Channel 4 follows competition to give a dog a clone

11 October 2013

Channel 4 have exclusive access to follow a unique competition run by South Korean cloning company Sooam Biotech in a new one-off documentary, as they give one lucky British dog owner the chance to keep their beloved pooch by their side forever in The £60,000 Puppy (wt).  

In the competition run by Sooam Biotech, the only company in the world with the technology to clone dogs,  Britain’s most obsessive dog owners will compete to win the chance to ‘immortalise’ their canine best friend for free in a cloning process that usually would cost around £60,000.

Sooam Biotech has created 400 cloned dogs and they are now looking to expand their business across the world, kicking things off in the UK with this once in a life-time competition prize.

The observational documentary will follow the team from Sooam Biotech as they travel the length and breadth of the UK in search of a dog which is not only loved and wanted, but needed. The South Korean team will meet an array of eccentric dog lovers who cannot bear to think of life without their four legged friend, as they try to prove why they deserve the chance to have a backup dog ready, for when their original dog passes on.

The film will capture the competition from initial meetings between Sooam Biotech and dog owners through to the cloning process, - which will take place in Seoul, South Korea  -  to the emotional moment the winner is united with their cloned puppy. The £60,000 Puppy (wt) will explore the cutting edge science behind the cloning process as well as addressing the bigger ethical and philosophical questions that cloning a pet raises.

Commissioned for Channel 4 by Kate Teckman, Features Commissioning Editor, The £60,000 Puppy (wt) will be made by CB Films.  The 1x60’ programme will be executive produced by Malcolm Neaum Managing Director of CB Films and will be directed by Nick Angel. The programme will air on Channel 4 in 2014.

Of the commission, Kate Teckman said: “From the ethical and moral questions that programme will raise,  to looking at how the South Korean team of scientists view the British  and our love of their four legged friends, it will be a fascinating to see just how much our dogs mean to us.”

Malcolm Neaum said “We at CB Films are very excited to be following this, the world’s very first cloning competition. The cloning revolution has begun and it will be fascinating to see who the Koreans choose to give an exact copy of their dog -- costing as much as a new sports car.”

ENDS.