First Dates relocates to Manchester
C4’s reality series First Dates will relocate to Manchester to film a new run of 30 episodes – the sixteenth series – later this year.
The BAFTA-winning show is from Twenty Twenty Television and has been running for seven years, spawning a spin-off, First Dates Hotel, along the way. More than 20 territories worldwide have launched local versions of the series.
The move reflects the current drive for production to be focused on the regions and nations; the First Dates casting team, story editing team and some of the post-production team will be based in Bristol, where Channel 4 recently opened its new hub.
Channel 4 and Twenty Twenty are also funding a scheme in which 24 Bristol-based production staff will be trained to work on the show in deparments including casting, researching, editing and directing.
Danny Horan, head of factual, Channel 4, said: “This move is so great for Channel 4 Bristol and Manchester. We are thrilled to be investing in new diverse talent with Twenty Twenty. This is just one part of factual’s commitment to expand out of London at scale.”
Jon Crisp executive produces for Twenty Twenty; the exact Manchester restaurant venue will be revealed at a later date.
Also on The Knowledge
Shetland wins double recommission
The BBC has ordered two more series of detective drama Shetland with the first (Series 9) filming this month.
Bank of Dave the Sequel begins northern shoot
Filming gets underway today (26 February) on the Netflix sequel to 2023 feature Bank of Dave with shooting taking place largely in Burnley and Leeds.
Filming underway on new series of Strike
Strike, The Ink Black Heart – the sixth instalment of the detective drama - has begun filming.
Feature film Lola and Freddie to shoot in London this summer
A new feature film, Lola and Freddie, will shoot in London locations this summer with Naomie Harris, Joel Fry, Jameela Jamil and Olivia Lee leading the cast.
Construction commences on BBC's West Midlands production hub as new series is greenlit
Ground has been broken on The Tea Factory, a new BBC production hub in the West Midlands that promises to be the BBC’s greenest building, with a new series featuring Billy Billingham to be produced in the region.
Ralph Fiennes to direct and star in The Beacon
Ralph Fiennes is set to make his screenwriting feature debut with The Beacon; he will also direct.