Discovery Orders VE Day Doc from Woodcut Media

Discovery has commissioned Woodcut Media to produce the one-hour documentary special Tony Robinson’s VE Day: Minute by Minute.

Presented by actor Sir Tony Robinson and scheduled to air on the anniversary of VE Day, the doc will capture the unique stories and seminal events that took place on May 8, 1945, to mark the formal acceptance of Nazi Germany’s surrender. Viewers will be transported back to the day, hearing tales of revelers in the streets and the King’s celebratory speech in London, seeing soldiers taking their first steps out of POW camps as well as the surrender of Nazi divisions and other stories from around the world.

Tony Robinson’s VE Day: Minute by Minute features eye-witness accounts, expert contributions, audio and visual archive footage (memoirs, personal letters, news reports) and visual effects that place Robinson into actual archive from VE Day.

Woodcut Media has already presold the documentary special to France’s HISTOIRE TV. It is distributed internationally and deficit-financed by TVF International.

Robinson said: “Our documentary celebrates the jubilation felt by millions of people on VE Day, and honors those who lost their lives during WWII. It explores the fascinating accounts of historical figures and ordinary people who experienced that day, and hopefully will give viewers a vivid insight into what the 8th May 1945 would have felt like as events unfolded.”

Victoria Noble, VP of original content for factual at Discovery, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Tony Robinson on this truly immersive commission that aims to give a new and moving perspective, going beyond the traditional portrayal of such a historic and momentous day. Using a carefully curated collection of stories gathered from across the globe, the special will give viewers the opportunity to understand the lived, sensory experiences of the day and really appreciate the intensity of emotions felt by people in the U.K. and beyond.”

Kate Beal, CEO of Woodcut Media, said: “We can only begin to imagine what it felt like to hear the news that the war was over, but the ‘minute by minute’ format of this documentary aims to enable viewers to connect with the momentous events and emotions of this historic day in a fresh way. We’re delighted to be working with Discovery again and are thrilled that Tony Robinson, whose passion for history and incredible human stories, is providing his own inimitable take on this extraordinary moment in time.”

Will Stapley, head of acquisitions at TVF International, added: “We are delighted to be partnering with fellow indie Woodcut and Discovery on this definitive documentary on one of the most iconic days in modern history. We are constantly being asked for WWII anniversary programming with a unique angle so we can’t wait to get this out to market.”