Dave asks talent to splash the cash in new comedy commiion

The UK's number one non-PSB channel, Dave, which attracts over 26 million viewers per month, has today announced the commission of a brand new comedy travel series starring well-known television faces.

The announcement comes after UKTV, which owns the popular entertainment channel, revealed it is on course to invest a record £110 million in programming in 2013 across its network of 10 channels.

Dave, which is enjoying a significant boost in adult share year-on year (up 22%), has commissioned Renegade Pictures to produce Spending Dave's Money (5 x 60') - a series which travels the globe, dropping celebrity duos in unfamiliar places and challenging them to spend up to £10,000 of Dave's money in just 24 hours. However, there are some strict rules in place: the double acts must have absolutely nothing to show for their spending spree and they can only gamble away 10%, which they can place on strategic bets they hope to lose. Plus, the globetrotters will face an outrageous forfeit if they fail to spend every last penny of the local currency.

Some of the UK's best-loved personalities are pairing up to take on the challenge. Phil Tufnell will join forces with Susan Calman, while David Baddiel will team up with comedian Richard Herring. More talent will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Spending Dave's Money is scheduled to air on Dave from Q2 2014. The series was ordered by UKTV Senior Commissioning Editor Richard Watsham and General Manager of Dave, Steve North and is being overseen by UKTV Commissioning Editor, Hilary Rosen.

Rosen commented,

Renegade has come up with an exciting and unique format that completely fits with the witty and edgy nature of Dave. Spending Dave's Money puts an unconventional spin on the hugely popular comedic travelogue format by taking the money, and ultimately the control, out of the producers' hands, and giving it to the talent. That's what makes it such an exciting and unpredictable watch full of fast-paced, off-the-wall adventure - absolutely anything could happen.

North added,

This is another incredibly exciting commission to add to the raft of new shows that Dave has been bringing to our audiences. Dave is always looking to work with great talent to push the boundaries of smart, irreverent and witty TV and we believe this show will absolutely do this. Following our celebrities as they're forced to splash the cash in creative and ingenious ways in such a short space of time should make for very entertaining TV.

Renegade Pictures' Director of Programmes, Harry Lansdown, who is executive producing the series, said

It's a very bold commission that takes Dave into exciting places and forces some of the UK's funniest, most popular personalities out of their comfort zone, as they battle with the challenge of getting rid of the cash in a country they've never been to before.

Spending Dave's Money follows a raft of brand new commissions including Crackanory, Ross Noble Freewheeling and Dave Gorman's Modern Life is Goodish. Dave's continuing success has contributed to UKTV's overall SOCI (share of commercial impact) figure, which recently hit an all-time high of 9.17% of the total market in August. UKTV also this month posted record revenue of £262m for last year.

ENDS

For more information please contact: Gemma Pinkney, Publicist, Dave

Lara Feinstein, Corporate Communications Coordinator

About Dave Sky channel 111, Virgin TV channel 128, Freeview 12

Satirical and edgy, Dave is the home of witty banter. Featuring the best in contemporary entertainment including Suits, QI, Red Dwarf X, Mock the Week and Have I Got News For You. Dave also showcases popular original series, such as Dave's One Night Stand, Dara O'Briain's School of Hard Sums, Alexander Armstrong's Big Ask and Jo Brand's Big Splash, all laden with the biggest names in British comedy.

www.joindave.co.uk / @join_dave

About UKTV UKTV is the multi-award winning media company that reaches over 42 million viewers per month.

UKTV's ten imaginative channel brands - Watch, Dave, Gold, Alibi, Eden, Yesterday, Drama, Really, Home and Good Food - include the number one channel in the Factual genre, the number one channel in the Lifestyle genre (pay and free) and the most famous channel and programmes in the Entertainment genre.

UKTV has a truly innovative model, curating brand-defining commissions, high-profile acquisitions and the very best of BBC and Channel 4 content, and embracing technology to deliver inspired channels to audiences through Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT Vision, YouView, TalkTalk on YouView, plus direct On Demand digital services. The network distributes its highly valued programmes to 200 territories around the world.

Now celebrating its 21st year at the forefront of digital television, UKTV - an independent commercial joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (SNI) - is proud to be the only British broadcaster to be recognised by Best Companies.

corporate.uktv.co.uk / @uktv_press

About Renegade Pictures For the past six years the now Shed Media-owned indie has been supplying broadcasters around the world with ground-breaking, high quality television content across many genres.

Productions range from the global format hit Dont Tell The Bride to the renowned World's Most Dangerous Roads series and encompasses big entertainment shows like Popstar to Opera and insightful documentaries like Closing Guantanamo.

Renegade has built series around some of the biggest names in British television including Sarah Beeny, Claudia Winkleman, Cherry Healey, Rhod Gilbert, Greg Davies and Heston Blumenthal.

www.renegadepictures.co.uk

LINK:	http://corporate.uktv.co.uk/news/article/dave-asks-talent-splash-cash-...
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