documentary

Channel 4 commissions new Spice Girls documentary

(credit: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

With hundreds of hours of archive footage and some revealing interviews, the series will tell the complete story of the best-selling girl band of all time.

From the RTS-Award winning team behind the documentary Jade: The Reality Star Who Changed Britain, the series will look at the group’s transformation from first forming during the ‘ladette’ backdrop of the mid 90s through to their most recent world tour during the #MeToo movement.  

Channel 4 commissions 100 Ways to Make a Baby (w/t)

Jake and Hannah Graf (credit: Channel 4)

100 Ways to Make a Baby (w/t) follows Jake and Hannah’s path to parenthood in the year leading up to the birth of their daughter Millie on April 14th 2020.

Hannah was one of the highest-ranking transgender officers in the British Army, earning an MBE for work with LGBT army personnel. Jake is a writer, filmmaker and actor who has appeared in Collette and The Danish Girl.

BBC Three and BBC England launch Factual Development Scheme for Northern England

BBC Three and BBC England have collaborated to form a new Factual Development Scheme for the North of England called Northern Voices.

The partnership is offering commissions to local independent production companies for new ideas for documentaries that reflect the experiences of young people in the region.

A new documentary talent must be attached to the pitch with a view to nurture them throughout production, as the partnership aims to improve both the production supply and talent pool from the region.

BBC commissions new documentary series Life and Birth

Credit: BBC

Life and Birth will be told through the eyes of the parents and staff at three of Birmingham’s busiest and most diverse maternity units, Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital and Birmingham Women’s Hospital.

Unprecedented access unveils the cutting-edge medicine used across the antenatal clinics, Fetal Medicine Centres, delivery suites, emergency operating theatres and Birmingham Children’s hospital every day.

BBC commissions new documentary Freddie Flintoff On Bulimia

Freddie Flintoff (Credit: BBC)

Freddie Flintoff On Bulimia will see Flintoff try to understand the causes and impact of his personal struggles with bulimia and explore why eating disorders are so hidden in men.

The famous cricketer will talk to experts and men suffering from the illness to learn about the reality of being a man with an eating disorder.

Flintoff has gone from being one of Britain’s best loved sporting heroes to having a successful screen career, which includes the coveted role as a Top Gear presenter.

RTS Republic of Ireland host screening and documentary masterclass

Director Hilary Fennell (far right) and crew on location in Dingle (Credit RTÉ)

For the one-hour film, director Hilary Fennell followed seven artists attempting to have their work accepted for Ireland’s most important open-call art show, the Royal Hibernian Academy Summer Exhibition

It was the first time cameras have been allowed behind the scenes at the 196-year-old Royal Hibernian Academy, including access to the judging process. The film was broadcast on RTÉ One in June 2019.

ITV to check in at The Savoy

ITV (Credit: ITV)

The venue has hosted royalty, rock stars and world leaders for over 130 years and will now open its revolving doors to ITV viewers, giving them a taste of what it means to be a guest at the prestigious hotel.

The five-part series will be filmed during the winter season and will showcase the hard work  and challenges that the employees overcome to make a visit to The Savoy magical.

Channel 4 commissions new documentary with Adam Hills

Adam Hills (credit: Channel 4)

Adam Hills: Take His Legs will follow The Last Leg host as he undertakes a personal and physical challenge to realise his boyhood dream of playing competitive rugby league.

The documentary will chart the remarkable inception of Physical Disability Rugby League (PDLR) in the UK and the underdog success of the Warrington Wolves PDLR team, who rose from open trials to World Champions in just six months.

As a huge rugby league fan, Hills put his passion into practice and became a driving force behind the establishment of the first PDLR team in the UK.

Sound masterclass with Matt Bacon and Kate Davis

Matt Bacon and Kate Davis (Credit: Paul Hampartsoumian)

Davis received a Bafta nomination this year for her work on the BBC Four documentary Amy Winehouse: Back to Black. Bacon specialises in formatted and entertainment series such as Channel 5 reality show The Bachelor and the BBC’s Masterchef.