Virgin1 Unveils Fall/Winter Lineup

LONDON, October 8:
Virgin1’s schedule for the fall includes five new U.K. commissions, which join
returning imports like Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Chuck.

Leading the new
commissions is The Bransons: Come Hell or High Water, a one-off documentary that follows Richard
Branson and his family as they attempt to cross the Atlantic in the fastest
time ever in a mono-hull sailing boat. Britain’s Worst Learners features pairs—father/daughter, husband/wife,
uncle/nephew—who must turn their partner from pedestrian to driver. The
North Sea follows real heroes who
live and work in the harsh area that divides Britain from the rest of Northern
Europe. My Holiday Hostage
Hell documents the stories of
ordinary British people who were taken hostage while traveling abroad, while
Sun, Sea and A&E follows another unfortunate side to the British
holiday experience.

The new lineup also
includes The Life and Times of Tim,
which recently debuted in the U.S. on HBO. Also on Virgin1’s schedule is Gethin
Jones’ Danger Hunters, a
factual-entertainment series that looks at people who risk life and limb
chasing natural weather phenomena. Meanwhile, The Prisoner: X features celebrities such as Jack Osbourne, Toby
Young and Marc Bannerman experiencing what it’s like behind bars in the world’s
most notorious prison surroundings.

Daniela Neumann, Virgin1’s
director of programming, said, “Just
over a year old and Virgin1 has really come of age. We are establishing
ourselves as a major player in a sea of channels through powerful acquisitions
and commissions that prove we have really found our voice. This new schedule
builds on the success of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Chuck to help achieve our ambition to become the most exciting, dynamic and
populist entertainment destination on television. We have a fantastic mix of
intelligent tabloid programming.”

Neumann continued:
“There's real adventure and jeopardy with The Bransons: Come Hell or High
Water—it’s the first time
we've seen Sir Richard with his family together; Britain’s Worst Learners taps into what we all know to be true—never
let anyone you are close to teach you to drive; and The Prisoner: X is a personal, intimate emotional journey of
celebrities experiencing real prison life. I’m also thrilled we’ve acquired The
Life and Times of Tim, it’s a
hilarious and very un-PC animated series that will make you laugh when you know
you shouldn’t.”

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski