UKTV is expanding its roster of talent with the return of presenter Katie Piper and the addition of motorsport enthusiast and TV personality Guy Martin. Both are set to headline new series announced at the Edinburgh TV Festival. Both series are expected to premiere in 2025.
KATIE PIPER RETURNS WITH “KATIE PIPER: LOCKED UP IN LOUISIANA”
Katie Piper, the inspirational broadcaster and philanthropist, is making her return to UKTV with a powerful new documentary series, "Katie Piper: Locked Up in Louisiana." This series, which will air on U&W, follows Piper as she travels to Louisiana, one of the most notorious states for its tough prison systems. She will immerse herself in the lives of inmates, exploring the harsh realities they face and the challenges of life behind bars.
Katie Piper said: "Off camera I am committed to working with women in prisons to understand motivation and help rehabilitation, and I’m really proud to be making this series with Flicker and U&W – they are an all-female team that has empathy and storytelling at the heart of what they do. We traveled to America and in one prison I try to understand what has led the women we meet to this point, what circumstances have they been living in, what trauma they experienced and how their lives have been affected. For some this isn’t simple, and we consider how a wide range of factors effect different people in different ways.”
The new documentary series is commissioned by Helen Nightingale, head of factual and factual entertainment with Kirsty Hanson, senior commissioning editor, and ordered for U&W by Adam Collings, channel director, and Hilary Rosen, director of commissioning.
Kirsty Hanson mentioned: "We are thrilled to be working with Katie and the brilliant team at Flicker again on the brand new series Katie Piper: Locked Up In Louisiana. This time we will see Katie meet women who have been accused of very serious and sometimes heinous crimes and try to unravel and understand their motivations. With our previous series Katie Piper: Jailhouse Mums being such a success with our audience, this series promises to follow suit being a captivating and poignant watch."
Adam Collings added: "I’m delighted to announce that Katie Piper will be returning to U&W for another unfiltered view into the US prison system. Viewers can expect an unflinching look into these complicated stories with Katie at the helm. It’s an essential addition to a brilliant slate for 2025."
GUY MARTIN JOINS UKTV TALENT ROSTER FOR “GUY MARTIN’S PROPER JOBS”
Meanwhile, UKTV has also announced that Guy Martin, the motorsport enthusiast and television personality, is joining their lineup of talent with “Guy Martin’s Proper Jobs” (4x60’), forU&Dave and free streaming service, U. The four-part series is to be produced by North One and will air in 2025.
No stranger to trying new things, “Guy Martin’s Proper Jobs” will see the motorcycle racer, truck fitter, part-time farmer, enthusiastic engineer and sometime television presenter, attempt a variety of different roles that involve a lot of hard graft, no shortage of skill and that perhaps don’t get the recognition they deserve.
The U&Dave Original series has been commissioned by Helen Nightingale, Head of Factual for UKTV, and ordered for U&Dave by Cherie Hall, Channel Director, and Hilary Rosen, Director of Commissioning. Executive Producer for North One is Steve Gowans and the Series Producers and Directors are Ewan Keil and James Woodroffe. Guy Martin’s Proper Jobs will air on U&Dave and streaming service U in 2025.
UKTV’s Helen Nightingale said: “Guy is someone we’ve admired for a long time and this new series will have all the elements that make him so popular – his enthusiasm, his passion, and the fact that while showing the utmost respect for others, he doesn’t take himself too seriously. I’m delighted to be working with North One again and I know they’ll make a brilliant series.”
Cherie Hall added: "Guy’s background and own work ethic make him the perfect person to tackle these proper jobs and his unique take on things makes him a naturally funny, and perfect character for U&Dave. I can’t wait to see him get his hands dirty on these proper jobs.”