NETFLIX's TRIO

Dutch/German prisoners and an intergenerational talent show

CHOCOLATE, BOXES AND CHEATERS

Netflix is very active on the unscripted side at the current time, with a number of new formats having just launched or about to launch. Let's take a look at three of them.

The first, and the one that has generated the most hype, is The Golden Ticked, a competition series based on Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Netflix acquired The Roald Dahl Story Company in 2021).

This is how the show is described on the official Netflix website: “Just like Charlie Bucket and the other children in Roald Dahl’s original 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a group of lucky contestants will have the chance to step into the whimsical wonderland — and to enter, you’ll need a coveted golden ticket. To achieve sweet success in this high-stakes social experiment, players will have to adapt and strategize, as a golden ticket only gets you so far. Wonka’s guests must withstand games, tests, and temptations designed to prove their instincts, resilience, and ability to thrive in the chaos of a retro-futuristic dreamscape."

The location and premiere date for The Golden Ticket will be announced at a later date, and casting will begin soon. Of course, everything is still very much under wraps and it is impossible to get a clear idea at the moment. However, it seems that not only will we be entering Dahl's world in a scenographic and visual way (as in the case of the recent Harry Potter: Wizard of Baking), but that there will also be an interesting creative concept. Let's hope so.

The second is Million Dollar Secret, that aired last Wednesday 26th March, produced by Wheelhouse U.K. and Spoke Studios, and hosted by British actor and comedian Peter Serafinowicz.

"Twelve strangers enter a sumptuous lakeside estate and in each of their rooms is a mysterious welcome gift — a box," the streaming giant says of the show. "Eleven of the boxes are empty, but one contains $1 million and the money is for that guest to keep — as long as they manage not to let on that the prize is in their possession."

In each episode, the millionaire is tasked with a secret agenda that they can complete and use as an advantage in the game. Meanwhile, all the players will participate in daily guest activities where they can win strategic opportunities to sniff out the millionaire. Over nightly dinners, they'll try to eliminate the correct person — which is very round table coded, if you ask us. Each time a millionaire is booted from the game, the money moves to someone new, but there's also the opportunity to ditch the cash and survive another day if the heat gets too much.

A thriller game that takes its cues from some recent formats: ITV's The Fortune Hotel, (very similar as a concept), but also Crave's House of Secrets, which we reviewed in the 14 March issue.

And finally the third one is Cheat: Unfinished Business, from Lifted Entertainment, and 12 Yard Productions, (both ITV Studios companies), hosted by Amanda Holden, which is coming to Netflix next month.

The series focuses on eight ex-couples whose relationships have ended due to infidelity. As they gather for a retreat, relationship expert Paul C. Brunson will actively guide each couple through their issues in the hope that they can face up to their past mistakes, rebuild trust and move forward - either together or apart. Will the cheaters be able to fight for forgiveness and win back the hearts of those they have betrayed? Or will they have to say goodbye to their relationship forever?

DUTCH (AND GERMAN) PRISONERS

Het Jachtseizoen (‘Hunting Season’) is a Dutch show on StukTV (a Dutch multimedia platform with whose most important part is the YouTube channel) in which famous Dutch people play the role of a criminal on the run: 3 hunters have the task of catching the fugitive(s) within the allotted time.

In October 2024, a 'supersized' version, Het Jachtseizoen Most Wanted, was launched on Videoland, an OTT service provider owned by RTL Nederland, and now this 'Hunted-style' format, with the 'simple' title Most Wanted, is expanding to Germany, with an imminent premiere on the streaming platform Joyn (and it has just been confirmed for a second season in the Netherlands, always on Videoland).

A group of celebrities has made a spectacular escape from a maximum security prison somewhere in the country. This has not gone unnoticed by the three hunters, who immediately give chase. For five days the hunters chase the celebrity fugitives, who have to stay out of sight without any modern conveniences. Stripped of phones, money and resources, the fugitives must find places to sleep, eat and travel undetected - all while wearing bright orange prison jumpsuits.

Meanwhile, the hunters have the upper hand, equipped with gadgets such as GPS trackers, drones and real-time travel information as they hunt from their mobile base, determined to capture the fugitives before time runs out. Can the famous fugitives evade capture for five days, or will the three hunters be able to outsmart them one by one?

GENERATIONAL ZENITH

The talent show Zenith, produced by Quebec's KOTV and distributed by KO Distribution, premiered live at prime time on ICI Radio-Canada on 19 January 2023 and was immediately optioned by Mediawan Productions for all French-speaking territories in Europe. Eureka Productions did the same for Australia, Banijay Italy for Italy, Tresor TV for German-speaking territories and Mediawan Finland for Finland.

Now Canada is producing the 3rd series and the format has been optioned by Endemol Shine Brasil and the Mexican company Endemol Shine Boomdog for their territories. Other companies/countries are interested in the format.

Each week, on a large arena-like stage, four singers from different generations compete against each other in front of 100 judges, divided into four generational groups: Gen Z, Gen Y, Gen X and Boomers. Each artist performs hits from different eras and must also sing a song in karaoke mode without rehearsal. At the end of the season, the winner will be the voice that can win over all generations.

It's a format that focuses on intergenerational clashes, which are very popular at the moment, because when they work, they bring the whole family together in front of the television.

---

NEWS IN A NUTSHELL

• Following its success on Play4 in Belgium as Kamp Jeroom, Primitives' The Ultimate Celebrity Car Park Showdown is now coming to Portugal and the Netherlands. Each episode of this fun competition show pits three celebrity duos against each other in a series of wild and unexpected challenges - all set in an underground car park.

• BBC Factual and BBC Scotland have commissioned Race Against the Tide, originally produced for CBC Canada, to be hosted by comedian Iain Stirling. On a Scottish beach eight talented teams go head-to-head in a high stakes contest, not only competing against each other but also against Mother Nature to produce amazing sand sculptures.

• Tempting Fortune returned for a second series on 16 March on Channel 4, co-produced by GroupM Motion Entertainment. Now Sky Italia has ordered a six-episode series from Italian producer Blu Yazmine. AcunMedya is in production for a second season for Mexico's TV Azteca, alongside first seasons for Greece and Romania. The Voltage TV format has also now been optioned in 15 countries worldwide.

• The genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are?, produced by Wall to Wall Media, is slated to return to BBC One and iPlayer this spring. The latest series of the acclaimed genealogy show will see eight celebrities uncover astounding revelations as they dive into their families’ heritage.

• UK commercial broadcaster ITV has commissioned interactive quizshow format Win Win with the People’s Postcode Lottery.

• The Spanish adaptation of the All3Media International format Sexy Beasts will be available on Flooxer, the youth brand of the Atresplayer streaming platform, owned by Atresmedia.

• Australia’s ABC has set an April 21 premiere for Claire Hooper’s House of Games, a new nightly quiz show adapted from the BBC format Richard Osman’s House of Games created by Banijay UK shingle Remarkable Entertainment.

• Endemol Shine Iberia's imitation show Tu Cara Me Suena will be available on Spanish Disney+ the day after it airs on Antena 3, as well as on atresplayer for free for 14 days after its premiere.

• Telefe announced the return of the musical talent show La Voz Argentina.

• ERRATA CORRIGE: The 7 March article about the London TV Screenings incorrectly stated that Switch Up was an All3Media format. We apologise to those involved and to our readers.