The broadcaster has confirmed forthcoming content at the very first Extravagander…
Channel 4 has unveiled a raft of shows across drama, reality-entertainment and comedy in a raft of commissions designed to transform the channel into a true streaming service.
Ian Katz, Channel 4’s Chief Content Officer:
“From a major new drama by It’s a Sin creator Russell T Davies, to two fiendish new reality shows, this slate underlines Channel 4’s commitment to telling original British stories and backing bold new British ideas. Building on Channel 4’s reputation as the home of the most mischievous, innovative and outright obsessional reality TV around – and at a time when TV schedules can seem packed with reboots and remakes of foreign formats – we’re backing three new British grown formats of scale, alongside the launch of Honesty Box and the return of Tempting Fortune next month.”
At its inaugural Extravagander event, the public service organisation, revealed an eclectic and diverse range of new shows, promising original storytelling, a refreshing mix of fresh and familiar faces alongside high stakes innovative reality formats. With a commitment to creative risk taking, Channel 4’s new content line up reaffirms its role as a champion of brilliant British ideas that entertain with purpose.
Following the critically acclaimed success of landmark shows Queer as Folk and It’s a Sin, Russell T Davies will return to Channel 4 with drama, Tip Toe. The five-part series will explore the most corrosive forces facing the LGBTQ+ community today, examining the danger as prejudice creeps back into our lives. Problems we thought were long-gone are returning, toughened and weaponised, until no one knows truth from lies any more.
In comedy David Mitchell and Robert Webb are returning to the broadcaster with a brand-new sketch show, which sees them combine forces with a host of innovative future stars. In this six-part series Mitchell & Webb will be supported by an ensemble cast of next generation writer/performers: Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Lara Ricote, Stevie Martin, and Krystal Evans, plus a dynamic team of established and upcoming comic writers.
Reality and entertainment sees twelve strangers arrive at a grand English country estate, lured by one irresistible opportunity: to inherit a chunk of a vast fortune which belonged to a glamorous benefactor known only as The Deceased. But The Deceased had a wicked sense of humour and one ruthless condition: to win money from The Inheritance they must persuade all others that only they should be entrusted with the money. It’s a game of wit, willpower, persuasion, and betrayal, where it’s not about who deserves the money, but who’s willing to outplay, out-charm, and out-scheme the competition to claim it.
Brand new adventure reality show, The Hunt, follows ten contestants in an epic game of prey vs predator, with a prize of up to £100,000. In vast woodland, competitors play as either Predator or Prey. The Prey must hunt for cash, finding and completing challenges throughout the forest, whilst the Predators must hunt the prey. If the Predators succeed, they not only steal their target’s winnings, but their roles are reversed. The captured prey becomes a penniless predator and must now hunt other players to survive. In this high-stakes contest of ever-changing fortunes, clever strategy and smart alliances are key to staying in the game.
Britain’s Secret Genius will see Alan Carr and Susie Dent test Britain’s brainpower like never before as they seek to uncover the country’s most gifted and unsung minds. Channel 4 is teaming up with Mensa to find the UK’s secret geniuses – in hairdressers, factories and supermarkets – who are smarter than the nation’s top boffins but never knew it. This six-part series will see people from across the UK take part in immersive and ambitious challenges that will test all aspects of their brain power – encouraging viewers to play along and find out if they too have what it takes to be a genius.
Ian Katz, Channel 4’s Chief Content Officer:
“Our substantial investment in scripted programming will deliver double the number of drama hours on the channel and bold new comedy plays like David Mitchell and Robert Webb’s return to sketch. This is a slate designed to transform Channel 4 from a channel with a streaming app to a genuine public service streamer – delivering distinctive stories, the very best established and emerging talent, and, most importantly, oodles of unadulterated fun.”
