EXCLUSIVE: Harry King TV is headed to MIP London with an antiques and collectibles-themed format after launching an unscripted division.
Harry King Unscripted would be the new wing of veteran scripted producer Nicholas Sercombe’s UK and U.S. manufacturing operation. It’s going to deal with codecs designed for digital and linear TV, utilizing a “new talent- and format-first mannequin” that seeks to fight the standard commissioning slowdown.
Debuting by the unit later this month will likely be Curiosity, fronted by Antiques Roadshow professional Raj Bisram and comic Henning Wehn. Set in an emporium that buys and sells outlandish collectibles and different gadgets, Curiosity will see superstar company visiting to seek out trinkets, curios and presents from house owners Bisram and Wehn.
BAFTA- and Emmy-nominated David Meadows (The Sweeney, Robin and the Hoods) is hooked up as DOP, whereas Ian Bailey (Atonement, John Wick 3) is the Manufacturing Designer.
Bisram is finest identified for TV credit on exhibits such because the BBCs’ Antiques Roadshow and Celeb Antiques Roadshow, Flog It! and Discount Hunt; and 4 Rooms and Posh Pawn for Channel 4. Wehn payments himself because the “self-appointed German Comedy Ambassador to the UK” and commonly seems on present equivalent to Have I Acquired Information For You, Would I Lie To You, QI and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
Harry King TV optioned the rights to Curiosity from Bisram and Mark Turner, a BAFTA-nominated DP, director, producer and editor.
The corporate’s founder, Sercombe, has labored in each the UK and Hollywood. He’s identified for producing exhibits for British comedy royalty equivalent to Mel Smith, Bob Monkhouse, Barry Cryer, Brian Conley and Russ Abbot, and creatd High Ideas for comedian duo Reeves and Mortimer (Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer). Within the U.S., he has labored with Bare Gun star Leslie Nielsen amongst others, additionally created BBC youngsters collection Freefonix.
“The unscripted world wants extra outlandish and curious exhibits,” mentioned Sercombe. “Having labored with lots of the funniest and inventive expertise on the market we thought it was the fitting time to convey that perspective from the world of scripted to the land of codecs and docs. The entire exhibits we develop have coronary heart, humour, and a little bit of cheekiness to them. In spite of everything, the world wants extra laughter. And this format, together with our new division, exists to subvert the ‘conventional’ mannequin and convey issues to digital, streaming and linear with a raft of fantastic expertise hooked up proper from the beginning.”
Bisram added: “The TV business has been shopping for and promoting the identical codecs for years, so we thought it was time to shake issues up. Curiosity is all about discovering hidden gems in surprising locations, and that’s precisely what we’re doing with this present. It’s a contemporary tackle unscripted TV, made for contemporary audiences who love nice tales, actual characters, and a little bit of mischief. I can’t watch for folks to step into our world and see what treasures we have now in retailer.”
Harry King Unscripted will likely be at MIP London, the brand new TV market coming to the UK’s capital this month between 23-27 February on the Savoy Resort and adjoining IET London convention middle. Yesterday, organizer RX France reported registrations for the occasion had hit 2,000 from greater than 75 nations, together with 900 patrons.
Just like the title of Harry King’s debut format, sources round London are filled with curiosity over how MIP London will match alongside the London TV Screenings, which have grown organically since its launch in 2021. The Screenings includes showcases from the most important Britain-based distributors, U.S. studios and different key European and Asian gross sales homes, and sits alongside the BBC Studios Showcase, the occasion that first started bringing worldwide patrons to the UK throughout chilly and frosty Februarys.
