Initial to Produce Winter Wipeout

LONDON: BBC One has commissioned Initial, Endemol UK’s production arm, to produce the new series Winter Wipeout.

Twelve episodes of Winter Wipeout, based on the show Total Wipeout, will be produced. The series will be hosted by Richard Hammond and will include two celebrity specials and a Winter Wipeout final. Winter Wipeout features a snow-covered course with winter-themed obstacles.

Total Wipeout, based on Endemol’s global format Wipeout, launched on BBC One in January 2009. The format has been sold to 29 countries and ABC in the U.S. recently picked up a fifth season from Endemol USA, as well as the new Winter Wipeout.

Andy Rowe, the executive producer for Initial, said: “This is going to be a blast. It’s like Total Wipeout with icicles and snowmen and more fiendishly challenging obstacles than ever before. There will be slips and spills, bounces and bruises and lots and lots of icy action. Oh and laughing. There will be ridiculous amounts of laughing.”

Mirella Breda, the executive editor at BBC Entertainment, added: “We’re delighted to have commissioned Winter Wipeout for BBC One this winter. Snowmen, snowballs and Richard Hammond in a bobble hat. It doesn’t get better than that.”