DCD Media’s September Films Receives C4 Commission

LONDON, March 20: Channel 4 in the U.K. has
commissioned DCD Media-owned September Films to produce a British version of
the U.S. unscripted entertainment format When Women Rule the World.

The U.S. version of When Women Rule the
World is due to air this summer on FOX. The British
version is based on a format created by Rocket Science, the producers behind
shows like Joe Millionaire and Temptation Island. The budget for the series is £2.5 million, making this September Films’
biggest commission from Channel 4.

The 8×1-hour British version
of When Women Rule the World was filmed earlier
this year and is scheduled to air in a peak time slot later in 2008. Presented by Steve
Jones, the series is set in a secret Caribbean village location purposely built
for the show. Eight women take sole charge of a group of ten men and are
challenged to build their ideal female-crafted community. The men must do
whatever the women order them to, with the only absolute law on the island
being that “women rule, men obey.” The women select one man to be eliminated
from the contest each week, with the final remaining male winning a cash prize
at the end of series.

The U.K. format rights to the series were
negotiated with Steve Cornish at Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution
by Gill Hay, the deputy head of acquisitions at Channel 4. The British version
of the series was ordered by Andy Auerbach, Channel 4’s commissioning editor of
entertainment. The executive producer is Peter Davey, the series director is
Angelo Abela and the series producer is Nicole Streak.

Channel 4’s Auerbach said: “We’re delighted that September Films and the
team who successfully produced Beauty and the Geek and Playing it
Straight are back again to work their magic on this format. The series promises
to be fresh, fun and a fascinating watch.”

September Films’ Peter Davey added, “It is a brilliantly simple, now,
idea that should have wide appeal. I’m very proud that in just six weeks we
turned a patch of remote jungle scrub into a fully functioning village set. I’m
delighted with the results.”

—By Irene Lew