Factual Entertainment, Features & Entertainment

This team is:

 

Steve Gowans - Head of Factual Entertainment, Features and Entertainment

Ian Dunkley - Commissioning Editor for Factual Entertainment & Features

Greg Barnett - Commissioning Editor for Entertainment, Daytime & Soaps

Anna Humphries - PA to the Head of Factual & Head of Factual Entertainment and Sport.

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What we are looking for...

 

19.30 slot

We are looking for long running returnable half hours to play in this time slot, weeknights. They should be broad based in appeal but are likely to skew towards soap avoiders.

 

Budgets are tight in this part of the schedule and, while we are always happy to commission into the slot, there are even better opportunities for co-productions, reversions and Advertising Funded Programming at 19.30.

 

Successful shows in this slot have included male skewing science & technology magazine formats such as How Do They Do It? (with Robert Llewellyn), institutional access pieces like Highland Rescue, motor magazine show Fifth Gear and Broader shows such as Extraordinary Dogs, Starlight: For the Children and Chinese Food in Minutes (all three which are AFP shows).

 

20.00 and 21.00 slots

Returning commissions include Extreme Fishing with Robson Green and Rory and Paddy's Even Greater British Adventure - hugely entertaining travelogues fronted by presenters with real big name recognition. What other big names can we get on the channel? What are they genuinely passionate about? Or is there a journey they can undertake that is pure entertainment? These are shows that really punch above their weight in the listings and EPG - what and who else could get us that level of recognition?

We are also responsible for the long running consumer magazine strand The Gadget Show. Is there another magazine show we could run at 20.00? Is there another area that we could completely own, as with gadgets, that would have a similar appeal for a young, male skewing audience?

We continue to look for standout features ideas in territories we can own, or with new twists on areas that others aren't doing. Cowboy Builders has been a big success for us - a mainstream twist on both consumer affairs and property shows that allows for shared viewing. The Hotel Inspector continues to flourish and is an area that we own. What other areas could be ours? What other undiscovered talents and experts are there out there who could take ownership of these areas in the way that Alex Polizzi does on The Hotel Inspector?

We're also always in the market for a returnable constructed doc format - what could be our Apprentice, Faking It or Secret Millionaire?

Docusoaps also continue to do well for us at 20.00. From Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers (access to the legendary haulage company), to supersize Grime (access to giant cleaning projects in all their filthy glory) we are always looking for access to new and fascinating worlds that offer up an alternative to the soaps, features and continuing dramas that often play elsewhere in this slot.

22.00

There are always opportunities for quick turnaround, timely popdocs on big pop culture stories - the Russell Brand/Jonathan Ross 'Sachsgate' scandal, for example - or for timely biographies e.g. profiles such as those on Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole, which were timed around the launch of Britain's Got Talent and the X Factor, or Ant n' Dec, around the launch of I'm a Celebrity....

We are also looking for younger skewing series at 22.00 - we have an upcoming docusoap There's Something About Josie, a baffling, hilarious and hugely entertaining game show, Impossible, and a couple a big new reality formats on the way. 

Celebrity access pieces also work well in these kinds of slots - JLC v Steven Seagal was one of our top young skewing programmes of the year.

New list show ideas are always gratefully received as well - it might feel like they've all been done, but a new spin always seems to turn up - and playing at 21.00 or 22.00, these 2-3 hour treats prove regular successes for us - particularly as event programming around bank holidays and special events.

We’re sorry to say that as Channel 5 does not have an in house production arm so we are unable to accept ideas from individuals. 

If you do have an idea that you think may work for the channel, may we suggest you approach production companies who specialise in the area you are developing for.