Channel 4 recently greenlit "Sarah Beeny’s New Country Lives" from Outline Wales and Knockers Group, as well as the third season of "Sarah Beeny’s New Life in the Country." “We are really excited to be working with Outline Productions on this new series," Sarah Beeny said. "It’s a fantastic opportunity to share experience and follow creative, entrepreneurial and ultimately, inspiring countryside stories.”
The titles, co-produced by Outline Wales and Knockers Group for Channel 4, were commissioned by Kate Thomas, Commissioning Editor, Daytime and Features. The executive producers for both series are Laura Mansfield and Helen Veale for Outline Wales and Sarah Beeny for Knockers Group, and the series editor is Jonney Steven. The production team is currently casting for the series.
The factual brand garnered just under 2million viewers in its 8pm slot and rating well above slot average for ABC1s and 16-34s. “We are so pleased that following the success of Sarah Beeny’s New Life in the Country over two seasons, Channel 4 has commissioned this accompanying daytime series as well as a season renewal," Laura Mansfield, Managing Director, Outline Productions said. "The original idea has really tapped into so many people’s desires to quit the urban rat race for a different life in the country, and we hope this new series will be an inspirational, as well as entertaining view on what the reality is really like!”
Recent polls show 50% of Brits want to quit the urban rat race and own a smallholding, while over half of all city-based 18 to 34-year-olds are keen to move to the countryside. With 57,000 people starting a new business in the last six months, 2022 could be the year more people than ever start over in the country. ‘’Following on from the significant ratings success of the primetime show over two seasons, I am delighted to now be taking this brand into Channel 4’s daytime schedule, and I am confident that we will have another hit show on our hands," Thomas said.
The 20-part daytime series shows a property expert follows urban-dwellers as they relocate and start new lives and careers in the country. it goes on to show couples and families as they follow in Sarah’s footsteps, moving to the country and starting new lives – whether that’s establishing a smallholding or artisan food business, renovating a rural property to open up a B&B or restaurant, or taking over a wedding venue - while at the same time negotiating country life and integration into the local community. Sarah is on hand throughout to offer encouragement and insights from her own experience.
Other series recently commissioned by Outline Productions include "Rochelle Humes: Interior Designer in the Making" (UKTV/W), "Remarkable Places To Eat" (BBC2), "Andi Oliver: A Taste of Christmas" (BBC2), and several others. The company is currently in production on a number of series for UK and international broadcasters and platforms. The company recently brought on Wil Edwards has joined the company to head up the company’s Welsh office which produces both series. Wil was Head of Production at ITV Studios-owned Boomerang for over eight years and since his time there has worked on projects with a number of leading companies across the independent sector in South Wales.