UKTV’s Dave has commissioned a brand new 10x60’ documentary series titled Bush Pilots which follows young pilots from around the world working in Botswana in Africa, contending with tiny planes, violent storms, mud-strip runways, dangerous animals and flying tourists, medicine and food over dramatic and dangerous landscapes. The Commissioning Executives for Dave are Richard Watsham and Hilary Rosen, the Series Producer is Nick Head and the Executive Producers are Jane Lomas and Dan Barraclough.
Emergency Bikers is returning for a fourth 12x60 series with Channel 5 and Watch and a 4x60 run of Ultimate Emergency Bikers for Channel 5. John Hay at Channel 5 says: “Emergency Bikers consistently delivers a magic formula: all the action and adrenaline of any blue-flashing light show, but with stronger characters, more wit and a warmer heart than its competitors. This series they are managing to spread their wings while keeping that tone and I’m delighted with what they’re giving us.” The Series Producer is Ceri Rowlands, the Executive Producer is Jane Lomas and the series is due to TX on Channel 5 later this spring.
After a successful first series, HISTORY has ordered a second 12x60 run of salvage dealer documentary series Seeking Salvage. The Series Producer is Barry Hecker, the Executive Producer is Mark Hill and the series will TX in the Autumn. Rachel Job, Head of Acquisitions & Commissioning, HISTORY and MILITARY HISTORY® at A+E Networks UK, said: “RDF TV West did a fantastic job on the first series and, as a consistent performer in the schedule, we’re thrilled to be able to bring it back and increase the order by 50%. I’m really looking forward to seeing more deal making, restoring and preservation of history.’’
BBC4 has commissioned 1x90 documentary, The World’s Richest Songs, presented by Mark Radcliffe, which for the first time will list the songs which have earned the most amount of money for their composers and tell the stories behind these songs. Nick Shearman is the Commissioning Executive for the BBC. Sherman says: “This is an exciting, clever, entertaining and informative way of dealing with the changing face of music copyright in recent years, and Mark Radcliffe is the perfect person to present and analyse the statistics available to us.” The Producer/Director is Linda Brusasco and the Executive Producer is Richard Bowron.
Secret Dealers has been commissioned for a third 30x60 series for ITV1 with a big format update in which the dealers very much become the stars of the show, placing their secret bids against each other and competing in bidding wars against each other for homeowners’ prized possessions with thousands of pounds of their own money on offer in every show. Katy Thorogood is the Commissioner for ITV, the Series Producer is Barry Hecker and the Executive Producer is Mark Hill.
Dickinson’s Real Deal has been commissioned for a 9th series of 90x60 episodes for ITV1, during which the show will mark its 600th episode. The ITV commissioner is Katy Thorogood, the Series Producer is Paul Tasker and the Executive Producer is Mark Hill.
Mark Hill, Head of Programmes for Zodiak owned RDF Television West says: “It’s obviously very good news to have so much in production and to be working with so many existing and new clients and we hope to keep expanding the business this year.”