The BBC and NBCUniversal continue to search for entertainment gold together and today have revealed the winners of “a highly competitive process” for an upcoming unscripted show.
UK companies Expectation and Plegazoid as the successful candidate to develop an unscripted format “with an innovative and compelling twist on a studio-based gameshow.” It’s understood the pair beat off a handful of other British producers to win the tender.
The BBC and NBC previously teamed to co-commission The Traitors and Destination X, as part of a transatlantic pact to search for unscripted hits.
This time round, UK-based independent production companies were invited to pitch original ideas designed for audiences on both sides of the Atlantic, with particular interest in formats and ideas built round a shared location or production hub.
Expectation and Plegazoid will now move toward a non-TX pilot for both the BBC and NBC. Expectation, Plegazoid and Universal Television Alternative Studio, a division of Universal Studio Group, will co-produce the NBC version.
Michael Jochnowitz, BBC’s Interim Editor of Unscripted, said: “This was a very competitive process which led to many brilliant ideas and proved once again the strength of our phenomenal partnership with NBCU. The rallying call for brand new British IP seemed to galvanise the industry and we were thrilled with all the ideas shortlisted which we’ve spent the past few months developing together.
“It was a tough choice, but one idea stood out above the rest and we’re super-excited to see how it develops further. We want to thank all the companies which took part in this opportunity and demonstrated, once more, that British creativity truly is the best in the world.”
Sharon Vuong, EVP of NBC Unscripted, added: “Our partnership with the BBC continues to prove what’s possible when you create space for bold, original ideas with global appeal. The response from the UK’s independent community was exceptional, which made it incredibly difficult to select just one. Expectation and Plegazoid’s concept stood out for its scale, originality and global potential.
“We’re excited to take this next step together and to continue investing in distinctive IP with the potential to travel co-developed through the partnership with NBCU and BBC.”
Expectation, run by former Endemol Shine Group boss Tim Hincks and ex-channel controller Peter FIncham, is known for the likes of Prime Video’s Clarkson’s Farm and Malice and the BBC’s Alma’s Not Normal, while Plegazoid, run by former Endemol Shine UK creative chief David Flynn, launched its first show, Time in Money, on ITV in January.
Ben Wicks, Creative Director, Entertainment, Expectation said: “Opportunities this big come around as often as England winning the World Cup, so when it did, we were fortunate to be pitching to the finest creative minds at two of the world’s leading broadcasters. They, like us, feel our idea – a bold reinvention of the game show – has the potential to be a global hit.”
Flynn added: “This was a unique opportunity to have the combined creative input of two broadcasters who tasked us with creating something bold and original that would work in both the UK and U.S. We’ve developed a gameshow with all the drama and jeopardy of the best reality shows, where ordinary people will risk it all to win big. We’re excited to bring our idea to the next stage.”