Greenlit: First Humans: The Cave Discovery, PBS / Channel 4

First Humans: The Cave Discovery (1 x 60′) – A documentary following an astounding archaeological investigation that has discovered the remains of an entirely new species of human ancestor. It follows an expedition by an international team of experts, led by Professor Lee Berger from the University of Witwatersrand, as they recover bone fragments from […]

Greenlit: Murder, Channel 4

Murder w/t (3 x 60′) – Documentary series ollowing every twist and turn of a police investigation into the horrific murder of a teenager, which was filmed over eighteen months with intimate and unprecedented access to a police major crime unit in Bristol as they investigate the stabbing of the 19 year-old. This trilogy of […]

Greenlit: Alex Lewis, Channel 4

Alex Lewis w/t (1 x 60′) –  Charts the story of a man fighting to rebuild his life after a devastating infection took his limbs, parts of his face and his independence. Father Alex Lewis came down with a common cold in late 2013 which quickly developed into septicaemia and toxic shock syndrome. With less […]

Greenlit: Bus Pass Body Builders, Channel 4

Bus Pass Body Builders w/t (1 x 60′) –  Tracks the hopes and dreams of Britain’s oldest muscle men and women as we follow five fascinating characters in the lead up to the World Finals in Miami. In today’s rapidly changing world, this film takes an alternative look at what it is like to be […]

Greenlit: The World’s Most Expensive Christmas, Channel 4

The World’s Most Expensive Christmas (1 x 60′) – Seasonal documentary that looks at the cost of the festive period. Channel: Channel 4 Producer: Indus Films TX: TBC Source: Broadcast

Greenlit: Britain’s Finest Interiors, Channel 4

Britain’s Finest Interiors (3 x 60′) – Goes behind the scenes with a range of architects, interior designers and craftsmen to get a glimpse of some of Britain’s best rooms. Channel: Channel 4 Producer: Indus Films TX: TBC Source: Broadcast

Greenlit: The Landmark Trust, Channel 4

The Landmark Trust w/t – A new series using the experts and buildings of UK building rescue charity, the Landmark Trust. The series will follow the Trust’s two major restorations – Belmont and St Edward’s Presbytery and the history behind the properties in the Landmark Trust’s portfolio. The stories will be told by the experts […]

Greenlit: Walking the Himalayas, Channel 4

Walking the Himalayas –  Explorer Levison Wood, as he follows up his 2013 trek along the entire length of the Nile by attempting to walk the entire length of the Himalayas. Beginning in Afghanistan and trekking 1700 gruelling miles across the roof of the world, Levison will be travelling through some of the most remote, […]

Greenlit: The Zoo, Channel 4

The Zoo w/t  (6 x 60′) – Chester Zoo is Britain’s most popular zoo hosting 1.4 million visitors every year. But few visitors ever see the world explored in this major new Channel 4 series. Using a range of filming techniques, including a micro-rig to capture animal behaviour close up, The series will take viewers […]

Greenlit: Royal Navy Sailor School, Channel 4

 Royal Navy Sailor School (8 x 60′) – Observational documentary series that follows hopeful recruits as they undergo training to join the Royal Navy. Channel: Channel 4 Producer: Twofour TX: 2015 Source: Broadcast

Greenlit: Too Many Cooks, Channel 4

Too Many Cooks w/t (20 x 30′) –  The series, which is stripped across the week, sees amateur foodie couples from across Britain lining up to take the heat off stressed-out party planners and provide the catering for a special event.  Each episode follows couples as they create menus and provide party food – all […]

Documentary Commissioners: Searching for Gems in the Schedule

Go to one of the major international documentary festivals and you’ll come away feeling that the genre is alive, kicking and having a party. ITV’s Jo Clinton-Davis said at Sheffield Doc/Fest 2015 that the audience was searching for “gems in the schedule”, but of all the commissioner panels, the documentary session seemed to be the one where the commissioners had the most trouble articulating/least enthusiasm describing what it was that they wanted or needed in their schedules; they seemed to be suffering a strange collective ennui.

Greenlit: Wedding Town, Channel 4

Wedding Town (15 x 30′) –  Gretna Green is one of the world’s most famous wedding destinations and has been host to thousands of runaway weddings over the generations. This series follows the brides and grooms who have chosen to marry or renew their vows in the town over one summer. Set in the wedding […]

Factual Entertainment Commissioners: Difficult to Deliver

Ever so often a show comes along that changes the landscape and influences everything that comes in its wake: Big Brother (contributors/contestants/celebrities confined to one location for the duration of a series), Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing With the Stars (celebrities pairing with professionals to learn a skill and compete), One Born Every Minute (fixed-rig shows). The latest show to be spreading its DNA far and wide seems to be Gogglebox. At Sheffield Doc/Fest in 2015 a panel of Factual Entertainment Commissioners discussed their current needs.

Greenlit: Christian Louboutin: The World’s Most Luxurious Shoes, Channel 4

Christian Louboutin: The World’s Most Luxurious Shoes  – Christian Louboutin is the most famous shoe designer in the world. His vertiginously high stilettos with their signature lacquer-red soles grace the feet of the rich and famous and can cost up to £6000 a pair. Now, for the first time, Louboutin has allowed the cameras to […]

Greenlit: Over My Dead Body, Channel 4

Over My Dead Body w/t – It is all too easy to allow our health issues to stop us from living life to the full. Common conditions such as obesity, which afflicts millions, can really impact and impede so many aspects of day to day life. But why should we let them? This is an […]

Greenlit: Muslim Drag Queens, Channel 4

Muslim Drag Queens (1 x 60′) – Allows unprecedented insight into the clandestine gay Asian or ‘Gaysian’ community in the UK which provides a haven for young men who are unable to publicly reconcile their sexuality with their cultural identity and traditions. Homosexuality is widely deemed to be forbidden within Islam and the exhibitionist nature […]

Greenlit: Multi Million Pound Mega-Yachts, Channel 4

Multi Million Pound Mega-Yachts w/t (1 x 60′) – A behind the scenes look at the super-exclusive world of the South of France’s yachting community. At least 60m in length, the mega-yachts docked along the affluent ports and harbours on the Mediterranean coast are pinnacles of wealth, luxury and opulence. This film will be meeting […]

Greenlit: Fighting ISIS, Channel 4

Fighting Isis (1 x 60′) –  A documentary shot entirely by three former military officers which follows British men who have volunteered to fight Islamic State militants in Syria – providing unprecedented insight into the dangerous and brutal reality of ‘amateur’ fighting on the IS frontline. The British volunteers: Jac – a 22 year-old former […]

Science Commissioners: Go Big or Go Home

If you are tasked with developing science programmes you face a number of challenges: the number of channels that actively embrace science is small, and sometimes those channels – in an attempt to attract as broad an audience as possible – can disguise their science content so thoroughly that it ceases to be science in the eyes of actual scientists. This makes for some uncomfortable conversations when trying to research and develop a science series or talent scout potential onscreen experts. Nonetheless there are commissioning opportunities out there for those dedicated and determined enough. A panel of science commissioners at Sheffield Doc/Fest discussed what science programming means to them and what they are looking to to commission in the coming months. Interestingly although many programmes and approaches were mentioned, few of them were recognisable as science.

Greenlit: Battle of Britain: Heroes Fly Again, Channel 4

Battle of Britain: Heroes Fly Again w/t (1 x 60′) –  On 15th September 2015, the 75th anniversary of Battle of Britain Day, an estimated 40 Spitfires and Hurricanes from across the UK, USA and Europe will come together at the Boultbee Flight Academy, the world’s only Spitfire Flying School to take part in an historic […]

Greenlit: Battle of Britain: The Last of the Few, Channel 4

Battle of Britain: The Last of The Few w/t (1 x 90′) –  Churchill famously called them ‘The Few’. 75 years on from the Battle of Britain, only a handful of these heroes are still with us. This documentary explores the extraordinary human stories behind the Battle of Britain as fighter pilots, ground crew and […]

Arts Commissioners: Doing it, Not Just Talking About it.

In order to be successful when pitching to TV commissioners, it’s vital to know what they are looking for. This is harder than it sounds, despite many broadcasters now sharing their commissioning briefs online (via their commissioning portals), because they are often vague and sometimes out of date.

Another way to get a sense of what commissioners want is to attend a panel in which they outline their current needs. These panels are common at TV conferences and festivals around the world. Some commissioners are refreshingly candid, whilst other remain coy and seemingly reluctant to give away their secrets; others appear more interested in scoring political points against their co-panelists than helping the audience of producers understand what they should pitch. So they can be a mixed bag. And so it was with the Arts Commissioning panel at Sheffield Doc/Fest in 2015.

Greenlit: New Britain Street, Channel 4

 New Britain Street w/t (6 x 60′) – Series that explores what life is like in Britain for immigrants from different backgrounds. Channel: Channel 4 Producer: Love Productions TX: 2015 Source: Broadcast

Greenlit: Prince Philip: The Plot to Make a King, Channel 4

Prince Philip: The Plot to Make a King – Reveals the inside story of the dynastic tensions that were unleashed when the Queen fell in love with Prince Philip – tensions that would place huge strain on the royal marriage, and would shape the future of Elizabeth’s reign. The film will expose the extent to […]

Greenlit: The Other Prince William, Channel 4

The Other Prince William – Tells the tragic story of Prince William of Gloucester, the Queen’s cousin whose good looks and playboy lifestyle made him the idol of a young Prince Charles. Prince William, a pageboy at the Queen’s wedding and fourth in line to the British Throne at the time, was described as the […]

Greenlit: House of Hypochondriacs, Channel 4

House of Hypochondriacs w/t ( 1×60’) -Of the annual £100billion spent on the NHS, an estimated £2billion is spent on hypochondriacs. Dr Christian Jessen will put two hypochondriacs to work in the NHS in the hope of transforming them into healthcare assets.The rise in hypochondria, or health anxiety as it is now medically known, is linked […]

Greenlit: Posh Births, Channel 4

Posh Births w/t ( 1×60’) – Observational documentary in which Katie Piper will be exploring the vastly different approaches that modern women are taking to give birth. For many women giving birth is one of the most special and extraordinary experiences of their life, but there are some who are seeking out even more unique […]

Greenlit: Crash Test Dieters, Channel 4

Crash Test Dieters w/t (3x 60′) – In Britain today a massive 11 million of us – almost 1 in 6 – are on some form of diet, many in a bid to slim down for a particular event that falls within our own glaring self-imposed deadlines. Dr Xand Van Tulleken and dietician Hala El-Shafie […]

Greenlit: Made Over By, Channel 4

Made Over By w/t (4 x 60′) – Follows one woman who has lost her way in the wardrobe stakes as she meets with three different fabulous fashion tribes who are competing to give her attire and confidence a much needed injection of attitude. From Blinging Brixtonites and Tantastic Essex girls to happening hipsters, one […]

Greenlit: Never Seen a Doctor, Never Seen a Dentist, Channel 4

Never Seen a Doctor, Never Seen a Dentist w/t (3 x 60′) – Across the UK there are people who’ve never seen a doctor, a dentist or a surgeon, but who desperately need to. Katie Piper will be lifting the lid on those who’ve spent years neglecting themselves, be it through fear or financial worries […]

Greenlit: Movers, Mansions and Millionaires, Channel 4

Movers, Mansions and Millionaires  (1 x 60′) – Follows the crew of a removals firm that specialises in dealing with millionaires moving home. Channel: Channel 4 Producer: Boomerang TX: TBC Source: Broadcast

Greenlit: My Big Fat Wedding, Channel 4

My Big Fat Wedding (1 x 60′) –  It’s meant to be the happiest day of any woman’s life – her wedding day. But when you’re a plus size bride, finding the perfect dress, can prove to be a challenge. This observational documentary follows a very special bridal shop in the north of England which […]

Greenlit: 18 Kids and Counting, Channel 4

18 Kids and Counting w/t (1 x 60′) –  As well as owning the title of Britain’s biggest family under one roof The Radfords have fast become one of the nation’s favourite families too. Now that they’ve become one bigger, with the arrival of new baby girl Hallie. The documentary will chart exactly what the […]

Greenlit: Look Into My Eyes, Channel 4

Look Into My Eyes (1 x TX pilot) – A comedic prank show that follows the incredible talents of 21 year old magician and hypnotist Archie Manners. Hypnosis has the power to release latent abilities, unlock frustrations, cure addiction and remove chronic pain. Much better than that it can also be harnessed to make people […]

Greenlit: Very British Problems, Channel 4

Very British Problems  (3 x 60’) –  Series based on the Twitter feed Very British Problems that boasts over a million followers. The show marks the first time in the UK that a Twitter feed has moved directly to television and sees comedians and some of Britain’s best-loved famous faces, talking about the crushing weirdness […]

Greenlit: Guy Martin World Land Speed Attempt, Channel 4

 Guy Martin World Land Speed Attempt w/t –  Triumph, the iconic British motorbike brand, has confirmed its intention to break the motorcycle land speed record at the salt flats of Bonneville, USA, in August 2015. While the current record stands at 376.363 mph, the Triumph team is aiming to surpass that over the measured mile. […]

Greenlit: Secrets of the Sauna, Channel 4

Secrets of the Sauna (1 x 60′) – Documentary that goes behind the doors of a gay sauna in Nottingham. Channel: Channel 4 Producer: Firecracker Films TX: TBC Source: Broadcast

Greenlit: Me and My Mania, Channel 4

Me and My Mania (2 x 60′) – Pyromania, kleptomania and nymphomania are all well-known conditions but what lies behind them? These films exame the lives of six people who have an uncontrollable urge to set fires, gamble, have sex, shop, steal or give in to bursts of anger. What connects these conditions is that […]

Greenlit: Turn Up… The Nineties, Channel 4

 Turn Up…The Nineties (1 x 90′) –  A documentary that celebrates the most culturally significant decade of our generation – the Nineties. From Kate Moss to Damien Hirst, David Beckham to Oasis, today’s most influential celebrities rose to fame in this exciting and tumultuous era. This fascinating story charts the rise and fall of Cool […]

Greenlit: How the Other Half Wed, Channel 4

How the Other Half Wed w/t (1 x 60′)  –  This film looks at the high-end British wedding industry, with exclusive access to the work of Britain’s elite couture bridal shop Caroline Castigliano, a world where money is no object. It gives a unique and privileged insight into the world of how the other half […]

Greenlit: The Truth About Superfoods, Channel 4

In The Truth about Superfoods w/t – Kate Quilton will be taking to the skies (and beyond!) to investigate the purported health benefits of the self-proclaimed ‘superfoods’. Can any food on the shelf today actually justify calling itself “super”? Every day we are bombarded with far-fetched claims about the food we eat… the list is ever-growing […]

Greenlit: What’s it Worth? Channel 4

What’s it Worth? – Sees Dave Fishwick and Kate Quilton on a quest to see if and how the British public are being taken for a ride by businesses big and small. In each show they’ll be exploring the fine detail of the costs, logistics and production methods surrounding the everyday services and consumer goods […]

Greenlit: Northern Spirit, Channel 4

Northern Spirit w/t (1 x 60′) – Delves into the extraordinary world of northern clairvoyants, psychics and mediums. Whether it’s ghosts, energies or auras, millions of Britons are firm believers of the ‘other side.’ This observational documentary follows clairvoyants who are busy responding to the increasing demand for spiritual guidance in the North of England. […]

Greenlit: The Trainer and the Racehorse: The Legend of Frankel, Channel 4

The Trainer and the Racehorse: The Legend of Frankel (1 x 60′) –  This documentary tells the story of how Frankel became the ultimate champion racehorse and transformed the last years of charismatic trainer Sir Henry Cecil. After 25 years at the top, Sir Henry Cecil’s career had been in steep decline. But then he […]

Greenlit: Lookalikes, Channel 4

Lookalikes (1 x 30′) – Eastbourne. The playground of the world’s most famous people. Or are they? This ob-doc meets structured reality show, centres on the genuine Eastbourne based ‘Lookalikes Talent Agency’. Run by the (not so) one and only ‘David Beckham’ (aka Andy Harmer), himself an experienced professional lookalike, the Lookalikes Talent Agency is […]

Greenlit: Inside the KKK, Channel 4

Inside the KKK w/t (1 x 60′) – An observational documentary with exclusive access to the ‘Traditionalist American Knights’- a Missouri-based modern-day faction of the notorious Ku Klux Klan- at a time when, following the Ferguson Riots, they are actively attempting to recruit a broader and younger membership. The film will hear from and challenge […]

Greenlit: The Changing Room, Channel 4

The Changing Room – The changing room, the inner-sanctum of the high-street store. A place for relatively private reflection. Until now.  The fitting rooms of House of Fraser, New Look, H&M, Monsoon and River Island are rigged with cameras, and fashion expert Henry Holland is on hand to undress all of the drama, secrets, bitingly […]

Greenlit: Jaguar: The Car That Money Can’t Buy, Channel 4

Jaguar: The Car That Money Can’t Buy w/t (1 x 60′) –  A documentary which gains exclusive access to Jaguar, following the creation of what is arguably the world’s most exclusive car. Presented by classic car fanatic, Mark Evans, the film will follow Jaguar during the production of the elite vehicle known as the Lightweight, […]

Greenlit: Jamie’s Super Food, Channel 4

Jamie’s Super Food w/t (6 x ) – Jamie Oliver hits the road, this time travelling to some of the healthiest places on the planet to uncover the secrets of just why these areas have the most centenarians in the world. He’ll then bring all that knowledge back to the UK, providing us with easy, […]