The Model Agency

Founded by Carole White and her brother Chris Owen, the world-famous, Premier Model Management, are leaders in their field. They have nurtured some of the world's greatest models including Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Claudia Schiffer and Linda Evangelista. Unapologetic in their pursuit of perfection, Carole and her team of bookers must juxtapose the pressure of the office with the glamour, sweat and tears of the models at work.  This new seven-part series offers unprecedented access to the world of modelling.

Using a multi-camera documentary rig in a commercial environment for the first time, this series reveals the reality of daily life in the world's most glamorous industry.  A colourful cast of characters inhabit the high-octane world of The Model Agency.  From bookers, scouts, office assistants, to the models who pass through the doors of the agency, this series follows them all during the adrenaline-fuelled weeks of Show Season - in the office, at the fittings and on the catwalks of the Fashion Weeks in New York, Milan, Paris and, most crucially for this British agency, London. The Model Agency is an intimate and revealing look at a very private world where youth, beauty and money rule; and an industry that is envied, scrutinised and criticised in equal measure.

In the first episode, ‘New Faces', Premier are beginning one of their busiest periods - the September Show Season, kicked off, as every season, with New York Fashion Week. Business for the bookers table means organising their models for shoots, catwalk shows, castings, as well as the day to day running of the agency and liaising with ‘walk-ins', models' parents, scouts, foreign agents, designers and photographers. In individual interviews, away from the office, Carole and her bookers talk of their nerves around Fashion Weeks, the need to find "that girl", and the immense pressure to secure shows each season with their models.

The shows in New York, London, Paris and Milan are where the best emerging models - or ‘new faces' - are launched, and they are vital to the agency. Rumours are rippling through the office that one of their young models is showing signs she is overwhelmed in New York ahead of the shows and beginning to question if modelling is right for her. She is one of Premier's most anticipated girls and set to launch a huge career. Head of New Faces, Annie, is anxious to protect her fledgling and wants to ensure she avoids making a snap decision. This could not only jeopardise her future as a model, but also the years of hard work and preparation invested in her by Premier. 

Struggling to understand this unexpected turn of events, the agency works through with its usual jokey squabbles, jibes about cheap tattoos, and all important group fag breaks - as mother-hen Carole sends Annie on her way to New York to resolve their potential crisis.

For behind-the-scene clips, exclusive interviews and Q&As with the team at Premier, go to www.channel4.com/modelagency