Channel 4, Back2Back, Mercury, marry for “Unofficial Royal Wedding”
Posted on: April 4, 20114 April 2011
Adam Benzine
© Real Screen 2011
Channel 4, Back2Back, Mercury, marry for “Unofficial Royal Wedding”
UK terrestrial Channel 4 (C4) has commissioned indie prodco Back2Back Productions to produce The Unofficial… Royal Wedding, an alternative documentary take on the William/Kate union, which will air 48 hours after the royal marriage, realscreen can reveal.
The quick turnaround project will be shot from Thursday April 28 to Saturday April 30 – the day after the wedding – and will follow around a dozen people representing a cross-section of the UK public, gathering their unique takes on the regal event.
It aims to uncover the significance of the event to the nation’s psyche and its attitudes to the monarchy, and will air the next day, on Sunday, May 1, at 10 p.m. GMT.
The project will be distributed internationally by MercuryMedia International, which – like Back2Back – is chaired by former ITV director of programmes Simon Shaps. Mercury will offer the title to international broadcasters an hour after its transmission by C4.
“The uncertainty and unpredictability of this project is what drew us to want to distribute this,” MercuryMedia CEO Tim Sparke told realscreen in Cannes. “We’re not exactly sure how it’s going to turn out, which is what makes it so exciting to be involved with.”
Read more: Real Screen