factual entertainment

“I have a one-off film coming up called Working Britney, where young up-and-coming comedian Buddy Dolphin (I suspect that’s not his real name) will live as a paparazzi photographer, working to get a photo of Britney Spears. As Britney faces custody battles and a drink-driving hearing, Buddy will experience the crazy LA scene that‘s worth millions. Hopefully this film will provide an intelligent and honest account of an infamous subject and her even more infamous press entourage.

I’m most proud of I’m Spasticus. Wittily entitled after an Ian Drury song (he had polio, you know), this was a little half-hour Comedy Lab – a hidden-camera stunts show starring disabled comedy actors, poking fun at the able community. Like an amputee running out of the Brighton seafront screaming ‘Shark!’ or a blind man asking a delivery woman to read out an embarrassingly pornographic letter. It was silly and fun, but more importantly it created a bit of a ripple in the comedy world, and a huge splash in the world of disability.

Non-derivative formats are a must; presenters who have opinion (and the authority to possess valid opinion); a sense of social purpose; and a dash of attitude. It’s hard to find suitable slots, but I’m committed to trying out new people in all areas. I’m always interested in presenters that don’t necessarily come from the perfectly-preened presenter’s mould, or are famous for being famous.”

Ruby Kuraishe: Editor, Factual Entertainment / E4, Channel 4

“My first two big 10pm series since I joined the channel are both exciting projects with big-name talent. One sees presenter Mark Dolan searching for extraordinary individuals like the smallest man in the world and the tallest woman in the world, in order to find out the truth behind the images of oddity. The other follows Neil Morrissey and his chef friend Richard Fox as they try to set up their own brewery. They should set a great new benchmark for the kind of tone we’re looking for in that slot.

I really need another series of 3 or 4 x 60 for 10pm for this autumn. It could be an authored journey, but I’m also interested in looking at forms we haven’t tried there for a while – perhaps a docu-soap, or even a multi-item show.

Everything we do in factual entertainment has to connect with a broad audience. It has to be wide-ranging in its appeal, but also rich in content and purpose. It has to be about something.”

Alistair Pegg: Editor, Factual Entertainment, Channel 4

“I have a series coming up called (w/t) Boys and Girls Alone. Ten boys and ten girls aged between 8 and 11 live in their own separate, adult-free villages. With increasing concerns about Cotton Wool Kids, the series creates a safe environment for them to rediscover their freedom.

Ambition and scale mark the work of this department. If I hear an idea and think, ‘I can’t imagine how we’ll be able to pull that off!’ then I immediately want to know more. I was immensely proud of Jamie’s Fowl Dinners; it was an innovative combination of entertaining event television and hard-hitting journalism.

My most pressing need right now is for another popular 9pm series. I’m interested in building formats around stories that are a marker of the current time. Grand Designs tapped into a genuinely new trend of self-build – where else are the middle classes exploring their dreams?

Over the next year we also want to launch a new generation of on-screen authors. Who are the new faces we should be considering to take on provocative stunts, immerse themselves in a world or tackle subjects with subversive wit? And what are the entertaining journeys they can follow to reveal real content and purpose?”

Dominique Walker: Commissioning Editor, Factual Entertainment, Channel 4