Sales round-up: BBC goes ‘Searching For Italy’; ITV makes double reorder for ‘The Masked Singer’; Now TV & Discovery+ in slew of  ‘Anti-Vax’ doc deals

Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy

BBC goes ‘Searching For Italy’

UK pubcaster the BBC has acquired CNN Original travelogue series Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy.

The six-part series will launch on BBC Two and VOD service BBC iPlayer on 27 February, following the actor as he travels across Italy to discover the secrets and delights of the country’s regional cuisines.

In each episode, Tucci visits a different region or city of Italy, showing viewers how the diversity of Italian cooking offers a gateway through which they can glimpse Italy’s history and culture.

“It has been a dream of mine to make this show for many years and a great joy to make it with CNN and RAW. I am so honoured that it has been acquired by the esteemed BBC.”

The programme is produced by RAW and CNN. Executive producers are Adam Hawkins, Eve Kay, and Stanley Tucci for RAW, Amy Entelis and Lyle Gamm for CNN Original Series. It has already been commissioned for a second season.

The Masked Singer

ITV makes double reorder for ‘The Masked Singer’

UK broadcaster ITV has ordered two further seasons of entertainment series The Masked Singer from Scottish indie Bandicoot Scotland.

The Argonon Group-backed firm will produce fourth and fifth seasons, each 8 x 90-minutes, of the singing format that sees 12 masked celebrities take to the stage while an expert panel attempt to work out who they are from the pop songs they sing.

Bandicoot MD Derek McLean and creative director Daniel Nettleton commented: “The third series of The Masked Singer has underscored its’ unique position in British television as an unrivalled Saturday night powerhouse and the UK’s biggest entertainment show.

“The phenomenal audience reaction is evidenced by the vast viewing figures, fantastic fan engagement and unparalleled levels of social media sleuthing. We’re delighted that ITV has shown its long-term commitment to the show and with two new series of musical mayhem in the pipeline, we are already plotting the next spectacularly surreal season.”

The Anti-Vax Conspiracy

Now TV & Discovery+ in slew of  ‘Anti-Vax’ doc deals

Now TV in Hong Kong, BBC Select in North America and PTS in Taiwan have acquired the feature-length documentary The Anti-Vax Conspiracy from indie distributor All3Media International.

Further deals struck in Europe in this round of sales include with Discovery+ for Italian-speaking territories, while acquisitions have been signed with NRK in Norway, Sýn hf in Iceland, DPG Media in Belgium, CANAL + Polska in Poland, RTV Slovenija in Slovenia and Eesti Rahvusringhääling Estonia.

Produced by Caravan and Quicksilver Media for Channel 4 in the UK and Arte in France, the 1 x 90-minute film explores the origins and growth of the anti-vaccination movement and its impact on global efforts to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rachel Job, SVP non-scripted content at All3Media International, commented, “As the pandemic continues to impact us all, this deep dive into the anti-vaccination movement has been in strong demand from our clients, as reflected in this wide range of deals.”