Commissioning – Who we are and what we do
UKTV’s commissioning team are responsible for ordering at least 700 hours content every year – approximately 10% of our output across our ten channels. Split into two genre teams, the entertainment arm commissions formats for Watch, G.O.L.D., Dave and Alibi, while the factual and factual entertainment arm orders content across any of our entertainment, factual and lifestyle channels. Both teams work with independent production companies and BBC departments to select, generate and develop ideas while executive producing projects from inception right through to transmission. To ensure we order innovative formats that deliver the commissioning strategies for each of our channel brands, we often use sophisticated analysis of target audience needs to identify new trends and talent. Recent commissions demonstrate the breadth and quality of this original content: from Argumental on Dave (produced by Tiger Aspect) to Market Kitchen on UKTV Food (produced by Optomen) and My Brilliant Britain on Blighty (produced by Prospect Pictures).
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Dave
Satirical and edgy, Dave is the home of witty banter, showcasing the best in contemporary entertainment including QI, Mock the Week and Top Gear alongside popular original series such as Red Dwarf: Back to Earth (the UK's highest rating commission ever with 2.7million viewers), Argumental, Batteries Not Included and Red Bull X-Fighters.
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Home
Home is a welcome refuge with energetic, stylish and motivating programming that shows viewers how to enjoy and maximise their space, both inside and out. The UK’s first dedicated homes channel, Home is packed with home grown commissions such as Gutted, Love the Place You’re In and Fantasy Homes by the Sea, to the phenomenally successful Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, to favourites DIY SOS, Escape to the Country and Ground Force.
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Blighty
Blighty unashamedly celebrates all that is great, unique and inspirational about Britain today. Packed with programmes that explore the complexity, irony, contradictory and definitely quirky traits of modern Britain, Blighty revels in what makes the country brilliant. From Who Do You Think You Are? and Coast to Trawlermen to Britain From Above… as well as some stunning new commissions including My Brilliant Britain, there is no channel like Blighty and there is no place like Britain!
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Alibi
Alibi is the deadliest place on TV featuring the world’s best-known TV detectives in crime dramas and murder mysteries. Famous faces such as Miss Marple, Inspector Lynley and Jessica Fletcher are joined by the teams from Silent Witness and New Tricks, plus there’s murder most foul with the channel’s first co-production, Murdoch Mysteries.
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Watch
Watch is a new entertainment channel that's made for sharing which showcases great family dramas such as Dr Who and Torchwood, blockbuster movies and US shows including Dancing with the Stars and Total Wipeout USA alongside Traffic Cops and Animal Park. Look out for Chris Tarrant’s new hidden camera show this autumn, Tarrant Let’s the Kids Loose.
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Good Food
Good Food is the UK's only dedicated food channel and as such, features all the biggest names in food, including Jamie Oliver, Gary Rhodes, James Martin, Rachel Allen, and The Hairy Bikers. Appealing to both the expert cook to someone who just wants to have fun with food, Good Food delivers exciting originations such as Mitch and Matt's Big Fish, Rachel Allen: Bake!, and Market Kitchen, alongside exclusive titles from overseas, such as Ace of Cakes and The Barefoot Contessa.
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G.O.L.D.
Dedicated to celebrating great comedy and entertainment, G.O.L.D. is the nation's favourite comedy channel. Its wealth of classic comedy programming is guaranteed to make viewers laugh daily. Much-loved comedy greats such as Only Fools and Horses sit alongside successful commissions including Blackadder: The Whole Rotten Saga and Fawlty Towers: Re-opened.