MultiStory Media Establishes Documentary Unit, Secures Commission

MultiStory Media has created a new documentary unit headed by Mike Blair, head of documentaries and current affairs, and secured its first commission for ITVX with Waco: A British Tragedy.

The two-part docuseries, produced by the new unit and executive produced by Blair, explores the untold story of the British contingent of David Koresh’s Branch Davidian cult and their experiences during the 51-day ordeal at Waco and its storming by the FBI in 1993.

Waco: A British Tragedy, commissioned by ITV’s controller of current affairs, Tom Giles, is being directed by Stuart Bernard (The Man Who Bought Cricket, The Mighty Redcar, Our War) and features unseen archive and exclusive interviews.

The new unit at MultiStory Media will focus on creating premium documentary series that tell British and international stories such as this. Aside from Blair, it also includes director Iwan Roberts and producer Claire Savage, both of whose credits include The Real ‘Des’: The Dennis Nilsen Story, The Real Anne: Unfinished Business and Manhunt: The Raoul Moat Story, as well as development executive Jack Browne (Return to Belsen, Waco: A British Tragedy).

Additionally, the new unit will build on the success of The Real… strand, with ITV ordering two drama companion documentaries, The Real Nolly and The Real Stonehouse. The former tells the story of Crossroads star Noelle Gordon and will accompany Russell T Davies’ three-part drama Nolly, while the latter looks back at the life of disgraced Labour MP John Stonehouse and will accompany the three-part drama Stonehouse.

“MultiStory Media’s rich heritage of documentary making, not least with the groundbreaking 7 Up series, provides an incredible foundation for our new unit,” Blair said. “Along with these exciting new commissions, we are also in discussion on four other projects for next year as we look to build on an already healthy slate, from award-winning premium documentaries to fascinating drama companion shows and insightful investigative programs.”

Giles said, “The Waco siege—and the disaster that ended it—remains one of the most extraordinary and shocking tragedies of recent American history. Though many of the dreadful events were captured live on rolling news, there is much we still don’t know about what happened—not least to the many British people who died on that day as well to those few who survived. Through this powerful series, I’m glad that ITVX and MultiStory Media will be able to shed new light on those stories, too many of which have been largely forgotten or ignored, and to give full context to an event that still haunts America.”

Jo Clinton-Davis, ITV controller of factual, added, “Working with MultiStory Media, we have established a valuable thread of companion documentaries to our high-end drama series. MultiStory’s skill in weaving the real-life narrative of individuals and events is the perfect complement to our drama and offers a revealing, enriching and compelling insight for viewers. In The Real Nolly and The Real Stonehouse, we look forward to two new films for ITVX that will continue in this vein.”