Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP) announced a raft of sales across Europe for its new commemorative series “D-Day: The Unheard Tapes” (3x60’). Launched at MIPTV 2024, the company has recently closed deals for the series with Canal Plus (France), RTVE (Spain), LA7 (Italy), NPO (The Netherlands), SVT (Sweden), NRK (Norway), DR (Denmark) and Czech Television (Czech Republic).
Produced by WBITVP company Wall to Wall Media for BBC Two and BBC iPlayer and co-produced with The History® Channel, U.S., D-Day: The Unheard Tapes is proving to be a raw, revealing, and powerful documentary series. It features young actors lip-syncing to recorded interviews with British, American, and German soldiers and French witnesses who experienced D-Day first-hand, combined with archival footage and immersive documentary re-creation. The series recalls incredible moments of bravery and fear, capturing what it was like to live through the unfolding invasion.
Andrew Zein EVP Creative, Format Development and Sales at WBITVP, commented: “In ‘D-Day: The Unheard Tapes’ Wall to Wall has produced another extraordinary, moving and timely documentary series, bringing very personal accounts of World War II back to life for contemporary audiences. Just as it did with AIDS: The Unheard Tapes, the team has captured the hopes and fears of people with different backgrounds and experiences, transporting the viewer to a pivotal time in our recent past to hear directly from those who were there. With the 80th D-Day anniversary next month and a current war waging in Europe – with the looming threat of more – it is easy to see why so many major European broadcasters now want to share these heartfelt war experiences with their viewers.”
Wall to Wall Media is also producing a companion radio series for BBC Radio 4; “D-Day: The Last Voices”, a 5 x 14 documentary series featuring first-person accounts of D-Day both in interviews recorded with the last surviving veterans of the invasion, and those who were there with them, from historical testimonies. The series is presented by Paddy O’Connell, and will launch on May 27. In addition, “D-Day: The Unheard Tapes”, a book written by Geraint Jones, is due for publication with Pan Macmillian on May 23. It features a rich collection of in-depth first-person testimonies of those who fought on D-Day, closely connected with the BBC Two / iPlayer series.
In related audio news, Wall to Wall Media is also producing a new podcast series, “Glad We Had This Chat with Caroline Hirons”, a one-stop shop for all things beauty, skincare, and beyond, hosted by the award-winning skincare expert, bestselling author and blogger. The frank and funny show launched on May 20, with an interview with Hollywood star Sarah Jessica Parker.
Leanne Klein, managing director of Wall to Wall Media, said: “We are delighted that ‘D-Day: The Unheard Tapes’ TV series has been so well received in the international marketplace and are grateful to the WBITVP team for bringing it to the attention of so many leading broadcasters.”
On the move into audio content, Klein added: “We are constantly looking at ways to evolve our business as storytellers, so we are excited to have produced the companion radio series to extend the audience for this D-Day title. In line with this, we have also started looking more strategically at the podcast sector and where we could potentially add value. We are excited to be working with the hugely talented Caroline on ‘Glad We Had This Chat with Caroline Hirons’ and look forward to bringing this new podcast to everyone’s attention and meeting the huge demand for beauty information.”
“D-Day: The Unheard Tapes” was commissioned by Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual, and the BBC Commissioning Editor is Simon Young, Head of History. It is a co-production between the BBC and The History® Channel. Executive Producers for The History® Channel are Eli Lehrer and Jennifer Wagman. The series is being made in partnership with The Open University, Imperial War Museums and The National WWII Museum. It is produced by Wall to Wall Media, where the Executive Producer is Morgana Pugh, the Series Producer is Zoe Jewell, and the Series Director is Mark Radice.
The BBC Radio Commissioning Executive for “D-Day: The Last Voices” is Tracy Williams. Wall to Wall Media produces it. The Executive Producers are Morgana Pugh and Rami Tzabar. Paul Kobrak produces it. Paddy O'Connell presents and writes it.