Secret Shopper, a four-episode hour-long series in which she exposes shoddy customer service from fast-fashion outlets, furniture superstores, mobile-phone shops and estate agents. It debuted on Channel 4 in January. BBC Lifestyle Asia also relicensed season two of Portas’ older series Mary Queen of Shops.

BBC Lifestyle in Asia also bought season four of Kitchen Nightmares USA and the one-off special Heston’s Fishy Feast, featuring chefs Gordon Ramsay and Heston Blumenthal. Both series will also across the broadcaster’s African and Polish BBC Lifestyle and BBC Entertainment channels.

The Big Fish Fight special: Gordon Ramsay’s Shark Bait will air on BBC America, BBC Lifestyle Poland and BBC Lifestyle Africa. It features Ramsay exposing the shocking practices that threaten the existence of sharks around the globe. Since its debut on Channel 4 in January it has sold to more than 40 territories, including the U.S., Australia, Scandinavia and French Canada.

Caroline Stephenson, the director of sales for Optomen International, said, “The BBC channels have a fantastic global reach and we are delighted that their viewers around the globe are going to enjoy more of our brilliant series from Gordon Ramsay, Heston Blumenthal and Mary Portas.”