Manchester-based Workerbee is producing a new reality competition show fronted by Golden Globe nominated actor James McAvoy for Channel 4.
The Bridge will see 12 strangers come together on the banks of a picturesque lake in the British countryside ready to face an “epic challenge” and the chance of winning £100k.
The prize pot lies out of reach on an island 250 metres away from where the contributors are based. To reach it, they must work together to build a bridge in 20 days.
The twist in the tale is that the team can vote for who they think is the most deserving of the prize – and that person then has to decide whether to keep the money or share it.
The five-part series, which will air later this year, is based on a format created by Zeppelin and is being made by Workerbee and filmed regionally.
Rick Murray, Managing Director for Workerbee, said: “The Bridge is an innovative and ground-breaking factual entertainment format and we’re thrilled to be making it for Channel 4 from our HQ in Manchester.
“Pulling together a show of this nature and scale in the current environment has been no mean feat but we’re raring to go and it is going to be fascinating to see if this cross section of people can work as a team even after months of lockdown.”
Phil Harris, Head of Entertainment at Channel 4, added: “This is such an exciting first reality commission for me and the Channel 4 entertainment department. The brilliant Workerbee have conjured up the entertaining twists, comedy and drama viewers associate with classic channel 4 reality, against what might be considered a traditionally more factual backdrop.”
Steve Handley, Commissioning Editor at Channel 4 said, “Filmed in the backdrop of the wide open spaces of the glorious UK countryside that many of us have been dreaming of in recent months this entertaining and utterly engaging new reality series is bound to start many conversations about just how far we would each go to secure £100k.”
The Bridge was commissioned for Channel 4 by Steve Handley, Commissioning Editor for Entertainment and Phil Harris, Head of Entertainment. It is a Workerbee production and the Executive Producers are Warren Smith, Rick Murray and Michelle Chappell.
