27 July 2015
Award-winning Crackanory, Dave's hit show that puts a darkly comic spin on contemporary storytelling, will return for a third 6x40' series in partnership with Audible and produced by Tiger Aspect Productions.
The critically-acclaimed show, which has won a coveted Broadcasting Press Guild Award and been nominated at the Monte Carlo Television Festival, Broadcast and Broadcast Digital Awards, has already signed up Christopher Lloyd, Sarah Millican, Tamsin Greig, Greg Davies and Simon Bird to sit in the iconic Crackanory chair, with more stellar names to be announced in the coming weeks.
The new series was commissioned by UKTV's Senior Commissioning Editor, Hilary Rosen, ordered by Dave General Manager, Steve North, and the partnership with Audible was brokered by UKTV's Commercial Partnerships Manager, Kate Norum. Rosen and Tiger Aspect Productions' Andy Brereton will executive produce, with Arnold Widdowson from Tiger Aspect producing.
It will once again contain two stories per episode, each delivering a mix of narration, live action and animation. The tales, penned by some of comedy's most imaginative writers including Nico Tatarowicz, Holly Walsh, Toby Davies and Kevin Eldon, will be performed by a host of well-known faces, invited to unleash Jackanory from its childish shackles and let their dark, comedic minds run wild.
UKTV's Hilary Rosen commented,
Crackanory's unique style of story-telling has captured the imagination of both viewers and industry-critics alike. Stellar talent from here and across the pond are clamouring to sit in the iconic Crackanory chair and read one of the 12 twisted tales that will feature in the new series. I can't wait to unveil the full line up which promises to be a real treat for Dave viewers.
Crackanory will return to Dave in partnership with Audible, the world's leading source of spoken word audio entertainment. Under the partnership, Audible will receive bespoke sponsorship idents on both linear and VoD broadcasts of the new series. Members of Audible will also gain access to audio versions of their favourite stories from Season 3 of Crackanory.
UKTV's Kate Norum, said,
At UKTV the commercial partnerships team is embedded within commissioning and this unique way of working enables us to capitalise on opportunities to seek funding for existing shows from brands that feel tonally right and complement the programme editorial. This partnership with Crackanory is part of a wider initiative by Audible and their Media and Creative Agencies; Initiative and Fold7, to reinvigorate the pleasure of story-telling with a 21st century edge and therefore provides a perfect brand fit for Crackanory, we are absolutely delighted to be partnering with them on series three of the show.
Tracey Markham, Country Manager, Audible, added,
Everyone loves to listen to a good story - whatever age they are. Over the past ten years we've worked hard to reintroduce the pleasure of storytelling to people across the UK through our catalogue of audiobooks and other audio content. We're huge admirers of what Crackanory has been doing and see this partnership as a meeting of minds and objectives. This is a great opportunity to introduce Audible to a new audience, and we can't wait to welcome Crackanory stories to our site.
Last year's award-winning series, which peaked at 442k viewers (+50% vs. slot average), saw well-known personalities such as Simon Callow, Ruby Wax, Ben Miller, Sue Perkins, Emilia Fox and David Mitchell sit in the famous oversized chair. It also featured the much-missed comedy legend Rik Mayall in his final television appearance, reciting "The Weatherman", a tale penned by Tony Way (Extras, Spaced) about a weatherman who realises he can control the climate by making up forecasts.
Crackanory will join brand new show Taskmaster on Dave later this year, alongside a returning series of Dave Gorman Modern Life is Goodish. The channel is enjoying a period of unprecedented growth and is up 8% year on year, retaining its position as the UK's number one non-PSB channel. Its strong performance has been bolstered by Dave's bold commissioning slate which also includes Storage Hunters UK and Hoff the Record.
For more information, please contact:
Gem Pinkney, Publicist, UKTV
or
Kerry Parker, Head of Network Communications
or email pressoffice@uktv.co.uk
Notes to editors:
About Dave HD
Sky 111/232, Virgin 128, HD: 129, Freeview 12
Dave proudly presents a plethora of original commissions; award-winning Crackanory, Ross Noble Freewheeling, Dave Gorman Modern Life is Goodish, and Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled, all laden with the biggest names in British comedy. Not to mention a brand spanking new original series Hoff the Record, Undercover and Taskmaster.
There's national treasures like QI, Red Dwarf X, Mock the Week and Have I Got News For You, plus the Red Bull trilogy of Cliff Diving, X-Fighters and the Soap Box races. And of course, we still have Top Gear.
Dave is the UK's most watched non-PSB channel broadcasting to over 27 million people per month, featuring hit US shows including the sharp-witted and sharp-suited Suits, the ludicrously addictive Lizard Lick Towing and the wonder that is Storage Hunters and now original commission Storage Hunters UK, the gift that keeps on giving.
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