Channel 4 is delighted to announce its first commission with start-up indie Cornick Productions. Titled ‘A Very British Space Launch’ Cornick’s one-hour observational documentary,which airs on Monday 28th August 2023 at 10pm on Channel 4, tells the dramatic inside story of Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit and their mission to be the first to launch a rocket into orbit from UK soil.
After closing an access deal to embed with Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit for the six months leading to launch, Cornick Production’s film charts the trials and tribulations facing Britain’s first homegrown attempt at a commercial space launch, which took place earlier this year.
The film includes interviews with ‘Stanny’, pilot of the mission. The film also has access to Melissa Quinn, who was Head of Spaceport Cornwall. Melissa champions diversity and women in space.
'Stanny', pilot of the mission
MD of Cornick Productions, Gareth Cornick says “This film is hopefully the first of many for Cornick Productions in this space, alongside our formatted series in development. Our director, Keaton Stone, lets you see just how hard it really is to build, engineer and launch a rocket. And our film opens up a heartwarming story about the people in Cornwall dedicating so much of their lives to making space launches a reality in Britain”
C4’s Science and Adventure commissioner, Jonah Weston added “We’re delighted to be working with Cornick Productions on this addition to the Science slate in Specialist Factual. Even though the Virgin Orbit launch was ultimately unsuccessful this documentary shows some of the incredible people involved in the industry and the complex challenges they face putting British engineering into space.”
Set up in 2021, Cornick Productions is headed up by Gareth Cornick - a former staff exec at October Films and Chimp Productions. His track record includes Amazon’s The Great Escapists, BBC’s Stargazing Live, Dave’s Lazy Boy Garage and Discovery’s hit US series Outrageous Acts of Science. Cornick Productions is aiming to become a leading player in the pop-factual and pop-science market.
Commissioning Editor for Channel 4: Jonah Weston
Commissioning Executive for Channel 4: Simon Lee
Executive Producer for Cornick Productions: Gareth Cornick
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