MIPCOM Spotlight: BBC Worldwide

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CANNES: The first episode of Planet Earth II, which comes ten years after the original blue-chip series, will make its world premiere at MIPCOM as part of a special screening.

“The team from the BBC’s Natural History Unit returns with new technology that allows them to get even closer to nature’s greatest wonders and reveal the planet from a completely new perspective,” says Paul Dempsey, the president of global markets at BBC Worldwide. “Add to that Sir David Attenborough’s worldwide popularity and we have a must-see factual series.”

BBC Worldwide is also showcasing SS-GB, a thriller based on Len Deighton’s best-selling novel. “SS-GB is utterly original and boasts an A-list cast,” Dempsey says.

Class, meanwhile, is set in the Doctor Who universe. The series come from writer Patrick Ness and is executive produced by Steven Moffat and Brian Minchin.

From Mighty Productions, set up by the co-creators of The Weakest Link and Tipping Point, comes the brand-new BBC One quiz show !mpossible. “With exciting gameplay, a truly original concept and a big cash prize, it has the potential to be a schedule highlight for any broadcaster,” says Suzanne Kendrick, the head of global format sales at BBC Worldwide.

Kendrick says she’s looking forward to having initial conversations with broadcasters about the new BBC entertainment show Let It Shine, launching next year. “It’s a fantastic new take on the talent-search genre with bags of prime-time appeal.”

Among the slate of scripted formats from BBC Worldwide is Thirteen, a drama about a young girl adjusting to life after being kidnapped and held captive for 13 years. The series debuted on the revamped online-only BBC Three service.

“We’re excited to be coming to the market with a diverse raft of high-quality, award-winning and trailblazing new formats,” Kendrick says.