Channel 5 Orders Shows from Seven BAME-Owned Indies

Channel 5 has commissioned shows from seven BAME-owned and operated production companies as part of its BAME indie initiative that was launched last year.

The initiative teamed nine small and medium-sized production companies with Channel 5 commissioners, with the aim of supporting their delivery of mainstream programs for the channel. Set up in collaboration with the TV Collective, Channel 5 has ordered projects from the following BAME-led indies: Meridian Line Films, Afro-Mic, Chatterbox, Ten66 Television, Doc Hearts, Big Deal Films and King of Sunshine Productions.

Big Deal Films has secured commissions for Greatest Christmas Toys, which offers a nostalgic look at the U.K.’s top Christmas toys, and The Greatest Toys of all Time, exploring the social history of Britain through toys. Afro-Mic will produce the two-part doc Scenic Ireland: Coast to Coast, unveiling the hidden beauty and celebrating the enigmatic allure of Ireland’s coastline. Meridian Line Films has been commissioned to produce a yet-to-be-titled two-parter taking viewers behind the scenes of one of Britain’s most popular national attractions.

Sally Lindsay’s Poshest Homes Sleepover, a three-part doc produced by Chatterbox, will follow Lindsay as she takes viewers inside some of Britain’s multi-million-pound homes. Top 10 Ways to Add 20K To Your Home, produced by Ten66 Television, will include experts such as Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen and Linda Barker and reveal the ten best and most cost-effective ways to improve the value of a house. Living with Chronic Pain, produced by Doc Hearts, will follow the struggles of those who have to endure chronic pain. King of Sunshine Productions will produce Most Expensive Celebrity Break Ups, an hour-long special featuring the stories of some of the biggest celebrities battling through marriage and huge financial splits.

Of the remaining two indies taking part in the initiative, Clockwork Films is in development with Daisybeck Studios on a feature-length documentary and Chapter 1 Films has entered into a funded development partnership with Knickerbocker Glory.

Ben Frow, director of programmes at ViacomCBS Networks UK, said: “It has been a delight to partner with Simone at the TV Collective to help diversify the production companies we work with and bring new perspectives to our program-making. She has been a brilliant advocate of Channel 5’s BAME initiative and I’m thrilled to bits that each of these indies has landed a much-deserved commission. In order for our industry to become more representative both on and off-screen, it is imperative that we all take meaningful steps to embrace the range of talent that is out there.”

Simone Pennant, founder and director of The TV Collective, commented: “This initiative which has resulted in seven BAME producers delivering programming to Channel 5 is an example of what can be achieved when a broadcaster moves beyond platitudes to take positive action. It is significant that Ben Frow and his team committed to this project many months before the killing of George Floyd, and saw it to completion during a global pandemic. This kind of result can only be delivered by broadcasters with Ben’s bravery, willingness to take action and dogged commitment. Given the current political climate, I encourage others to follow Ben Frow’s example and step up their efforts. It is now more urgent than ever.”