Channel 4 Director of Programs Ian Katz has revealed a slate of new programming for 2019 that features “entertaining, mischievous and innovative shows” to help the broadcaster stand out from the streaming platforms.<\/p>\n
Katz said: \u201cOver the last year I\u2019ve argued that Dialing up the Difference is the only rational response to a world in which the viewer is drowning in choice. In a world of unlimited flavors, Channel 4 must surely be a stronger one. That doesn\u2019t mean niche. But it does mean asking ourselves constantly whether we are offering the viewer something different. The question I often ask my commissioners is: what would the hole in Britain look like if Channel 4 was not there?<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we answer that question best when we make entertaining, mischievous and innovative shows about the big issues and arguments in Britain today.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt a time when the room for civilized public debate, for asking the most difficult questions, often seems to be contracting, I hope we are making space for the arguments and issues that others won\u2019t. Certainly, many of the shows I have talked about tonight are not ones that the global digital giants, even as they plow billions into new content, would be remotely interested in making.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among the new commissions are Ghost<\/em> (working title), which will enable a group of terminally ill people to record messages for their loved ones using holographic technology, and Lodgers For Old Codgers<\/em>, which pairs lonely pensioners with hard-up millennials. The Cure<\/em> (working title) features the story of Julie Bailey, an ordinary woman who single-handedly took on the establishment to expose the worst scandal in the history of the NHS. There will be a second season of Paddy Wivell’s factual series Prison<\/em>. 60 Days on the Streets<\/em> is a three-parter that follows ex-soldier and adventurer Ed Stafford as he spends 60 days and nights on the streets of London. The Surjury<\/em> puts cosmetic surgery under the spotlight. Secret Teacher<\/em> (working title) will see successful business owners who struggled at school join staff at secondary state schools to share their skills and experience without revealing who they really are.<\/p>\n Regarding comedy, Harry Hill returns to Channel 4 with a group of up-and-coming comedians selected by him in a new 11 p.m. show. Nick Mohammed brings his comedy alter-ego Mr. Swallow to Channel 4 in a new pilot and fresh comic talent Tez Ilyas makes his network debut with an 11 p.m. satire project. In drama, Sarah Lancashire will reunite with writer Jack Thorne in The Light<\/em> (working title), the final installment of his acclaimed trilogy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Channel 4 Director of Programs Ian Katz has revealed a slate of new programming for 2019 that features “entertaining, mischievous and innovative shows” to help the broadcaster stand out from the streaming platforms.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":350,"featured_media":9044,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[117,1415],"class_list":["post-9043","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-top-stories","tag-channel-4","tag-ian-katz"],"yoast_head":"\n