EXCLUSIVE: Will Comedians Soon Be Kicking Around on ITV?
Insiders reveal that ITV is currently mulling over a new show format originally from the Netherlands titled Let’s Play Ball. In this competitive series, teams of comedians would compete against each other in a lively challenge involving moving a massive ball across diverse landscapes. Throughout the episodes, similar in style to Ninja Warrior, the teams would face physical obstacles and puzzles while navigating through different environments. Each episode could potentially showcase famous landmarks unique to the local version of the show, such as London’s Tower Bridge or Edinburgh’s Arthur’s Seat. The production companies behind Last One Laughing UK, Initial and Zeppotron—both supported by Banijay—are developing this concept in its early stages in the UK, though its final approval for airing is still pending. In the United States, Banijay’s Bunim/Murray has recently presented the show to prospective buyers.
Let’s Play Ball has quickly become a notable new show from the Dutch formats hub. The original version, produced by Talpa and initially featured on YouTube hosted by the popular channel StukTV, has attracted over 1.2 million views. Following its online success, it gained further popularity on Dutch television network SBS6. James Townley, a Banijay executive, mentioned that discussions are ongoing with several international buyers to create localized versions of the show.
Should Let’s Play Ball receive the go-ahead, it will join a recent trend of entertainment formats where celebrities engage in lighthearted competitions. ITV is also working on The Box, a new show hosted by Gary Lineker, in which celebrities are placed in yellow boxes and transported to various locations to tackle a mix of physical and mental tests. On another front, Prime Video is broadcasting its second season of Last One Laughing UK, another creation from Initial and Zeppotron.
The concept behind Let’s Play Ball shares similarities with Destination X, a popular Belgian guessing game that has recently made its debut in both the UK and U.S. markets.
Over the summer, Let’s Play Ball was highlighted as a Deadline Global Breakout. During this time, Banijay’s Sil Geurtsen praised the show as an excellent example of how producers can utilize YouTube effectively. If ITV decides to advance with Let’s Play Ball, leveraging the burgeoning content creator scene could be a strategic move for the network.
As of now, ITV has not provided any comments regarding the ongoing development of the show.
Daniel Hayes is a business journalist with a focus on market trends, startups, and corporate strategies.
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