More 4 acquires major new dramas Scandal and Nashville

11 October 2012

More 4 has acquired the UK premiere broadcast rights to two major new dramas:  Scandal from ABC Studios and Nashville from Lionsgate Television. The announcement was made today by Channel 4's Chief Creative Officer, Jay Hunt, in conjunction with Dayna Donaldson, Disney's executive director, Media Distribution, UK & Ireland, and Roberta Ibba-Hartog of Lionsgate Television.  Other new commissions announced for the channel in 2013 include Simon Hopkinson Cooks, 16 Kids and Counting and Fanny and Friends.

From the creator and executive producers of the multi award-winning Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice, political thriller Scandal is set against the back drop of Washington DC and centres around the  behind-the-scenes machinations of ex-White House communications director and now high flying, crisis management firm owner Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington - Ray). Scandal will broadcast on Thursday 25th October at 9pm.

Love, power, money, family and music are at the heart of the highly anticipated drama Nashville which sees legendary country music icon Rayna Jaymes (Connie Britton - Spin City, American Horror Stories) struggle to maintain her place in the spotlight while an ambitious rising pop vixen Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere - Heroes) is snapping at her heels. Academy award-winning Callie Khouri (writer of Thelma & Louise) executive produces.

Damian Kavanagh, Head of Features and Factual Formats, has commissioned cookery series Simon Hopkinson Cooks. The Ricochet produced 6 X 60 series, will see food writer and former chef Simon Hopkinson serve a variety of menus whilst providing the key techniques necessary to achieve professional food at home.

16 Kids and Counting More will take an in-depth look into the lives of Britain's biggest families. Following on from the enormous success of 15 Kids and Counting in 2012, this 7x60 series will return to some of the ever expanding mega families featured in the first series whilst introducing a few new giant broods. Commissioned by Lucy Leveugle, Commissioning Editor, Factual Entertainment, and produced by Lion Television.

Bossier than Delia, more glamorous then Nigella and ruder than Gordon, Fanny Cradock was the queen of British cuisine for over 20 years and in this one off programme, she's back from the 1970's, cooking and screaming, into the 21st century for Fanny and Friends. The 1x30 was ordered by Katie Boyd, Commissioning Editor, Features and is a Boundless/Talkback (a part of FremantleMedia UK) production. Fanny and Friends is part of a night of cookery programmes on More4 to support Stand Up To Cancer.   

Jay Hunt said: "With two more critically acclaimed US series and a raft of new popular factual shows, More 4 is growing its reputation as a destination for entertaining, intelligent TV."

 

Further programme information:

Scandal

Both revered and feared, Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington - Ray) has dedicated her life to protecting the public images of the nation's elite and, together with her expert team, will do whatever it takes to keep their secrets under wraps. Her clients however, are not the only ones with secrets and she may need to exercise her best damage control skills to save herself.

Former communications director to the President of the United States, Olivia has left the White House to run her successful crisis management firm Pope & Associates but ex- boss, President Fitzgerald Grant (Tony Goldwyn - Ghost) and his chief of staff, Cyrus (Jeff Perry - Grey's Anatomy), are never far from her beat.

Hoping to start a new chapter in her life, both professionally and personally, she struggles to leave her past behind and her dysfunctional staff, who specialise in fixing other people's lives, can't quite fix the ones closest at hand - their own.
Olivia's accomplished and dedicated staff include Stephen Finch (Henry Ian Cusick) who has dated his share of women but is trying to settle down and have a family; Harrison Wright (Columbus Short), a slick litigator; Huck (Guillermo Diaz), hacker extraordinaire; investigator Abby Whelan (Darby Stanchfield) who has an enduring crush on Stephen; and Quinn Perkins (Katie Lowes) the new young woman in the office who is in awe of Olivia, but is initiated in a trial by fire on her very first day on the job.

The series is produced by ABC Studios and created by Shonda Rhimes (Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice). Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers (Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice) are executive producers and Judy Smith is co-executive producer.

 

Nashville

Country music legend Rayna James'(Connie Britton - Spin City, American Horror Stories) star is fading fast when her producers offer her a joint tour with up-coming starlet Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere - Heroes), the young and sexy future of country music.

Both singers are pursuing their own agendas - Juliette has plans to upstage her tour partner while Rayna believes that songs written for her by gifted author Scarlett O'Connor (Clare Bowen) will help to revive her success.

Rayna's father Lamar Hampton (Powers Boothe - Deadwood, 24), a powerful politician in Nashville, forced her to marry free loader Teddy Conrad (Eric Close).

 

Simon Hopkinson Cooks

Simon Hopkinson is on a quest to uncover the origins, nostalgic histories and culinary genius of the people and places behind some of the best recipes ever created.

Across the series, Simon will visit a selection of the UK's most revered restaurants, hidden gems and key chefs and cooks who have helped shaped the UK's gastronomic map. Inspired by these, he will produce menus featuring famously delicious dishes. Simon will guide viewers through the rules of making a range of first and main courses, offering a mix of recipes and some of Simon's own signature dishes - all tried and tested to perfection.

From the comfort of his own kitchen, Simon will reveal the secrets behind creating these classics, empowering viewers to achieve professional and delicious meals at home.

Simon loves to cook and has a burning desire to help others to cook better. This series will unveil Simon's genius and tap into his extensive knowledge to help people cook better than they've ever cooked before.

 

16 Kids and Counting More

Dissecting the extraordinary daily life of Britain's largest families, 16 Kids and Counting will examine how day-to-day tasks taken for granted by most families, are tackled by those the size of a football team and more.

The series will show how calculating the cost of food, making the school run, teatime, bath time and bedtime are all monstrous tasks for these enormous families so how do they handle moving house, deal with going on holiday or even family weddings?!

 

Fanny and Friends

This modern cookery show will see the world through Fanny's eyes, to take a fresh and funny look at the current state of cooking in Britain. Leading impressionist Debra Stephenson takes on the incarnation of Fanny and teaches viewers how to make 21st century versions of her original swinging 60's recipes. 

Fanny is determined to regain her crown as the queen of TV cookery and she will tackle an array of recipes, with the help of the ever faithful Johnnie, which will include prawn cocktail and crepe suzette.

Fanny and Friends is part of a night of cookery programmes on More4 to support Stand Up To Cancer.  The night will also feature links from Fanny into a selection of shows featuring the channel's best culinary talent. The night will feature How To Cook Like Heston, Gok Cooks Chinese and Jamie's 30 Minutes Meals.