BBC Worldwide, France 5 Team for New Co-Production

CANNES, April 11: BBC
Worldwide France has closed a co-production deal with France 5 for Human Journey, a new five-part HD science series.

The new series marks the
second time in recent years that the French pubcaster has teamed up with BBC
Worldwide on a major science project. The two were also co-producers on Surviving
Disaster, which aired in 2006 and
was sold to more than 25 broadcasters worldwide.

Slated to premiere on BBC
Two in the U.K. in 2009, the 5×50-minute Human Journey undertakes five epic journeys across the globe,
tracing the ancient routes of our early ancestors to reveal the extraordinary
and brutal challenges they faced. The series uses the latest genetic and
archaeological evidence to reveal how humans gradually adapted—culturally
and physiologically—in response to their environment.

Paul Bradshaw, whose credits
include Egypt and Medieval Lives,
is series producer of Human
Journey and Kim Shillinglaw (Trouble
at the Top, Dangerous Passions) is executive producer. The series has been commissioned
by Roly Keating, Emma Swain and Martin Davidson.

Tim Muff, the general
manager of BBC Worldwide France, said: “We’re delighted to have France 5 on
board as co-producer of this major series. It’s a good fit all round as France
5 is well placed to feed their expertise and judgement into the production
process, whilst the finished programs will sit perfectly within their
schedule.”

Ann Julienne, France 5’s
head of acquisitions and international co-productions, added: “France 5 was
very keen to co-produce Human Journey as soon as BBC Worldwide first came to us with the idea. It is a
strong series that relates the fabulous journey the human species has taken
over the last 160,000 years! We are convinced that this series will be very
popular with our viewers. Everyone, after all, is directly concerned.”

—By Irene Lew