EXCLUSIVE: Harry King TV is headed to MIP London with an antiques and collectibles-themed format after launching an unscripted division.
Harry King Unscripted would be the new wing of veteran scripted producer Nicholas Sercombe’s UK and U.S. manufacturing operation. It should concentrate on codecs designed for digital and linear TV, utilizing a “new talent- and format-first mannequin” that seeks to fight the standard commissioning slowdown.
Debuting by way of the unit later this month can be Curiosity, fronted by Antiques Roadshow skilled Raj Bisram and comic Henning Wehn. Set in an emporium that buys and sells outlandish collectibles and different gadgets, Curiosity will see celeb visitors visiting to search out trinkets, curios and items from house owners Bisram and Wehn.
BAFTA- and Emmy-nominated David Meadows (The Sweeney, Robin and the Hoods) is connected as DOP, whereas Ian Bailey (Atonement, John Wick 3) is the Manufacturing Designer.
Bisram is finest recognized for TV credit on exhibits such because the BBCs’ Antiques Roadshow and Movie star Antiques Roadshow, Flog It! and Cut price Hunt; and 4 Rooms and Posh Pawn for Channel 4. Wehn payments himself because the “self-appointed German Comedy Ambassador to the UK” and often seems on present akin to Have I Obtained Information For You, Would I Lie To You, QI and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
Harry King TV optioned the rights to Curiosity from Bisram and Mark Turner, a BAFTA-nominated DP, director, producer and editor.
The corporate’s founder, Sercombe, has labored in each the UK and Hollywood. He’s recognized for producing exhibits for British comedy royalty akin to Mel Smith, Bob Monkhouse, Barry Cryer, Brian Conley and Russ Abbot, and created Prime Ideas for comedian duo Reeves and Mortimer (Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer). Within the U.S., he has labored with Bare Gun star Leslie Nielsen amongst others, additionally created BBC youngsters collection Freefonix.
“The unscripted world wants extra outlandish and curious exhibits,” mentioned Sercombe. “Having labored with lots of the funniest and inventive expertise on the market we thought it was the fitting time to carry that perspective from the world of scripted to the land of codecs and docs. All the exhibits we develop have coronary heart, humour, and a little bit of cheekiness to them. In any case, the world wants extra laughter. And this format, together with our new division, exists to subvert the ‘conventional’ mannequin and convey issues to digital, streaming and linear with a raft of fantastic expertise connected proper from the beginning.”
Bisram added: “The TV trade has been shopping for and promoting the identical codecs for years, so we thought it was time to shake issues up. Curiosity is all about discovering hidden gems in surprising locations, and that’s precisely what we’re doing with this present. It’s a contemporary tackle unscripted TV, made for contemporary audiences who love nice tales, actual characters, and a little bit of mischief. I can’t await individuals to step into our world and see what treasures now we have in retailer.”
Harry King Unscripted can be at MIP London, the brand new TV market coming to the UK’s capital this month between 23-27 February on the Savoy Resort and adjoining IET London convention heart. Yesterday, organizer RX France reported registrations for the occasion had hit 2,000 from greater than 75 nations, together with 900 patrons.
Just like the title of Harry King’s debut format, sources round London are stuffed with curiosity over how MIP London will match alongside the London TV Screenings, which have grown organically since its launch in 2021. The Screenings contains showcases from the foremost Britain-based distributors, U.S. studios and different key European and Asian gross sales homes, and sits alongside the BBC Studios Showcase, the occasion that first started bringing worldwide patrons to the UK throughout chilly and frosty Februarys.