James R | On 11, Apr 2017

Netflix has ordered a new documentary series about babies from UK producer Nutopia.

The show, which spans 12 episodes, will explore the science and experience of newborn humans in their first year of life. The big-budget series will film in both the UK and US, reports Broadcast, and has been in the pipeline at Nutopia for several years.

Founded by the former Controller of BBC 2, Jane Root, the company has experience of baby-themed programming; the indie producer was also behind Sky Living’s She’s Having a Baby, which followed expectant mums as they prepared to give birth.

The commission marks Netflix’s increasing push to work with British talent, with Nutopia joining a string of UK producers to receive a commission from the streaming service. That push began The Crown, Netflix’s lavish royal drama, which was produced by Left Bank Pictures, with Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror (from Endemol-backed House of Tomorrow) also making the leap from Channel 4 to the site. Silverback Films is also producing an epic new wildlife docu series, Our Planet. British broadcasters, such as Channel 4 and ITV, meanwhile, are increasingly co-producing series with Netflix, including Paranoid and Crazy Face.

It also continues the growing trend of UK producers moving into US waters, particularly for high-end documentary programming. Indeed, Nutopia was recently commission to make a two-part documentary, America: Journey Of The Brave, the USA’s History.

“American broadcasters are really focusing on British companies in the premium world,@ Root said of the commission. “There’s an incredible depth of premium programme-makers from the UK, which is really to do with the BBC and Channel 4 having consistently invested in training and commissioning.”

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