Stanley Tucci to Front New Series for Nat Geo

National Geographic has greenlit Tucci: The Heart of Italy (w.t.), following the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actor Stanley Tucci across the country.

The series is produced by BBC Studios’ Specialist Factual Productions alongside Tucci’s Salt Productions. Production will begin in January 2024.

Across ten episodes, Tucci will travel to ten regions of Italy, including Sicily, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto, Marche and Lazio. As Tucci travels to each corner of the country, he seeks out the essence of each region and its people through the food they eat. In each episode, Tucci ventures off the beaten track to meet fascinating people from all walks of life who will share their stories and the extraordinary dishes that make Italian food the world’s most loved cuisine.

“National Geographic is all about adventure and exploration, and I am honored to take viewers once again to explore Italy through the lens of food,” said Tucci. “In Italy’s many distinct regions, there is always something new to discover, and I’m more than excited to begin the process in partnership with BBC Studios.”

“National Geographic is the perfect home for Stanley to share his knowledge and passion for Italy’s people, food and culture,” said Tom McDonald, executive VP of global factual and unscripted at National Geographic. “Our programming is all about inspiring a deeper connection to the world. With Stanley as their guide, audiences will be transported to places and to flavors they’ve never experienced before.”

Alan Holland, head of BBC Studios Specialist Factual Productions, added, “We are thrilled to be working with Stanley on this major new series and to be strengthening our partnership with National Geographic. Stanley is the perfect guide for this delicious journey, and we couldn’t be prouder to be partnering with him, Salt Productions and National Geographic to bring this to audiences around the world.”