Channel 4 & Screen Scotland Confirm Scottish Comedy Entertainment Pilot Tender Won By Tuesday’s Child Scotland and Interstellar Co-Pro

10 June 2024

Tuesday’s Child Scotland and Interstellar have secured funding to co-produce a brand-new comedy entertainment pilot, James Acaster: People Person (w/t), for Channel 4.

The 1x60 non TX pilot was co-developed by Interstellar with Tuesday’s Child in Glasgow, and will be produced, filmed, and edited in Glasgow this summer. The commission was secured as part of an entertainment production initiative from Channel 4 and Screen Scotland who will co-fund the pilot .

Hosted by comedian James Acaster, James Acaster: People Person (w/t) celebrates people from all walks of life by making them the inspiration for a comedy quiz. Led by James, a panel of comedians predict which person from a line up of people is the answer to each question. Audience participation is heavily encouraged as they play for a chance to win a share of a prize fund, making for a raucous and energetic gameshow.

Tuesday’s Child is a multi-award-winning entertainment and popular factual format specialist, with a substantive base in Glasgow since 2019. The company has a strong track record in Scotland, working closely with local vendors to produce, film and edit a host of shows including BBC primetime series, The Hit List presented by Rochelle and Marvin Humes; Head Hunters for BBC; and three series of the BAFTA Scotland nominated and RTS Awards-winning travelogue, Extraordinary Escapes with Sandi Toksvig for Channel 4.

Interstellar, was founded by Managing Director David Williams and Creative Director Jamie Ormerod, and has produced hit shows including Richard Ayoade’s Question Team for Dave, Singletown for ITV2 and the forthcoming comedy reality hybrid Battle In The Box with Jimmy Carr. In 2023, Tuesday’s Child acquired a majority stake.

James Acaster said: "This is more than just a pilot. It's the co-pilot, flight attendants, passengers and the bloke with the paddles on the runway. This is about people. And I'm a people person. Let's do this"

David Smith, Director of Screen Scotland said: “Scotland-based production companies have enjoyed considerable success in entertainment, quiz and comedy in the last few years and it’s great to work with Channel 4 to further develop this capacity. TV production across the UK is undergoing significant change, and the impact on freelance workers has been profound. This initiative is just one of the ways we are focused on increasing the levels of production from Scotland, increasing opportunities for Scotland-based talent and crews.”

Edwina Madden-Egan, Development Executive for Tuesday’s Child Scotland said: “Tuesday’s Child in Scotland is growing year on year, and to win this commission alongside Interstellar allows us to continue to work with brilliant local talent and cement our Glasgow base as a leading specialist hub for quality entertainment and factual output.”

Jamie Ormerod, Creative Director of Interstellar said: “Working with James to create this format for Channel 4 is hugely exciting. Expect inventive games and stunts that defy expectations of a traditional panel game and that celebrate the undeniable fact we’re a nation of weirdos. Each, and every one of us.”

Cimran Shah, commissioning editor, Channel 4 said: “We were super impressed by the talent and creativity of entrants during this tender process in collaboration with Screen Scotland. James Acaster’s People Person (WT) was one of the ideas that stood out as a simple, scalable and clever concept with stellar talent attached and a clear opportunity to develop a new generation of channel[1]defining comedians. We cannot wait to see the final product later this year.”

The pilot was commissioned by Head of Reality and Entertainment, Steven Handley and Commissioning Editor, Cimran Shah for Channel 4. Colette Magee serves as Production Executive for Tuesday’s Child Scotland. Steph Harris, Creative Director and Jamie Ormerod, Creative Director for Interstellar serve as Executive Producers, with Will Brown as Series Producer.

Ends

About Screen Scotland

Screen Scotland drives development of all aspects of Scotland’s film and tv industry, through funding and strategic support. Screen Scotland is part of Creative Scotland and delivers these services and support with funding from Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Find out more at screen.scot and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

About Tuesday’s Child

Tuesday’s Child Television is a UK-based independent production company specialising in creating and producing entertainment, comedy and popular factual formats. It was launched in September 2012 by Karen Smith, co-creator of Strictly Come Dancing / Dancing with the Stars with Creative Director, Steph Harris joining shortly after. Tuesday’s Child are the format creators of the multi award-winning LEGO Masters which is now produced in over 20 territories and more recently ITV’s reality competition, The Fortune Hotel. They are also the creators and producers of multiple hit shows across a broad range of platforms I the UK and across the Globe, including: six seasons of The Hit List for BBC One; four seasons of Guessable? for Comedy Central; three seasons of the RTS winning Extraordinary Escapes With Sandi Toksvig for Channel 4 and the Rose D'Or Nominated documentary The Boy Who Can't Stop Dancing for Channel 4; Apocalypse Wow and Ghost Bus Tour for ITV2 and two seasons of Killer Camp for ITV 2 and The CW; Queens For The Night and multiple seasons of the award winning You’re Back in the Room for ITV1 (this format has also been produced in ten international territories).

About Interstellar (www.interstellar-tv.com)

Founded in 2020 by Managing Director David Williams and Creative Director Jamie Ormerod, Interstellar create and produce brand new comedy entertainment, popular factual and reality formats for the UK and international markets. Interstellar’s shows include two series of the comedy entertainment format Richard Ayoade’s Question Team for Dave, forthcoming comedy reality hybrid Battle In The Box also for Dave, reality dating show Singletown for ITV2 now produced in 5 territories, the immersive digital first gameshow Razor Sharp for 4Studio and Lucozade and Show Me the Honey! with Maddie Moate for CBBC.

About Channel 4

Channel 4 exists to create change through entertainment. Publicly owned yet commercially funded, Channel 4 generates significant and sustainable cultural, economic and social impact across the UK – at no cost to the taxpayer. The broadcaster’s distinctive remit is set by Parliament, and it has a role to represent unheard voices, challenge with purpose and reinvent entertainment. For more than 40 years, it has been a British success story, engaging generation after generation of young people. With a unique publisher-broadcaster model, Channel 4 commissions its content from the UK independent production sector. Working with hundreds of creative companies every year, Channel 4 makes a major contribution to the local, regional and national economy, creating and supporting thousands of jobs and businesses across the country. In 2024, Channel 4 launched its Fast Forward strategy to accelerate its transformation into an agile and genuinely digital-first public service streamer by 2030. It is designed to ensure Channel 4 embraces the generational shift in TV viewing, elevates its impact across the UK and stands out in a crowded market. From its bases in London, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol and Glasgow, Channel 4 is fully committed to harnessing the power of its regional structure to increase its impact across the UK. Through its training and development initiative 4Skills is opening up opportunities in broadcasting, with a particular focus on disadvantaged young people and addressing skills gaps across the Nations and Regions. 4Skills invests £5m in training, development and learning opportunities annually and this will double to £10m by 2025. Channel 4 has the UK’s biggest free streaming service. Through Film4 Productions, Channel 4 also invests in British filmmakers to huge critical acclaim, producing 43 Oscar wins and 97 BAFTA wins in its history