News round-up: CBS Reality orders true crime docuseries; RTVE returns ‘Joker’; Banijay UK names DE&I ambassador

Murder: Fight For The Truth

CBS Reality orders true crime docuseries

CBS Reality has commissioned Murder: Fight For the Truth, a new unscripted series from UK-based factual specialist Phoenix Television

The 10 x 60-minute series reveals the stories of heroes who went the extra mile when the odds were stacked against them to crack murder cases and bring killers to justice.  Cases include that of Julie Hogg whose mother changed an 800-year old double jeopardy law to convict her killer and three-year old Ashley McLellan who was found dead in an outdoor pool.

Sam Rowden, VP of content and production, AMC Networks International – UK, said: “Murder: Fight for the Truth has a unique perspective on murder cases because it allows us to champion and celebrate the work of extraordinary people – both professionals and family members – who were determined to solve the murder case they were involved with, and get justice.

Joker

RTVE returns ‘Joker’

Spain’s RTVE has renewed Global Agency quiz format Joker for a third season of 110 episodes.

Local production company Lavinia Audiovisual will produce the show, with the format originating on Turkish public broadcaster TRT.

The format sees a contestant given 10 questions to answer and seven Jokers to help them. For every correct answer, the contestants will go up one step on the money tree. Jokers can be used to eliminate wrong answers from the multiple choices offered.

But if they give a wrong answer, the contestant will lose three Jokers. After they have run out of Jokers, they will drop down three steps on the money tree with each wrong answer. By the end of the tenth question, they will win the money prize wherever they are positioned on the money tree.

Banijay UK names DE&I ambassador

Banijay UK has appointed Douglas Road (My Name is Leon) MD Angela Ferreira as its diversity, equity and inclusion ambassador.

In this newly created role, which will sit alongside her current responsibilities at the production company, she will work with internal and external stakeholders including CEO Patrick Holland, BUK Director of HR and Operations, and UK label heads to further develop the group’s diversity and inclusion strategy.

“I’m to take thrilled on this new role for Banijay who have made clear their commitment to broadening the range of people we employ and the stories we tell. This, combined with Douglas Road, is the perfect fit for me,” said Ferreira.

ITVX orders first factual format

UK streamer ITVX has commissioned its first factual format, Born From The Same Stranger, about people seeking their unknown blood relatives.

Produced by Wall To Wall Media, the series follows searchers, born from donors, as they aim to be united with potentially a host of brothers and sisters with one thing in common – their anonymous biological father.

The series commissioned for ITVX by Jo Clinton-Davis, ITV controller of factual, who said: “For many people born to anonymous donors, finding out the hidden stories of where they come from and who their blood relations are is a deep and long-held desire.  And as this series will show, their stories are moving, astonishing and reveal much about the human condition. “