Talent Television

London, 22 August, 2003 - Indie entertainment producer Talent Television has picked up two commissions from the BBC to extend its popular Test the Nation live series for the channel, it was announced today by John Kaye Cooper, Talent TV's Creative Director. The BBC has commissioned Test the Nation - the National Quiz to air in September. An end of year review, Test the Nation - National Test 2003, will air in December.

Currently in production, Test the Nation - the National Quiz, is the first general knowledge instalment of the live and interactive family quiz show. The National Quiz will air on BBC One this September, with an eclectic assortment of celebrities and professionals in the studio audience joining presenters Anne Robinson and Phillip Schofield. Confirmed celebrities include soap stars Leslie Grantham (EastEnders) and Sally Lindsay (Coronation Street), designer Lawrence Llewellyn Bowen (Changing Rooms), Clarissa Dixon-Wright (Clarissa and The Countryman), Josie d'Arby (Merseybeat), sprinter Darren Campbell, and Irish comedian Ed Byrne.

End of the year review quiz Test the Nation - National Test 2003 is set for BBC One's Christmas schedule this December.

Talent Television have secured the services, on loan, of BBC Political Unit Editor Alexandra Henderson, editor of the Great Britons series and producer of the BBC's live General Election specials to act as Series Editor for both Test the Nation programmes. Executive Producer from Talent Television is John Kaye Cooper, with Jean Davison Producing and Simon Staffurth Directing. The programmes were commissioned by BBC One Controller Lorraine Heggessey and Head of Entertainment Commissioning Jane Lush.

For further information:
Kate Hobbs / Debbie Lawrence
The Lippin Company
Tel: +44 (0)20 7745 7189
e-mail: khobbs@lippingroup.com, dlawrence@lippingroup.com

Notes to editors:
Talent Television is a leading independent UK format creator and producer of innovative television, video and interactive programming. Talent Television is a pioneer in reality entertainment with The Villa (first produced for Sky One in 1999), as well as counting the Test the Nation series for BBC1 and TV Scrabble series for Challenge TV among its highly successful, prime-time interactive entertainment catalogue. Talent Kids, the company's children's division, recently announced its first commission, to develop a new family game series for Disney Channel UK.
Talent Television also has strong ties with international broadcasters, especially in Japan, with recent HDTV documentary Turner's Return for NHK, and a string of programmes for TV Asahi including the Spaceship Earth series.
Talent Television is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Talent Group plc.