25 years after shooting to fame in BBC docusoap ‘Airport’, Jeremy Spake returns to TV screens as part of a BBC drive to launch new factual entertainment shows.
Inside The Airport: The Return Of Jeremy Spake (working title) sees the former Aeroflot Ground Services Manager welcomed back by Heathrow’s CEO and major airlines to discover the realities and key challenges they face in a post-pandemic world.
Meanwhile, Ruby Wax, Melanie Brown and Emily Atack follow in the footsteps of pioneering traveller Isabella Bird as they set off on their own American adventure across the Rocky Mountains, in new BBC Two series Trailblazers.
For BBC Three, Warrior Island (working title), follows eight young people who want to transform their body and mind.
On BBC One, celebrity couples will put their relationship to the test in Unbreakable.
And following a successful pilot, popular engineering and adventure series, The Speedshop will return on BBC Two.
Broadcasters are increasingly pinning their hopes on factual entertainment alongside landmark dramas as traditional primetime soaps struggle in the ratings. In recent years, Channel 5 has stolen the BBC’s thunder by introducing a raft of quick turnaround factual shows to fill evening schedules.
Catherine Catton, Head of Commissioning, Popular Factual and Factual Entertainment, says:
“Factual entertainment at the BBC is in fantastic shape with an inspirational, distinctive slate of programming that speaks to the broadest possible audience.
The new commissions I’m announcingdemonstrate the strength of the department, with exciting new shows that engage with timely issues and bring some much needed escapism and fun.