Zig Zag, CJ ENM, IMTV & BBC Studios Align for Dating Detectives

Zig Zag Productions, CJ ENM, IMTV and BBC Studios have entered into a co-production and distribution deal for Dating Detectives, a new format that is part dating show and part crime procedural.

Dating Detectives sees real-life detectives help single contestants looking for love uncover their ideal partner using real-life investigation techniques. The detectives will use forensics, interrogation and psychological profiling methods to test daters’ inherent goodness, ethics, kindness and generosity—all shown through hidden-camera filming.

Zig Zag originated the format and has co-developed the project with IMTV, with both a Korean and English-language broadcast pilot produced. IMTV produced the South Korean version for broadcast on CJ ENM’s general entertainment channel tvN and received pilot production funding from the government-backed Korean cultural agency KOCCA. BBC Studios co-funded development and holds worldwide distribution rights to the format in all territories outside the U.K. and South Korea.

Danny Fenton, CEO of Zig Zag Productions, said: “We are delighted to be continuing our relationship with leading players in the South Korean broadcast industry. This is a unique format that we are confident will do well both in South Korea and the rest of the world.”

Jaehyuk Lee, head of CJ ENM Factual Studios, said: “Dating Detectives is the culmination of a truly international collaboration and emblematic of CJ ENM’s initiative to advance the global format industry.”