Channel 4 Orders Make Me Prime Minister Format

Channel 4 has commissioned the new competition format Make Me Prime Minister (w.t.) from Twofour, AOP and Motion Content Group.

The six-part series will follow 12 Brits—with views from across the political spectrum—in a contest to see what it takes to operate in the world of politics. As the candidates hit the campaign trail, Make Me Prime Minister will see them face off in a series of prime ministerial-style tasks that are designed to test their leadership skills, resilience and integrity.

The weekly group challenges in Make Me Prime Minister will be set and adjudicated by political heavyweights Alastair Campbell and Baroness Sayeeda Warsi. In order to keep their campaign hopes alive and make it through the weekly vote, each candidate will need to convince former politicians, journalists and the public that they have what it takes to lead. Across the series, the candidates will be whittled down until the remaining one is crowned Channel 4’s Alternative Prime Minister.

Make Me Prime Minister is funded by Channel 4’s Contestable Pot, a ring-fenced fund for new and innovative formats, financed by Motion Content Group.

Warsi said: “Serving as Chairman of the Conservative Party and a Cabinet minister in a coalition government, I was convinced values and ethics matter as much as political ideology. So Alastair Campbell and I are putting aside our political differences to focus on what it takes to lead. I hope we can inspire a new generation of passionate voters and politicians.”

Campbell added: “Done properly, being Prime Minister is about as tough a job as anyone can do. It is great that so many people think they can do it, and I am looking forward to working with Sayeeda Warsi to guide and challenge them to see if they really have what it takes. Fair to say politics is in a bit of a mess right now, and I hope not only that some genuine political talent emerges through the series but also that it might inspire the watching public to get more engaged in politics and get properly involved.”

Phil Harris, head of entertainment and events at Channel 4, said: “We usually tackle politics through our studio-based satire. Now we are injecting some of that attitude to an innovative new competition series that has purpose, scale and humor. Make Me Prime Minister will give real people the chance to prove their leadership credentials. We’re excited to be jumping on the political bandwagon with Twofour, Motion Content Group and AOP.”

Dan Adamson, managing director at Twofour, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering on this ambitious, audacious and mischievous series—everyone’s got a view on what they’d do if they were in charge, but our candidates are about to find out just how hard is it to run the country…”

Matt Edmondson, creative director of AOP, said: “I love it when a big, bold idea we’ve dreamt up comes to life, and I’m thrilled Channel 4 has shared in our huge ambition for this show. I’m sure we’ve all imagined what it might be like to be in the Prime Minister’s shoes at Number 10, and I can’t wait to discover what big ideas for Britain our alternative PMs bring to the table.”

Martin Oxley, head of formats at Motion, said: “Recent events have given us all an even greater view of the machinations of British politics. We are thrilled to be partnering with Channel 4, Twofour and AOP to see if the nation’s political wannabes have been paying attention to the all-important dos and don’ts of leading the country.”