BBC commissions celebrity jury show from RDF

by Joe Lepper, Brand Republic 07-Sep-06, 14:10

LONDON - The BBC has commissioned a celebrity jury show from RDF Television called 'The Verdict', where 12 well-known faces will sit in judgment on a case.

The show will run on BBC Two and Three, as well as online and via mobile phones, and has been funded by the corporation's Think Big Fund, set up to support multi-platform broadcasting.

So far the only celebrity confirmed is former cabinet minister Michael Portillo who, along with 11 others, will hear evidence on a fictitious case, improvised by actors and contested by real barristers and overseen by a real judge.

The BBC Two show will broadcast highlights from the trial, with a BBC Three spin-off showing their deliberations at a hotel afterwards. Viewers will also get the chance to register their own verdict and get email and SMS updates.

Richard Klein, BBC commissioning editor, who commissioned the programme, said: "'The Verdict' is a really exciting new proposition that examines the jury system in a lively and accessible way. As a cross-platform, interactive event viewers will really be able to get involved and play a full part in the proceedings throughout the trial."

The show, which is the latest in a recent run of reality celebrity shows including ITV's 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!' and 'Love Island', will begin filming this autumn and transmit next year.

RDF's previous hits include 'Faking It' and 'Location, Location, Location', which ran on Channel 4.

Meanwhile, the BBC has commissioned a Christmas cookery show featuring Nigella Lawson. This is the first cookery show made for the BBC by Lawson, whose previous show 'Nigella Bites' was a hit for Channel 4.

The show, by Flashback Television, will screen on BBC Two this autumn and has the working title 'Nigella's Christmas Kitchen'.

If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the Forum.