Can't Stop Media, the boutique distributor based in London, announced that its interview format "The A-Talks" is scoring 3 new adaptations as Norway’s NRK, Singapore’s Mediacorp and Quebec’s Radio Canada are the latest broadcasters to commission local versions of the show.
In Norway, Fremantle-owned production company Monster is currently shooting the first season of the series, which will air weekly in primetime on NRK1. Simultaneously, all episodes will be available for binge-watching on the network's streaming platform. Singapore will be the first country in Asia to produce an adaptation of the format. Entitled "The Assembly," the series will premiere in January 2025 on its 24/7 news network CNA. And more recently, French-speaking Canada’s independent production outfit Avanti Toast was honored to bring Radio Canada into this prestigious list of broadcasters, under the working title "Le Facteur A."
Each adaptation will feature some of the countries’ most famous personalities, including A-list comedians, singers and musicians, writers, sports athletes, and leading political figures, to be interviewed by a group of autistic non-professional journalists. In all countries, the group of reporters is built from scratch, with the support of health organizations and NGOs, all working closely to help people on the spectrum manage their condition. Celebrities will face the grilling of a lifetime as no subject is out of bounds, no question is off the table. In "The A-Talks," anything can happen.
This brings a total of 11 international adaptations for the French format created by Quad+TEN and Kiosco.TV and initiated by popular movie directors Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano ("The Intouchables") for France 2. The format is running into its 3rd season in France and has recently been renewed in Denmark and Poland, respectively by DR1 and WarnerBrosDiscovery’s TVN. Series 1 has just wrapped in Australia on ABC with episodes ranking #1 in the slot and scoring big numbers on iView and social media (a very emotional clip with Sam Neill became the 3rd most watched ever for ABC on TikTok).
It has also been launched with success in the UK on public broadcaster BBC1 (produced by Rockerdale) and Spain on Mediaset España’s Telecinco / Cuatro (produced by Banijay’s ShineIberia. The show is about to broadcast in Sweden on SVT1 (produced by Fremantle’s Baluba), Ireland on Virgin Media Television (produced by Kite Entertainment).
Damien Porte, co-founder at Can´t Stop media, states: “It’s obviously great to achieve this level of success across the continents, and even greater with a format that has such a positive impact on society, helping foster inclusivity in television and raising the veil on a condition misunderstood by the vast majority. We’re confident it will bring laughter and tears to the viewers in these territories, as it did with all previous versions," commented,
Also, Marie Sjo, NRK Commissioning Editor, says: “We are thrilled to bring such an innovative and important format to the Norwegian public, and we truly believe it will engage a broad audience and highlight the importance of diversity and inclusion;" explained.
Meanwhile, June Lee, Mediacorp’s Executive Producer, adds: “CNA is excited to lead the way in Asia with this groundbreaking format. 'The Assembly' goes beyond being just a series of interviews—it’s a platform where neurodivergent voices uncover raw, untold stories. And Asia’s about to experience this for the very first time. It’s also the perfect way to kick off Singapore’s 60th year of nation-building celebrations, showcasing inclusivity as one of the key values we hold dear," noted.
Finally, Sophie Morasse, General Manager, Television, Radio-Canada, says: “It is with great enthusiasm that we have acquired the rights to adapt 'The A-Talks' for our market. Promoting diversity is one of CBC/Radio-Canada’s top priorities. To do so by offering our viewers innovative entertainment of such depth and quality is extremely rewarding. We are convinced it will move and captivate our audience as it has all over the world"; stated.
Produced by Quad+TEN and Kiosco TV (part of Webedia-owned Elephant Group), "The A Talks" is France 2’s new signature show everybody has been talking about since its release in September 2022. In each episode, one of the nation’s most popular celebrities (actor/actress, singer, TV host, politician, athlete) faces a group of 30 neurodivergent journalists. All have very different personalities, but one thing in common: a disarming naturalness that is full of truth! Through surprising, unpredictable, sometimes funny or poignant questions, viewers discover celebrities as they have never seen them before! In these questions: no calculations, no traps, but also no taboos and no filters. Faced with these very special interviewers, the guests naturally drop the masks, and each meeting becomes a magical moment, out of time, filled with emotion, laughter, poetry, and impertinence. The show is also nourished by various artistic sequences (music, poetry, drawing…) delivered by journalists endowed with unsuspected talent.