Several months after introducing a third editorial pillar – namely for content that qualifies as “feel-good, entertaining propositions” – BBC Three has commissioned their first two series under the expanded remit.
Makeover series Glow Up, which is at its heart a competition to look for the next big make-up star of tomorrow, and relationship series Couples On The Couch have both been picked up at the online channel. Glow Up has received an order for eight episodes, while six episodes have been ordered for Couples On The Couch.
Glow Up will see a talented cast of hopefuls live and work together as they attempt to prove their potential to industry professionals from a multitude of worlds from fashion to film. With regular eliminations, the challenges will not only test their skills under pressure but also give them the opportunity to unleash their creative vision with jaw-dropping results. The series is being produced by Wall To Wall, with Melissa Brown serving as the executive producer. It was commissioned by BBC Three Controller Damian Kavanagh, and Head of Commissioning, Documentaries Clare Sillery. The Commissioning Editor is Emily Smith.
Couples On The Couch examines modern relationships and the pressures they face by following real-life couples as they bring their sexual and emotional issues to a specially rigged clinic. With the support of a team of experienced therapists, the couples will get to the heart of what’s troubling them; revealing their most intimate secrets, sharing their fears, facing up to uncomfortable truths or making a vital breakthrough via a series of highly-charged sessions. Away from the clinic they’ll be given exercises to try at home as they move towards a crunch point in their relationship. BBC Studios are producing, with Caroline Short and Rob Unsworth serving as executive producers.
“BBC Three’s audience have shown us they have a voracious appetite for our challenging current affairs and documentary content”, said Alison Kirkham, the BBC’s Controller, Factual Commissioning. “It is wonderful that we now also have the opportunity to deliver them entertaining factual programming – these two new commissions are the beginning of an exciting time for factual entertainment on BBC Three, and we look forward to developing many more titles.”
While BBC Three Controller Damian Kavanagh added: “When we announced that we were extending the focus of our commissioning on BBC Three, we wanted ideas that could bring a new dimension to the channel. Couples on the Couch promises to be a hugely relatable series because it will tackle universal themes for young people in relationships and looks at the changing ways couples deal with different pressures. Whilst Glow Up taps into a hugely popular market and has a competitive element to it that will get our audience talking – we can’t wait to show them on BBC Three.”
