Cilla Black returns to boost Sky 1's autumn line up

by Nikki Sandison, Brand Republic 06-Aug-08, 08:25

LONDON - Sky 1 has unveiled a brand refresh to kick-start its autumn line up, which includes the return of Cilla Black to TV in a dating show called 'Loveland'.

Sky has refreshed the branding for all its family entertainment channels in time for the autumn schedule to better reflect the personalities of Sky 1, 2 and 3.

Former 'Blind Date' host Cilla Black will help hopeful singles meet their potential partners in 'Loveland' with the twist that contestants will hide behind computer-generated animated characters as they date each other.

The show ends with the contestant picking which animated character they prefer and then meeting the person they have chosen to date for real.

Richard Woolfe, director of programming for Sky 1,2 and 3, said: "Cilla is the undisputed queen of the dating show. There have been many pretenders to her throne but she remains in a class of her own."

Former EastEnder Ross Kemp features heavily in the autumn schedule with the return of his Bafta winning documentary series 'Ross Kemp on Gangs' for a fourth season.

Sky 1 will also air two Ross Kemp specials to accompany the series: 'Ross Kemp: A Kenya Special' and 'Gulf Kids of Kenya'.

The former features Kemp investigating the Mungiki, an outfit labelled as the most dangerous gang in Africa.

Fearne Cotton and Ben Shephard team up to host a new factual entertainment show 'Guinness World Records Smashed!', which invites members of the public and celebrities to topple some of the world's toughest records in front of a live studio audience.

Sky 1 has also secured the exclusive UK TV rights to 'Battlestar Galactica' prequel 'Caprica', starring Eric Stoltz, Esai Morales and Paula Malcolmson.

The two hour prequel promises to expand the Galactica world and get deeper into the origins of the story that gave rise to the Cylons.

Matt Groening's sci-fi comedy 'Futurama' returns after a five year break with 16 new episodes and 'The Simpsons' is back for a record-breaking 20th season.

The autumn line-up also includes 'Hairspray: The School Musical', hosted by Denise Van Outen, a Noel Edmonds special and a Wayne Rooney three-part series.