The Dementia Choir Getting German Treatment for ZDF

Germany has become the first country to acquire Curve Media’s format The Dementia Choir, which originally aired on BBC One earlier this year.

BBC Studios and All3Media’s joint venture, Tower Productions, will produce the two-parter, which will air on ZDF in 2020. The Dementia Choir reveals how music can change the lives of dementia patients and those who care for them. With experts from the fields of medicine, music therapy and performance on hand to nurture and rehearse the choir, the show divulges stories where personal achievements meet breaking science.

BBC Studios is presenting the format at MIPCOM.

Dietlinde Stroh, managing director of Tower Productions, said: “I am delighted that we will be producing this amazing series for ZDF. The show not only raises awareness of this condition that affects so many but it is also uplifting as you witness how music is able to enrich the lives of people living with dementia.”

Thorsten Haas, head of development for ZDF, added: “Dementia and how we deal with it is an increasingly important topic in today’s society. We were very impressed by the emotional stories of the patients and their families in the BBC One show. Using the power of music to improve the quality of life of people who suffer from dementia and their families—the scientifically sound and positive approach of the experiment is what convinced us.”