DRG Lands European Commissions for Don’t Tell the Bride

LONDON: DRG has received two new prime-time commissions for the reality show Don’t Tell the Bride, with RTL II in Germany, RTL Nederland and Denmark’s TV2 on board for local versions.

Created by Renegade Pictures for BBC Three, Don’t Tell the Bride follows soon-to-be grooms as they plan the ultimate wedding day without any involvement from the bride. RTL II has commissioned an eight-episode run, which will be produced by Eyeworks Pictures. Holger Andersen, the senior VP of programs at RTL II, said, “I am really pleased that we are producing Don’t Tell the Bride on RTL II. We believe that it is going to be our next big hit.”

Danish national broadcaster TV2 has commissioned a second eight-episode season, to be made by Blu Productions, which produced the first season. Anette Romer, the head of acquisitions and formats at TV2, commented, “It is a spectacular performer for our main channel, reaching a 50 percent commercial share in our target group of 21-50, in the face of stiff competition. We are particularly pleased with its young, female appeal—a demo we have been working hard to reach in prime time on the main channel.”

RTL Nederland secured an option to produce a local prime-time version and also acquired the fourth season of the BBC original. Inge Lubsen, senior buyer at RTL Nederland, remarked, "We are all incredibly excited that Dutch viewers will finally have the chance to witness all the emotion, stress and strain of brides who have left their partners in charge of their ‘perfect’ wedding."

A number of sales were secured for the U.K. version, including with TLC in Russia, Vivolta in France, NHK in Japan, LifeStyle in Australia and Really in the U.K.

Patrick Roberts, the senior VP of international sales at DRG, said of the deals, “Bride is an exceptional success story around the globe. Viewers are united in championing the groom to succeed and create a dream wedding for his bride, but does he really know what she wants?” 
 
Roberts continued, “This fabulously entertaining show delivered record breaking ratings for BBC Three last season and is set to be even bigger this year. As the U.K. version storms into over 120 territories, local productions will be launching in another six countries. It is our ambition to take Bride into every major market around the world and today’s news underlines its success as a fantastically relatable and proven format.”
 
Andrea Jackson, the managing director at acquisitions at DRG, added, “It’s been a great start to the year for Bride and all-new Heston’s Mission Impossible, which achieved a fantastic audience share in its Channel 4 premiere this week. We’re looking forward to working closely with Renegade in building these shows into truly global brands.”