Workerbee Preps The Bridge

The Bridge, a new reality-competition show narrated by BAFTA-winning and Golden Globe-nominated actor James McAvoy, is set to launch on Channel 4.

In The Bridge, 12 strangers come together on the banks of a picturesque lake in the British countryside unaware of the challenge that awaits them: to achieve the goal of winning a cash prize, they’ll have to use teamwork and trust to build a bridge to reach it. The five-part series, based on a format from the Banijay Iberia company Zeppelin, is being made by Manchester-based Workerbee. Commissioned by Channel 4 Entertainment, it will air later this year.

The prize pot lies out of reach on an island 250 meters away from where the contestants are based. To reach it, they must work together to build a bridge in 20 days. If the group successfully works as a team and reaches the cash before the deadline, they vote for who they think is the most deserving of the prize. The winner is then left to decide if they will keep all the money or share it.

Phil Harris, head of entertainment at Channel 4, said: “This is such an exciting first reality commission for me and the Channel 4 entertainment department. The brilliant Workerbee has conjured up the entertaining twists, comedy and drama viewers associate with classic Channel 4 reality, against what might be considered a traditionally more factual backdrop.”

Steve Handley, commissioning editor at Channel 4, said: “Filmed in the backdrop of the wide-open spaces of the glorious U.K. countryside that many of us have been dreaming of in recent months, this entertaining and utterly engaging new reality series is bound to start many conversations about just how far we would each go to secure £100k.”

Rick Murray, managing director for Workerbee, said: “The Bridge is an innovative and ground-breaking factual-entertainment format and we’re thrilled to be making it for Channel 4 from our HQ in Manchester. Pulling together a show of this nature and scale in the current environment has been no mean feat but we’re raring to go and it is going to be fascinating to see if this cross-section of people can work as a team even after months of lockdown.”

Michelle Chappell, creative director for Workerbee, added: “Making The Bridge during a global pandemic has been an incredible achievement, but nowhere near as mind-boggling as building a bridge to win £100k! We’re looking forward to bringing Channel 4 viewers a treat for the senses in this distinctive new series.”

Warren Smith, executive producer for Workerbee, commented: “After months of lockdown, a group of strangers will come together to tackle an intense challenge. We aim to find out whether they will work in harmony or will ruthless behavior play a part in securing the £100,000 winnings? Filmed in the British countryside, we will demonstrate that you do not have to travel abroad to find beautiful locations, they exist on our doorstep.”