³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Worldwide Channels announces a slate of new lifestyle and adventure titles, acquired for the global audiences of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Lifestyle and ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Knowledge.

From the culinary prowess of Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsay and Heston Blumenthal, through to the high-energy capers of Jack Osbourne and showpiece weddings of four battling brides, the shows will take some of the UK's best known faces to new audiences in Asia, Africa and Poland and offer inspirational ideas for home and life.

Bun Scrase-Dickins, VP Acquisitions, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Worldwide Channels said, "This is a fantastic set of programmes for our international networks. As well as being proven ratings winners, the series appeal to the diverse tastes of our viewers and demonstrate the breadth of programming on our channels."

In a territory premiere for Africa, series one of Jamie Does (6 x 60') is set to air from Winter 2010. The show follows Jamie to six countries that he has never visited before, where he uncovers their vast culinary differences and gets inspiration for up to a dozen new recipes in each show.

In another territory premiere for Africa, series one of Jamie's American Road Trip (6 x 60') sees the chef delve into the depths of American society to uncover fascinating personal stories, try real American food and meet the most interesting but unsung chefs and food producers the country has to offer. The epic journey takes Jamie to the heart of America: its people, culture, music and most importantly, its food.

In Jamie at ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ, (series one and two, 26 x 30') the chef returns to what he does best: cooking at home with simple, accessible ingredients, including fruit and vegetables from his garden. Each programme is themed around one primary ingredient; be it the different varieties of tomato or how to cook different cuts of lamb. On the way, Jamie also looks at how easy it is to grow your own produce, sometimes in weird and wonderful ways.

The three titles will air in the Summer, with a one hour Christmas special of Jamie at ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ to follow at the end of the year.

Jamie's Family Christmas (5 x 30') reveals Jamie's own secrets for stress-free family festivities. Filmed at the chef's Essex home, and featuring his family and friends, the series includes everything from succulent turkey, stuffing and gravy, to perfect vegetables, great ways to use leftovers, light meals, puddings and party food and drink. The series will broadcast at the end of the year.

The Jamie Oliver series have been acquired from FremantleMedia Enterprises.

From Optomen, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Worldwide Channels has acquired more popular cookery titles featuring Heston Blumenthal and Gordon Ramsay for the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Lifestyle network.

In a territory premiere for Africa, Asia and Poland, Blumenthal resumes his journey back in time in Heston's Feast (series two, 7 x 60') to find out whether the future of food lies in the gastronomy of our past. Among the lavish feasts Heston prepares are a 'Willie Wonka' spread based on Roald Dahl's famous Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and an eye-popping Gothic banquet that takes inspiration from iconic works of horror such as Frankenstein, Dracula and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

In Gordon's Great Escape we see Gordon Ramsay leave his hectic professional life behind as he embarks on a pilgrimage for fresh flavours. Series one sees him travel across India before crossing South East Asia in the second series.

Series one (3 x 60') and series two (4 x 60') have been acquired as territory premieres in Asia, Africa and Poland from 2011.

The chef also returns to aid struggling restaurants in series three of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmare USA. Each week a different establishment receives the Gordon Ramsay treatment as he dispenses with polite small talk and reveals a few home truths to restaurant owners and managers. The show will air pan-territory on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Lifestyle from January 2011.

Battle of the Brides
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Lifestyle has also picked up series one of Four Weddings (10 x 60'), which finds four brides rating each other's big days to win a dream honeymoon. With four competitive brides and four extremely different nuptials, Four Weddings is an entertaining journey through the thrills and spills of each bride's special day. From posh traditionalists and budget brides to control freaks and pagan ceremonies, while one contestant says "I do", the other three guest brides cast judgement and secretly score each special day.

Four Weddings has been acquired from ITV Global and scheduled to air in Africa from Winter 2010.

Adventure on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Knowledge
For ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Knowledge in Asia, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Worldwide Channels has secured five key titles from Jack Osborne's adventure strand, charting his transformation from celebrity boy to rugged man. The series include Jack Osbourne: Adrenaline Junkie (3 x 50'), Jack Osbourne: Adrenaline Junkie - No Fear (4 x 50') and Jack Osbourne: Adrenaline Junkie - The Recruits (8 x 50'). Completing the set are Jack Osbourne: Mongol Rally (2 x 50') and Jack Osbourne: No Limits (series one and two, 8 x 50' & 6 x 50').

All five titles come from Target Entertainment and will air across Asia from July 2010.

Harriet Otoo