Channel 4 has commissioned a new series of Maverick's award winning Embarrassing Bodies, specifically targeting the illnesses and ailments associated with being overweight. As the UK’s waistline continues to expand, Embarrassing Fat Bodies (w/t) will address not only embarrassing physical conditions caused by obesity, but also the long lasting effects on the body internally and externally, even once a person has lost weight. The four part series expands further the brand which has already featured specials such as Embarrassing Teen Bodies, Embarrassing Old Bodies, and next month will see the launch of Embarrassing Bodies: Kids.
And after the continued ratings success of the main Embarrassing Bodies series (the current run is averaging a hefty 3.4m viewers and 13.5% share of viewing, up 17% on series 2), Kate Teckman, Features Commissioning Editor has commissioned a further 18 episodes. Kate Teckman says: “It’s a testament to the fabulous team at Maverick in Birmingham who every week comb the UK hunting down cases that help to demystify some of the most ordinary and extraordinary conditions. It’s quintessentially Channel 4 and PSB with capital letters!”
It has been announced that in 2010 Maverick is launching a groundbreaking digital project with the NHS, which will provide online health resources and information, accessible to NHS staff and the public in the West Midlands. Maverick is leading a consortium of health and digital organisations to deliver a unique interactive information service.
Maverick Television is producing Embarrassing Bodies Live, a ground breaking live turnover web show which will transmit exclusively on channel4.com/bodies immediately after episodes of the new series of Embarrassing Bodies. The 20 minute show will be shaped and driven by viewers of the Channel 4 programme who can have their questions answered, discuss their experiences and even have their conditions diagnosed online in real-time.
Dragons’ Den star Theo Paphitis will present a new 7 x 60” series produced by Maverick Television for BBC Two: The Buying Game goes behind closed doors at some of the biggest names in UK retail to expose the secret world of buying for the first time. In a twist, these buyers won’t be turning to their trusted suppliers for the next big thing. Instead they’ll be gambling on the talents of the British public in their quest to find the best and most innovative new products. For the fledgling designer, this is a chance in a lifetime. Filming begins in February. Apply for the show here.
Founder and Digital Media Director of Maverick Television, Jonnie Turpie has been made an MBE for services to international trade. Congratulations Jonnie!
The nation’s favourite subject gets its own ten part series as Nadia Sawalha presents extraordinary stories of ordinary people caught up in extreme weather events in the UK. From flash floods to freak hailstorms, suburban homes swallowed up by the earth and terrified teens hit by lightning, Living Dangerously investigates what happens when the full force of nature strikes - and how to protect yourself, your home and your family from disaster.
The Golden Twits, the first annual Twitter awards, have taken place, with @4Homes picking up the award for Live Broadcast for our work tweeting along with shows like Relocation, Relocation and The Home Show. Other winners included the Compare the Meerkat campaign, Manchester City Football Club, Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne and Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger. Winners had to keep their acceptance speeches to 140 characters or less.
Entrepreneurs, Inventors, Designers - Britain's High Street Wants You! Do you believe you’ve invented the next Dyson? Concocted a successor to Innocent Smoothies? Discovered the next Protect and Perfect face cream? Then the BBC wants to hear from you! You can find information here.
The new eight-part series of Embarrassing Bodies will be shown in Spring 2010. As part of the new series, Maverick Television is producing Charlotte’s Story, which revisits a nine year old who first went to the clinic with verrucas and has consequently had a bone marrow transplant after a rare disease of the immunity system was diagnosed by Dr Christian Jessen.
Maverick Television has produced three special episodes of How To Look Good Naked for Channel 4 to be transmitted in the New Year. Gok Wan meets three women with zero body confidence and who all have a disability. Di lost her sight at the age of 28 following penicillin poisoning in her teens. Tracy is in a wheelchair because of a cystic tumour on her spine. And Clare lost her leg after a motorbike accident. Gok turns out every trick in his book – as well as learning a few new ones - to try to get these women to see just how gorgeous they are.
