UKTV

UKTV sends Masterchef's John Torode to Asia

John Torode’s Asia sees the TV chef embark on an incredible culinary adventure across the continent. In each of the locations, Torode seeks out local culinary experts and explores the tasty offerings of each of the regions. Along the way he visits the largest free kitchen in the world, learns what goes into cooking a Peking Duck, and spends time with a traditional Maldivian family.

Unspun with Matt Forde gets bumper run during UK election

In the run up to the general election in June, there will be two episodes of Unspun with Matt Forde each week.

Unspun will get up-to-date information and analysis on all you need to know about politics, as well as interviews and discussions with leading political figures in the run up to Britain's snap election.

The second series included high profile guests such as former Prime Minister Tony Blair, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron and Harriet Harman MP, former deputy leader of the Labour party.

Ore Oduba to host Dave's tennis coverage

Strictly Come Dancing winner Ore Oduba will host the live show on Dave.

Tie Break Tens is a short format of tennis where only tie-breaks are played. Each match is a first-to-ten point tie break. Every tournament awards a winner-take-all cheque after a four-hour session of high pressure tennis. 

A total of 16 players will compete in 14 tie-break matches, with two tournaments running side by side, over the course of the evening.

New hospital sitcom Porters for Dave

Porters follows deluded Simon Porter, played by Ed Easton (Inside No. 9), who dreams of passing his medical exam, but he sees his way of making it as a doctor by starting at the bottom as a porter in a hospital and working his way up.

Porter joins the cynical Frankie (Susan Wokoma - Chewing Gum), a self-proclaimed 'Queen of the Porters', and naive nurse Lucy played by Claudia Jessie (Line of Duty).

Writer Dan Sefton (Delicious, The Good Karma Hospital) based Porters on his own experiences working in a hospital.

Davina McCall to host new talk show on W

The eight-part series will explore a different contemporary issue each week, drawn from viewpoints of real people and their experiences.

Host Davina McCall will debate some of modern life's biggest dilemmas in an hour-long conversation with a small group of individuals and experts. 

The talk show, produced by Twenty Twenty (First Dates), will focus on emerging social trends and behaviours, with guests able to share their own experiences of these new social norms in the current climate in a lively discussion.

Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled returns to Dave for a fifth series

Alan Davies' critically-acclaimed chat show will return to Dave with new guests including Melanie C, Sanjeev Baskhar and Dave Johns, to talk all things comedy and entertainment.

The show has had its share of high-profile guests such as Stephen Fry and Sandi Toksvig, but it has also shone a light on new comedians and up-and-coming talent such as Lou Sanders, James Acaster and Romesh Ranganathan. They have all shared stories from their personal life experiences as well as discussing topics such as royalty and bizarre anecdotes.

UKTV announces record viewing figures

UKTV, an independent joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Scripps Network Interactive Inc, announced a consolidated share of commercial viewership of 9.87% - a 7.7% increase on 2015.

According to the broadcaster, that puts UKTV ahead of Channel 5’s portfolio and all of Sky’s wholly-owned channels.

UKTV Play, the broadcaster's on-demand service is their fastest growing brand, with an increase of 74% in direct-to-consumer views year on year.

Commissioning for the Future

The panel (L-R): From left: Jane Martinson, Zai Bennett, Delia Bushell, Damian Kavanagh, Richard Watsham and Kevin Sutcliffe (Credit: Paul Hampartsoumian)

Defining success in a connected content world is not straightforward. Is the buzz on social media more important than overnight ratings? And how does one commission shows that will play equally effectively on all devices across all platforms? 

Those were the main questions addressed in “Meet the new commissioners.” Session chair Jane Martinson, The Guardian’s head of media, asked some familiar faces with years of experience how the digital world is affecting their decisions. 

Dave gets exclusive rights for Ultimate Strongman

The tournament, which takes place at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena, will feature 12 of the world's strongest athletes competing over five events including Atlas Stones, Monster Tyre Flip and the Deadlift Challenge.

Presenting duties will be taken up by Matt Bell and World's Strongest Man 1989 Jamie Reeves, with commentary provided by Sky Sports' Nick Halling and Norwegian body-builder Svend Karlsen.

The two hour programme will be recorded in front of a live audience on 10 December, airing on Dave on 30 December.