UK’s Red Sauce expands after bumper C5 factual order

Bargain Loving Brits In The Sun

Zinc Media Group’s UK factual label Red Sauce is expanding its London and Manchester production and development teams following a 52-hour order from broadcaster Channel 5.

The ViacomCBS-owned channel has commissioned Bargain Loving Brits In The Sun – Costa Living, a new 40 x 60-minute series, which will be produced by Red Sauce in Manchester.

As a result, Red Sauce is growing its team to more than 100 production roles, with the majority of those based in Manchester. The label was set up by Zinc last year, with former BBC commissioning editor Tom Edwards at the helm as creative director.

Expanding the existing Bargain Loving Brits brand, the obs-doc spin-off series will follow the lives of British ex-pats who have moved to Spain for a new, sunnier life. It is executive produced by Ben Smith for Red Sauce at Zinc Media.

The order comes alongside recommissions of the original show, Bargain Loving Brits In The Sun (6 x 60-minutes), and UK-based Bargain Loving Brits By The Sea (6 x 60-minutes), which are already in production.

It also comes on top of a 10-part series order for Red Sauce’s London team, for Special Ops: Crime Squad UK, from UKTV-owned Dave, last week.

“We’ve had a fantastic response to the launch of Red Sauce,” said Edwards. “Volume commissions of returning series are the holy grail – and very precious. It enables us to invest in great production talent in both London and especially in Manchester, and significantly grow our presence.

“We are also in the final stages of confirming a brand-funded series, as well as being in paid development on a high-profile talent-driven project, both for major broadcasters. And we will soon announce new hires that will double the size of our development team. It’s an extremely exciting time.”