True North wins bumper order as Help! We Bought A… franchise expands
.jpg)
Channel 4 has ordered a second series of Help! We Bought A Village from True North, as well as two spin-off series based on the same format.
Help! We Bought A Village follows Brits as they quit their jobs, homes and lifestyles to restore villages, hamlets and large settlements. The second series comprises 30 episodes.
The first spin-off show, Help! We Bought a Jungle follows one couple who take on the vast task of transforming a patch of jungle paradise into the ultimate dream home and business.
The patch of land is in the Seychelles, and the series will capture the attempts to turn it into a home for themselves and luxury cottages for guests. The 4-part series will tx next year, with a second series to following 2025.
Help! We Bought a Hotel follows contributors in various stages of development of their hotel businesses across the UK and Europe. The series will see these couples buy, build, restore, and transform properties and attempt to turn them into thriving hotel businesses.
The raft of Help! shows was commissioned for Channel 4 and More 4 by Jayne Stanger, commissioning editor for daytime & features, with head of daytime & features Jo Street. Piero Sfreddo is executive producer for True North, with Julie Beanland, True North’s creative director; Leanne Thompson line produces.
Beanland said, “This is fantastic news for everyone on the True North team who’ve worked so hard to make a success of the Help! programmes so far. It is also a huge vote of confidence from Channel 4 in both the Help! franchise and in regional production as we continue to showcase more fantastic contributors following their dreams.
Stanger added: “We are delighted to have recommissioned True North to make a second series of the brilliant Help! I Bought A Village, and to have further expanded the franchise, capturing more incredible stories of people chasing their property renovation dreams.”
Also on The Knowledge
New £35m creative industries fund launched
Creative UK and Triodos Bank have launched a new £35m Creative Growth Finance II fund, that aims to grow the UK sector by £50bn and create one million extra jobs by 2030.
Writers, AMPTP continue September talks amid strike fatigue
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Hollywood companies have said they will continue contract negotiations on Thursday after resuming talks on Wednesday in efforts to reach a deal on a new three-year agreement.
Coming soon - The Knowledge 2024
The new edition of The Knowledge is due out in early December and we are now nearing the deadline for bookings!
BECTU letter to AMPTP: “We urge you to put in place financial support for UK crew"
Bectu head Philippa Childs has written an open letter to the president of the AMPTP urging financial support for UK crew who have been hit by the dual strikes in the US.
UK-based productions paused due to US strikes
Production has been suspended on several major UK-based inward investment projects due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike in the US.
BBC Studios revisits Assistant Producer Accelerator Programme
Following the inaugural programme in 2021, and another in 2022, BBC Studios Productions has launched its third successive Assistant Producer Accelerator Programme (APAP).
