Come Dine With Me Set for South African Adaptation

LONDON: BBC Worldwide Channels has commissioned a South African version of ITV Studios’ hit format Come Dine With Me for rollout on BBC Entertainment, available in the region on the DStv platform.

Under the terms of the deal with ITV Studios Global Entertainment, the format—which has been sold into more than 30 territories, including France, Australia and Iran—will be produced locally by Rapid Blue. It will make its debut this October on BBC Entertainment in South Africa as well as in the Middle East, Scandinavia and Poland. The ten-part South African adaptation will be shot in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.

Announcing the deal, Ian McDonough, senior VP and general manager for EMEA at BBC Worldwide Channels, noted, “I am delighted to be bringing our first ever locally made EMEA commission to South Africa. Food programming has proven to be immensely popular on our channels and Come Dine With Me unites an exciting cross section of contestants from all social and cultural backgrounds—not to mention ages and genders, through their love of food and entertaining. Creating a local version of this hugely successful British format signals our ongoing commitment to the region and to our audiences.”

Jon Farrar, the VP of programming for BBC Worldwide Channels EMEA, added: “This commission represents continued significant investment in our African channels, as we strive to build rich and captivating schedules that will delight audiences across the continent. Come Dine With Me in the U.K. is one of the breakout hits of recent years which has resonated brilliantly with our international audiences. With its compelling mix of food, conflict and competitive hosts making for unforgettable, and often jaw-dropping, dinner parties, I am thrilled to be seeing a local version arrive exclusively to BBC Entertainment in South Africa.”

Tobias de Graaff, the director of global television distribution at ITV Studios Global Entertainment, said, “Come Dine With Me is a huge hit for broadcasters around the world and, as this agreement illustrates, we are continuing to close deals in new territories. We’re delighted to be using the breadth of our production expertise, built from over six years of international production, to work with BBC Worldwide to launch this format in South Africa.”