BBC Three announces new Factual Entertainment commissions
David Farnor | On 06, Jul 2018
BBC Three is expanding its factual entertainment with a pair of new commissions.
Earlier this year, the online channel received additional investment to widen its commissioning remit and announced that it was on the lookout for new contemporary takes on factual formats.
Damian Kavanagh, Controller BBC Three, says: “When we announced that we were extending the focus of our commissioning on BBC Three, we wanted ideas that could bring a new dimension to the channel. We can’t wait to show them.”
Glow Up (w/t) is an eight-part competition to look for the next big make-up star of tomorrow. Tapping into the huge online passion for extreme make-up transformations, the series will see a talented cast of hopefuls live and work together as they attempt to prove their potential to industry professionals from a multitude of worlds from fashion to film. With regular eliminations, the challenges will not only test their skills under pressure but also give them the opportunity to unleash their creative vision with jaw-dropping results.
The series is a Wall to Wall production for BBC Three. The Executive Producer is Melissa Brown. It was commissioned by Damian Kavanagh, Controller BBC Three and Clare Sillery, Head of Commissioning, Documentaries. The Commissioning Editor is Emily Smith.
Couples on the Couch is a six-part series that offers a unique and eye-opening insight into modern relationships and the pressures they face by following real-life couples as they bring their sexual and emotional issues to a specially rigged clinic. With the support of a team of experienced therapists, the couples will get to the heart of what’s troubling them; revealing their most intimate secrets, sharing their fears, facing up to uncomfortable truths or making a vital breakthrough via a series of highly-charged sessions.
Away from the clinic, they’ll be given exercises to try at home as they move towards a crunch point in their relationship. Can it be saved? Or is it time to go their separate ways?
Surprising, shocking and uplifting, this series will be packed with compelling couples whose stories speak the experiences of young people in Britain today. This is a BBC Studios production for BBC Three. The Executive Producers are Caroline Short and Rob Unsworth. It was commissioned by Damian Kavanagh, Controller BBC Three and David Brindley, Head of Commissioning, Factual Entertainment and Popular Factual. The Commissioning Editor is Clare Mottershead.
Alison Kirkham, Controller, Factual Commissioning, adds: “BBC Three’s audience have shown us they have a voracious appetite for our challenging current affairs and documentary content. It is wonderful that we now also have the opportunity to deliver them entertaining factual programming – these two new commissions are the beginning of an exciting time for factual entertainment on BBC Three, and we look forward to developing many more.”