"Expert Witness"
Rare TV’s Belfast and Dublin production hubs have secured recommissions from the BBC and RTÉ for new seasons of some of their most successful long-running series. The BBC has ordered fresh instalments of "Expert Witness" and "Digging For Britain," while RTÉ confirmed the return of flagship titles including a 10th season of "Crimecall," the fifth season of "The Case I Can’t Forget," and the second season of "Futureville Ireland."
"Expert Witness" (Season 5, 15x30’) reveals how science has helped crack some of the UK’s toughest criminal cases. Each episode spotlights forensic specialists in disciplines such as blood spatter, gait analysis, facial reconstruction, entomology, and soil analysis, as they open their case books and share the evidence that helped detectives deliver justice.
"Digging for Britain" (Season 13, 6x60’) sees Professor Alice Roberts and a team of experts explore the stories behind some of the nation’s most exciting archaeological finds. From prehistoric treasures to more recent discoveries, the series offers unique insights spanning 10,000 years of British history. TVF International serves as the worldwide distribution partner.
RTÉ One’s hit science format "Futureville Ireland" (Season 2, 3x60’) returns with presenters Carla O'Brien and Dr Lollie Mancey as they imagine a city of the future, exploring the scientific innovations today that could transform life in Ireland by 2050. From brain implants and robot-built homes to food created from thin air and energy harnessed by giant kites, the show paints a picture of a brighter future.
"Crimecall" (Season 10, 10x60’, coproduced with Green Inc Film and TV) remains RTÉ’s flagship crime appeals programme, produced in partnership with An Garda Síochána. In each monthly episode, presenter Carla O'Brien joins detectives to seek the public’s help in solving major ongoing investigations across Ireland.
"The Case I Can’t Forget" (Season 5, 4x60’, coproduced with Green Inc Film and TV) showcases powerful first-hand accounts from serving and retired detectives, who recount the twists and turns of landmark investigations that shaped their careers. From murder and kidnap to human trafficking and smuggling, the series delivers searing insights into frontline policing.
Daniela Neumann, CEO, Rare TV, considers the deals to be representative of the company’s strategy: "Building a stable of returning series for multiple broadcasters is at the heart of Rare TV’s strategy. We are thrilled to have so many shows returning for new seasons for the BBC and RTÉ, in addition to the recent new commissions and paid development won by the teams in Belfast, Dublin and London," noted,
Rare TV’s recent slate of productions and commissions includes "Trace, Track, Get My Car Back!" (16x30’, BBC Daytime and BBC iPlayer), "Hold The Front Page" (3x60’, RTÉ), "Digging for Britain" (13x60’, BBC Two), "Ice Airport Alaska" (Smithsonian Networks), and "Extreme Airport Africa" (Smithsonian Networks).