London TV Screenings 2023: Banijay unveils its new content portfolio

Banijay has unveiled its line-up for this year's London TV Screenings event, which began today at BAFTA. Serving as the second physical participation in the wider annual distribution gathering, the event began on 27 Febuary and will run through Friday 3 March. More than 20 distributors have joined founder members Banijay Rights, Alll3Media International, Entertainment One, Fremantle and ITV Studios in showcasing their catalogues at this year’s London TV Screenings.“This year’s Banijay at BAFTA event is set to have the strongest line-up yet, and we’re proud to create a truly must-attend showcase for international buyers, with a high-calibre of talent supporting us on stage," Cathy Payne, CEO at Banijay Rights said. "With an extensive range of genres, bringing globally relevant themes to audiences, we expect our eclectic roster of content to be immensely popular.”

Banijay Rights’ premium scripted offering includes UK dramas "Three Little Birds," a six-part drama created by Sir Lenny Henry for ITV and BritBox International. The project produced by Tiger Aspect Productions in association with Douglas Road Productions stands alongside "This Town," marking the first project of the Kudos- Knight creative partnership deal which supports the Birmingham film and TV industry. "The Sixth Commandment" for the BBC, from Wild Mercury Productions and True Vision Productions, "Domina," from Tiger Aspect Productions in association with MGM+ Studios, for MGM+ and Sky, "Safe Home" for SBS, as well as feature documentary "Lara," a working title directed by the BAFTA and Emmy award-winning Mags Gavan, will also form part of the slate. The project is produced by Tiger Aspect Productions in association with Douglas Road Productions, both Banijay UK companies. Meanwhile, from Kudos, (a Banijay UK company) and Nebulastar, and co-produced with Mercury Studios, in association with Kudos North, Stigma Films, and Nick Angel for the BBC,

The catalog will be complimented with Banijay’s unscripted formats, fronted by its Creative Networks team. Included are fresh interior design competition, The Big Interiors Battle; addictive dating and relationship shows, Love Triangle, Date My Mate, Save the Date; entertainment newcomers, Boomerissima and Cover Night; competition titles Blow Up and MasterChef Young Talent; and sneak peeks will be on offer for much-anticipated adventure reality, The Summit, and comedy entertainment, No Strings Attached.

As part of the exclusive, invite-only event, "This Town" creator, writer and executive producer, Steven Knight, stars of "Three Little Birds" Rochelle Neil, Yazmin Belo, and Saffron Coomber, will be interviewed live on the BAFTA stage, as well as "The Sixth Commandment" writer Sarah Phelps and director Saul Dibb; Safe Home star Aisha Dee, Domina creator Simon Burke and award-winning, working title, "Lara," directed by Mags Gavan. “From Love Triangle to Blow Up and No Strings Attached, at Banijay, we have a strong pipeline of emerging IP that we’re proud to present," James Townley, Global Head of Content Development & Lucas Green, Global Head of Content Operations at Banijay said. "This is down to our creatives who we are delighted to support in super-charging their ambitious ideas and getting them on-screen and travelling the world.”

In addition, thriller "Safe Home," the first commission for Imogen Banks’ new production company Kindling Pictures and brand-new interior design format, "The Big Interiors Battle" from Banijay UK’s Remarkable Factual.  "Love Triangle" is a new relationship show created by the producers of Endemol Shine Australia. Following its successful first season on Stan, it has been recommissioned for a second series. Produced by Dragonfly in the UK, "Date My Mate" also focuses on modern dating. The title is created by Endemol Shine Israel, Endemol Shine Finland produced the first series for Nelonen. "Boomerissima," created by Banijay Italia, is the first series concluded on Rai 2 this month, outperforming the channels slot average across all demographics, standing alongside "Cover Night," a singing contest from Shine Iberia that sees young talented singers (16+) go head-to-head as they transform hit songs into different genres and add their own twist to covers, accompanied by a live band.

The company will also present a string of competition entertainment combos and formats from the Netherlands, and the Nordics. The titles include "Blow Up," created by EndemolShine Nederland and now commissioned in four territories. The first season aired in the Netherlands last summer was the number one show in the slot on all commercial key demos with the slot average up 168% for 6-12-year-olds.  Banijay also has the latest spin-off from MasterChef, created by Franc Roddam. The show is created by Danish company Metronome, and Nordisk Banijay in Norway, for Viaplay Group.  On the first-look side, "The Summit" is a new blockbuster adventure reality series created and developed exclusively with the 9Network by Endemol Shine Australia.