Jason Manford opens The Money Pit on Dave

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27th May 2015

Comedian and actor Jason Manford is joining forces with UKTV's leading comedy entertainment channel Dave for The Money Pit. The series is an exciting new entertainment format that sees ordinary people risk their own money to invest in the bright ideas and small businesses of hopeful entrepreneurs.

Manford will play ringmaster, as dozens of amateur investors - with anything from £100 to £20,000 to invest - decide which entrepreneurs, inventors, local tradespeople, artisans and tech creators to back. In return, they'll get a share of the company or a special reward.

Fast-paced and funny, it's the power of the crowd - as entrepreneurs compete for investors' cash in The Money Pit. There's everything to play for - because investors can change their minds right up to the end of each episode, when there will be frantic, last minute movements of money as the crowd flocks to one entrepreneur and abandon another.

The show taps into the popular trend of crowd-funding, bringing it to life in an intense, arena-style setting that will see rivalries develop between strong-willed investors who fancy themselves able to spot the next big thing and entrepreneurs fighting for funds.

Manford said,

I'm inviting all those people with some spare cash that they're thinking of hiding under the mattress, or sticking on the 3.15 at Haydock Park to join me in The Money Pit instead. It's their chance to invest in real life entrepreneurs who could make them serious money. Who knows, if they back the right one they might be able to buy a race horse of their own - or a really big mattress!

The Money Pit is made by Liberty Bell Television, with Michele Carlisle and Jamie Isaacs as executive producers and Pat Doyle series producing. Catherine Catton from UKTV commissioned the series as Dave continues to expand its original programming.

Isaacs said,

This series really turns things on their head, because - for once - it's the man or woman in the street who get to play God. You don't have to be rich and nasty to spot a good investment opportunity - this is all about the wit and the wisdom of the crowd.

Catherine Catton, Senior Commissioning Editor for UKTV adds,

We are thrilled to be working with Jason Manford who will bring wit, warmth and energy to this interesting new show that seeks to bring the excitement and jeopardy of crowd-funding to life.

Steve North, General Manager for Dave said,

It's exciting to launch a new entertainment format which combines intelligence with Dave's witty humour to deliver a series which our audience will love. We have had a huge success with original series on Dave with commissions like Dave Gorman Modern Life is Goodish and Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled coming back again and again.

-ENDS-

For more information please contact Gem Pinkney, UKTV Publicist
or email: pressoffice@uktv.co.uk

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