Dave

UKTV announces diverse anthology series and new writers’ initiative for underrepresented talent

Anthology series 

The four-part anthology series will see UKTV team up with TriForce Creative Network, an organisation that works to remove obstacles stopping diverse and emerging talent from progressing in the industry. 

The multi-step process will use TriForce’s WriterSlam platform, which is known for discovering writers from all backgrounds, and ask for writing scripts across a range of topics and genres. 

Lockdown boosts viewership for UKTV

In 2020, UKTV’s network share grew by 3.2% to achieve 4.63%, reaching over 18 million viewers a week, and grew its SOCI by 4%.

UKTV Play increased direct-to-consumer views by 42%, with shows such as Red Dwarf: The Promised Land, The Bill: The Early Years, Meet The Richardsons, EastEnders and Hypothetical topping the VOD service.

Strongman Eddie Hall to undertake Christmas dinner eating challenge on Dave

(credit: UKTV)

The four-part festive special will see the 6ft 3in, 26st man-mountain Eddie take on a variety of eating challenges involving traditional Christmas foods from international communities across the UK.

These will include the polish ’12 Dishes of Christmas’, a huge South American barbecue meat-feast and a Bradford curry house’s infamous three-kilo naan bread.

Alongside the colossal calorie consumption, Eddie will also be undertaking festive-themed gruelling physical challenges, involving yule-logs, Christmas trees and Santa-van pushes.

Dave and CALM partner with Murdock London Barbers for World Mental Health Day

Since launching in 2018, Conversations Against Living Miserably has paired interesting and relatable stories with comedy, giving listeners new resources to get them through.

Hosted by Aaron Giles and Lauren Pattinson, the five new episodes will include conversations with Kiri Pritchard Mclean, Riyadh Khalaf, Jessica Fostekew, Jen Brister and Brett Goldstein.

Date set for the return of Taskmaster

The tenth series will air on 15 October on Channel 4, its new home having been acquired from Dave.

The line-up of comedian contestants was announced earlier this year, including Daisy May Cooper (This Country), Johnny Vegas (Benidorm), Katherine Parkinson (The IT Crowd), Mawaan Rizwan and Richard Herring (RHLSTP with Richard Herring).

Alex Horne created Taskmaster for a live show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2012, before it was picked up by Dave who ran it for nine series. It has since been exported to seven countries.

10 things you might not know about Taskmaster

Each series sees host Greg Davies and sidekick Alex Horne stump five comedian contestants with their tasks.

Ahead of the show’s October 2020 return on Channel 4, we take a look at who and what makes Taskmaster tick.

Here are 10 things you probably didn’t know about Taskmaster.

Dave announces documentary series Cops on The Rock

Cops on The Rock takes an in-depth look at the work of the Royal Gibraltar Police, who tackle everything from the growing threat of terrorism, to investigating murders, burglaries and fraud. 

The series will also look at how the police patrol and protect Gibraltar’s international waters, airport, port and land border with Spain.

Produced by Rare TV, the series will go behind the scenes of a unique part of British policing and will allow viewers to join the Marine Unit safeguarding the coastline, the Border Force and police officers on the streets.

Sir David Attenborough, Hans Zimmer and Dave join forces for Planet Earth: A Celebration

Credit: BBC

Planet Earth: A Celebration takes eight of the most jaw-dropping moments from Planet Earth II and Blue Planet II, combining Attenborough’s melodic narration, with music from world-famous composer Hans Zimmer and rapper Dave.

The documentary takes viewers around the world, from the North of Norway, to the East Cape of South Africa, to the Indian Ocean, revealing how animals are adapting to their changing environments.

Dave commissions new food and travel series Adam Richman: Supperman

Credit: UKTV

The 12-part series, produced by Whizz Kid Entertainment, features one famous face per episode in which they bring their favourite starter, main and dessert, plus the menu they would want for their last meal on earth.

Once Richman has tucked into their choices, he finds out why the dishes are so important to his guest, before going to find the best ingredients to transform their favourite dish into their ultimate last supper.