Channel 4

Johnny Vegas sets up camp in Channel 4's Llas Vegas

Johnny Vegas on The Great Celebrity Bake Off for SU2C (Credit: Channel/SUTC)

Llas Vegas (w/t) will see the duo source five single-story vintage buses and renovate them for a glamping site in North Wales.

With no previous business experience, Vegas and Dixon will be pushed to their limits to get the glamping site ready for the summer season, especially as neither have conducted renovations of this scale before.

“I bought a bus online. Not because it’s what showbiz folk do, but because my camping van got nicked and it had been my wee bit of creative space heaven,” commented Vegas.

8 Out of 10 Cats returns to E4

8 Out of 10 Cats (Credit: Channel 4)

The panel show will see Rob Beckett resuming his role as team captain, along with rotating guest captains including Aisling Bea, Katherine Ryan, Sara Pascoe and Kerry Godliman.

Panellists will compete against each other in guessing the results of numerous public polls and surveys on popular topics.

“I’m really excited that 8 Out of 10 Cats is returning to E4,” said Jimmy Carr.

“What Britain needs now more than ever, is a panel show about surveys and statistics. Well, that and six months’ supply of food and medicine.”

Students wow industry pros at Channel 4 for the London Student Awards

Julia Hardy, Muki Kulhan and the crew of Chopsticks!! (Credit: Paul Hampartsoumian)

“The standard of entries for 2019 was very high – several jurors said that you could ‘broadcast that tomorrow’ about many of the films we watched,”  said Aradhna Tayal, the Chair of the awards.

“Many seized the opportunity to use their work as a means of challenging and addressing real-life, taboo topics,” she added. “The jurors were in agreement that the entries this year demonstrated the ways in which art can be both important and meaningful.”  

Channel 4 reveals new format for The Island with Bear Grylls

Bear Grylls (Credit: Channel 4)

Treasure Island with Bear Grylls will be a six-part series that will see 12 strangers stranded on a remote island with hidden riches up for grabs.

Under the watchful eye of Bear Grylls, the islanders will battle for survival against mother nature and each other for a treasure of £100,000.

Pushed to their limits, the contestants won’t just need to find the loot but will also need last to the end of the show, or risk leaving empty-handed.

The revamped reality show will allow the islanders to cooperate, but with money involved can anyone be trusted?

Channel 4 promises more distinctive content for 2019

Ed Stafford will explore homelessness for Channel 4 (Credit: C4)

The new shows are part of a deliberate drive by the channel to offer distinctive content, in a bid to beat competition from streaming services and other broadcasters.

At the launch of the new slate, Ian Katz, the channel’s Director of Programming, said he wants to focus on “entertaining, mischievous and innovative shows about the big issues and arguments in Britain today.”

He added: “Many of the shows [launching in 2019] are not ones that the global digital giants, even as they plough billions into new content, would be remotely interested in making.”

Channel 4 commissions Syrian conflict documentary

(Credit: Channel 4)

Filmed from 2011 until 2016, For Sama begins with Al Kateab as a student at the University of Aleppo and follows her journey as she joins the uprising against the regime, falls in love, gets married and eventually gives birth to her daughter, Sama.

In 2016, Waad Al Kateab and her husband Hamza made the difficult decision to remain in Aleppo despite the looming approach of Syrian forces.

Channel 4 launches new ad targeting solution

All4 logo (Credit: Channel 4)

Dynamic TV will allow advertisers to deliver personalised adverts to viewers across a number of devices, including desktop and mobile VoD platforms, smart TVs, gaming consoles and the small screen.

Suzuki and Boots will be the first advertisers to use the solution, allowing the companies to collate first-party data from Channel 4 and personalise advertisements based on demographics, data, time of day, location and weather.