YTV Gears Up to Debut Prank Series Tricked

TORONTO: Corus Entertainment’s YTV is slated to begin airing Tricked, a new original series produced by Force Four Entertainment and hosted by magician and YouTube personality Eric Leclerc.

Tricked will look on as Leclerc baffles unsuspecting people with his magic tricks, sleight-of-hand and pranks, all of which are captured on hidden camera. The 20×30-minute show is due to debut on Monday, September 5, at 7:30 p.m. on YTV, where it will air Monday to Thursday. Additional content, including magic tutorials, will be available on the channel’s website and YTVGo app.

Tricked is based on an ITV Studios show of the same name. The YTV series is the result of an agreement with ITV Studios Global Entertainment, distributor of the format, which is being adapted by Force Four for YTV.

“Magic is universally exciting and I love its ability to connect people through wonder and amazement,” said Leclerc. “We shot nearly 300 tricks for the series and each episode is jam-packed with laughs, shock and awe for the whole family.”

“We’re thrilled to bring Tricked to YTV this fall,” noted John Ritchie, the chief creative officer of Force Four Entertainment. “Viewers of all ages are going to love our incredibly talented host Eric Leclerc, and how he uses his amazing magic tricks to put a whole new spin on the hidden-camera genre.”

In other news, YTV has revealed that production has begun on two new Bruno & Boots TV movies, Bruno & Boots: This Can’t Be Happening at Macdonald Hall and Bruno & Boots: The Wizzle War, which are slated for broadcast next year. The original movies are based on the Macdonald Hall books by Gordon Korman. They are being produced by Aircraft Pictures and filmed in Ontario.

Reprising their roles from Bruno & Boots: Go Jump in the Pool are Jonny Gray (Max & Shred), Callan Potter (The Other Kingdom), Peter Keleghan (18 to Life) and Caroline Rhea (Sabrina, the Teenage Witch). Other returning cast members include Hannah Vandenbygaart (Make It Pop), Kiana Madeira (Really Me), Joshua Kilimnik (Backstage), Drew Haytaoglu (Anne of Green Gables), Isiah Lea (The Stanley Dynamic), Jayne Eastwood (Little Mosque on the Prairie) and Scott Thompson (Kids in the Hall).

Anthony Leo, producer for Aircraft Pictures, commented: “We’re delighted with the response we received for Bruno & Boots: Go Jump in the Pool. I’ve been such a huge fan of Gordon Korman’s book series since I was a kid. It’s a real treat to be teaming up again with this extraordinary cast and crew to bring two more fan favorites to the screen.”

“We’re excited to continue our partnership with Aircraft Pictures and bring more of Gordan Korman’s beloved characters and stories to life on YTV,” stated Deirdre Brennan, the VP of kids’ content at Corus Entertainment. “Corus is committed to producing outstanding children’s programming and the Bruno & Boots franchise is a big home-grown hero in our leading portfolio of original kids’ content.”

“Thanks to YTV and Aircraft Pictures, I’m 12 years old again, cooking up Macdonald Hall for my middle school English assignment,” added Korman. “Jonny Gray and Callan Potter are my grade seven imagination come to life—Bruno and Boots in the flesh, right down to the large-scale rule-shattering, the hilarious stunts and the heartfelt friendship. I’m so psyched for the new movies!”