| London, 11 May 2006. Leading independent Talent Television has been commissioned by CBBC to produce two sports-themed specials of its hit kids entertainment show “Best of Friends”. Both shows will air as part of a week of special BBC programming in the run up to Sport Relief Saturday, July 15th
The first show will be a brand new episode featuring sport related tasks and treats. The second is a specially edited compilation show highlighting all the fun sports ever featured on “Best of Friends”, including wrestling, kneeboarding, parasailing and shark diving,
“Best of Friends” is proving to be one of CBBC’s most popular programme brands. In addition to the two new specials, a third UK series is currently being filmed on location around the UK. This follows the success of the first two UK series and a special series filmed in South Africa which have all been successful on the CBBC channel, the African special being hugely popular when it aired on BBC ONE last summer as part of the ‘Africa Lives on the BBC’ season.
The third series will again test the friendships of boys and girls from all over the country. CBBC presenters Michael Absalom (Abs) and Rani Khanijau will front the series of 20 x 30-minute episodes, scheduled for transmission this autumn.
The half hour shows will feature more ten year olds, taken to task to prove just how much their mates really mean to them.
As always the main theme of the programme is that “friendship matters”, and of course there are plenty of opportunities for the kids to get their own back on the presenters, when Abs and Rani dare each other to take on tasks.
Annie Miles, Director of Talent Kids says: ““Best of Friends” is an established part of the CBBC schedule and we are delighted to be part of the BBC’s special Sport Relief programming”
“Best of Friends” is commissioned by CBBC Creative Director Anne Gilchrist. Annie Miles is executive producer for Talent Television and John A. Marley is series producer. The show was developed by Jonathan Wolfman from an original idea by Mark Robson.
Press Clippings
For further information please contact:
press@talenttv.com
Notes to editors:
Talent Television (part of Talent Group plc) is a leading independent UK format creator and producer of innovative television, video and interactive programming. The Company's reputation for prime-time entertainment programming is unrivalled. The “Test the Nation” series for BBC1 is now well established as a scheduling event which combines the excitement of live network television with state-of-the-art interactive television and web technology. Subjects covered so far include “The Nation's IQ”, “General Knowledge”, “Popular Music” and “The End of Year Test”. Talent was also a pioneer in reality television with “The Villa”, which was first produced in 1999 for Sky One.
Talent Television has strong ties with major Japanese broadcasters and indie production companies, having produced several HDTV documentaries for both NHK and TV Asahi networks. The “Test the Nation” format has successfully launched on TV Asahi, in association with Japanese indie TV Man Union.
Talent Kids, the children's division, aims to develop high quality, innovative programming for kids. “Inside Clyde” is an original adventure game show for the Disney Channel UK, first screened in 2004. “Best of Friends” is a hit breakthrough reality entertainment format for 6-11 year olds produced for CBBC, now about to enter its fourth series for The CBBC Channel.
Sport Relief is brought to you by Comic Relief, in association with BBC Sport, and brings the worlds of sport and entertainment together to raise much needed cash to help vulnerable people leading tough lives here at home in the UK, and in the poorest countries in the world. At the heart of the campaign is the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile – where thousands of people from all across the UK will take to the streets to go the extra mile and raise money. For more information visit www.sportrelief.com. For more information about Sport Relief please contact Kate Conway on k.Conway@comicrelief.org.uk.
Sport Relief is an initiative of Comic Relief, registered charity 326568, in association with BBC Sport. |
