Granada and NBC partner for new celebrity reality show

by Sam Matthews Brand Republic 21-Jun-05, 11:00

LONDON - Granada America and NBC Universal are teaming up to produce a new reality TV series, this time with celebrities who want to be make it as popstars.

'I'm a Celebrity but I Want to Be a Pop Star' will feature a mixture of soap stars, actors, presenters, athletes and society boys and girls battling it out to be voted the US public's favourite celebrity-come-popstar.

Craig Plestis, senior vice-president of alternative programming at NBC Universal, said: "Everyone secretly wants to get on stage and become a popstar -- and celebrities are no different. The new series will allow viewers to see who's really entitled to live out that dream."

The signing comes as a raft of UK shows have hit the big time in the US. First, ITV's 'Pop Idol', renamed 'American Idol' for Fox Networks, became the most popular US TV series to date. Channel 4 has scored with 'Wife Swap', renamed 'Trading Moms', and then the BBC's 'Strictly Come Dancing' format morphed into 'Dancing with the Stars', where it is receiving rave reviews and record audiences on the ABC network.

Even ITV's Saturday night ratings flop 'Hit Me Baby One More Time' has proved successful with US audiences -- debuting on NBC earlier this month with the highest ratings for a new unscripted series premiere in two years.

Paul Jackson, chief executive of Granada America, said: "I'm so pleased that these big music extravaganza shows, which have long been a staple in the UK market, are now being embraced in America."

If the series takes off in the States, it is likely the format will be made for UK audiences.

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