Channel 4 awards Belfast-based Waddell Media two commissions

Channel 4 has commissioned Waddell Media to produce an hour-long documentary following Countdown's Nick Hewer on a charity mission and recommissioned 4thought.tv, the flagship religious, moral and ethical series, for a third year.

Airing daily after the main Channel 4 News at 7 o'clock, 4thought.tv features an extraordinary mix of people of from all walks of life, talking directly to camera about dramatic incidents in their lives. The series, which has been praised for its willingness to give a voice to the otherwise voiceless, has gained a reputation for taking on some highly controversial subjects.

4thought.tv was commissioned by Ralph Lee and Lina Prestwood, Series Editor for Waddell Media is Eamon O'Connor.

Lina Prestwood says: "I'm pleased to recommission 4thought.tv - it is a hugely-valued series which continues to demonstrate, daily, that faith is still a vital part of people's lives in modern Britain."

Waddell Media has also been commissioned by Channel 4 to produce a 1 x 60 documentary following Nick Hewer as he drives 4,000 miles to deliver a saw to a young, struggling carpenter in Sierra Leone. He'll be travelling through some of the most dangerous countries in the world.  He'll be up against translation problems, third world mechanics, difficult border crossings and the dangerous ‘rainy season' but is determined to help this young man - who he first met two years ago. Nick Hewer's Road Trip (w/t) was commissioned by Ralph Lee and Lina Prestwood, the director is Nick Read and executive producers are Jannine Waddell and Robert Thirkell. 

Prestwood says: "It's great to be working with Nick Hewer and Waddell on this fascinating documentary, which follows him on an epic and wholly-unexpected charitable act - viewers can expect to see Nick in a new and surprising way."