Fremantle Picks Up Love Productions’ The Piano

Fremantle has acquired the global rights to The Piano, a new talent format from the makers of The Great British Bake Off, Love Productions.

Currently, the format is airing on Channel 4 in the U.K. Amateur pianists are invited to play on public pianos in train stations and, unbeknownst to them, are secretly watched by classical pianist Lang Lang and popstar Mika, who will choose one performer from each station to play at The Royal Festival Hall.

The Piano is created by Richard McKerrow. Fremantle now represents the format outside of North America.

Vasha Wallace, executive VP of global Acquisitions and development at Fremantle ,said: “To say we’re thrilled to have the rights to this format is an understatement. The Piano is emotional, authentic and one of the most compelling shows I have ever watched. The great thing about this format is that we see contestants from all walks of life who don’t even know they’re in a competition. We’ve seen such diversity and strong stories since The Piano premiered on Channel 4, and we look forward to seeing new versions of this wonderful series everywhere. Love Productions have an amazing track record with the likes of The Great British Bake Off and given our track record with music talent shows, this is a dream partnership for us.”

McKerrow, CEO and executive producer at Love Productions, added: “The making of this brand new format, The Piano, has been a creatively exhilarating and uplifting experience. We’ve been able to work with such a broad and diverse range of pianists bravely expressing themselves in such a passionate heartfelt way on public pianos in railway stations across the country. Looked after so generously by Claudia Winkleman and observed by the extraordinary Mika and Lang Lang, this remarkable trio bring a magical, soulful quality to this television series, which we hope feels rare and unusual. And we are excited to be expanding an original and special idea like this internationally with Fremantle.”