Channel 4 commissions One Direction documentary

Channel 4 has today ordered a brand new one-off documentary from Mentorn Media called ‘I Heart One Direction (w/t)’ meeting some of the boy band’s biggest and most passionate young fans from around the world.

In just two years, UK boy band One Direction has become the biggest global pop phenomenon since The Beatles. Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik have over 10 million followers on Twitter and have enjoyed extraordinary success since grouping together on a TV talent show becoming the first British group ever to enter the US Billboard chart at Number 1 with their debut album.

The boys’ youthful enthusiasm and clean-cut style has earned them an army of female fans - both young and old - who refer to themselves as the ‘Directioners.’ These fans are a very different breed to the boy band fans that came before them, when social media websites didn’t exist. Now, thanks to Twitter, Facebook and web chats, the ‘Directioners’ are closer to their idols than ever before and can even message and interact with them directly.

Directed by the award-winning Daisy Asquith, this 1x60’ documentary will air later in the summer as part of Channel 4’s flagship documentary strand Cutting Edge. It will get under the skin of this new 21st century style of young fans to find out what it means to be a true ‘Directioner.’

'I Heart One Direction (w/t)' was ordered by Emma Cooper, Commissioning Editor at Channel 4 who says, ‘I am incredibly excited about this Cutting Edge film and proud to call myself a fellow ‘Directioner.’ It’s brilliant to have Daisy Asquith involved who I know will make a young and joyful  documentary that will give a voice to the millions of the 1D fans who love and follow them obsessively.’

Tayte Simpson, Executive Producer at Mentorn Media adds, ‘We are delighted to be making this film showing what it is like to be a ‘Directioner.’ It will offer a fascinating insight into a new breed of idol worship.  Social media has created huge communities which connect millions of fans in a way that was never possible before.  One Direction’s use of social media to diarise their inner thoughts gives fans a sense of intimacy and ownership, fuelling strong emotions.’