BossaNova Media, Paul Heaney’s content creation, funding and distribution company, has announced the global launch of "Secrets of Flying Scotsman" (2 x 60’). "Secrets of Flying Scotsman," produced by Argonon-owned BriteSpark Films, tells the story of the world’s most famous steam locomotive. The premium two-part documentary is produced for the international market with the series pre-bought by Channel 4 and SBS Australia.
Holly Cowdery, Bossanova’s head of sales, said: “'Secrets of Flying Scotsman' is not just for trainspotters; it’s for anybody who loves a cracking good story. Packed with steam, speed and glamour, BriteSpark’s brilliant documentary charts the rise and fall and rise again of a British icon that has enthralled the world for more than 100 years. For BossaNova, it’s a thrill to be steering the Scotsman on what we’re sure will be another record-breaking journey on to global screens — and a privilege to be partnering once again with Channel 4 and SBS on a world-class project.”
Nick Godwin, executive producer, BriteSpark Films, said: “The Flying Scotsman is the world’s most famous locomotive and its journey over the last 100 years has been one of high drama, both on and off the rails. Through exclusive expert testimony, never seen before footage and access to the Flying Scotsman today, this two-part series pays tribute to a true legend of the tracks, charting the compelling story of a British icon.”
Built in 1923, the Flying Scotsman has come to epitomise both the elegance of the Golden Age of Steam and the excellence of British locomotive design and engineering. Named after the daily 10.00 London-to-Edinburgh rail service, it became the first locomotive to achieve 100mph — and the first to circumnavigate the globe.
"Secrets of Flying Scotsman" follows the successful funding model pioneered by BriteSpark’s "Tsunami: The Day The Wave Hit," which was also pre-sold to Channel 4 UK and SBS Australia earlier this year. The 2 x 60 mins documentary, which has now been acquired by TVNZ, Viasat, SVT Sweden and Radio Canada is a gripping, minute-by-minute account of the catastrophic 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, which claimed nearly 230,000 lives across the nations of the Indian Ocean.
"Secrets of Flying Scotsman" begins by focusing on the locomotive’s groundbreaking design by Sir Nigel Gresley, its record-breaking run in 1934 between Leeds and London, which cemented its place in the hearts of the nation, and its retirement in 1963, after 2,076,000 miles in service. However, the scraped locomotive was bought and renovated by businessman Alan Pegler, who took it to North America in 1969 to promote British business. Unfortunately, Pegler ran out of money and was forced to abandon the Scotsman in San Francisco. Once again, it looked like the locomotive would be lost forever but, once again, it was rescued, this time by construction king and railway enthusiast Sir William McAlpine. ‘Sir Bill’ not only restored the Scotsman out of his own pocket, but even took it to Australia, where it set a new record in 1989 for the longest non-stop run. Today, the Scotsman is owned by the National Railway Museum and once again steaming across the UK — and enchanting a whole new generation of fans.
"Secrets of Flying Scotsman" is executive produced by Nick Godwin, BriteSpark Films and directed by Edmund Buckley. It is the second in BossaNova’s Secrets of… strand. It follows "Secrets of the Lost Liners" (12 x 60 mins), which takes a deep dive — literally — into the great ocean liners that, over the last 100 years, have been tragically lost at sea. Hearst Networks (formerly A+E) has acquired both seasons of the "Content Kings" series, which has also been sold to SBS Sweden Blue Ant & Bell Media Canada, Histoire France, Foxtel Aus, Mediaset Italy, Phoenix China, PCCW Hong Kong and BBC Select USA.