Multistory Media secures ITVX commission “Waco: A British Tragedy”

ITV Studios label MultiStory Media has secured its first commission for brand new streaming service ITVX, which will shed new light on the infamous siege of Waco. Using unseen archive and exclusive interviews, “Waco: A British Tragedy” is a 2x60’ premium documentary series which will explore the untold story of the sizeable British contingent of David Koresh’s Branch Davidian cult, and their experiences during the 51 day ordeal at Waco and its storming by the FBI in 1993.

Commissioned by ITV’s Controller of Current Affairs, Tom Giles, it is directed by Stuart Bernard and executive produced by Mike Blair. The new commission comes as the label has established a new documentary unit which will be headed up by Blair following his recent appointment as Head of Documentaries and Current Affairs. It will focus on creating premium documentary series that tell compelling British and international stories. The unit will also include director Iwan Roberts and producer Claire Savage.

The new unit will also build on the success of “The Real…” with ITV ordering two drama companion documentaries, “The Real Nolly” and “The Real Stonehouse” to accompany the network’s forthcoming dramas of the same names. Both are commissioned for ITV by Jo Clinton-Davis, Controller of Factual.

“MultiStory Media’s rich heritage of documentary making provides an incredible foundation for our new unit. Along with these exciting new commissions, we are also in discussion on four other projects for next year as we look to build on an already healthy slate, from award-winning premium documentaries to fascinating drama companion shows and insightful investigative programmes,”  Mike Blair commented.

“The Waco siege - and the disaster that ended it - remains one of the most extraordinary and shocking tragedies of recent American history. Though many of the dreadful events were captured live on rolling news, there is much we still don’t know about what happened - not least to the many British people who died on that day as well to those few who survived. Through this powerful series, I’m glad that ITVX and MultiStory Media will be able to shed new light on those stories, too many of which have been largely forgotten or ignored, and to give full context to an event that still haunts America,”  added Tom Giles, ITV Controller of Current Affairs.

Lastly, Jo Clinton-Davis, ITV Controller of Factual, said: “Working with MultiStory Media, we have established a valuable thread of companion documentaries to our high-end drama series. MultiStory’s skill in weaving the real-life narrative of individuals and events is the perfect complement to our drama and offers a revealing, enriching and compelling insight for viewers. In ‘The Real Nolly’ and ‘The Real Stonehouse,’ we look forward to two new films for ITVX that will continue in this vein.”