New multi-million pound game show with Hollywood theme awarded second series before first has even aired
ALL eyes are on the new James Bond-themed show 007: Road To A Million which represents a huge investment, and something of a gamble, for Prime Video.
As well as the £9million being offered up in total prize money, the streaming service also has the cost of hiring Succession star Brian Cox as host of the new series.
But I can reveal Prime Video is so confident with the finished result that it has ordered a second series before the first has even aired.
A TV insider said: “There have been plenty of shows that have involved big corporations ploughing millions of pounds into dazzling projects hoping they’ll be a golden goose, only to end up with a turkey.
“Thankfully, that’s not what’s happened here and Prime Video is so pleased with series one they’ve greenlit the second.”
Top production company 72 Films has just put out a casting call for contestants who want to appear in the second series.
The debut show won’t even drop on Prime Video until later this year but already expectations within the TV industry are high, not least because this is the first James Bond themed TV spin-off.
I revealed last month how a huge prize fund of £9million is set aside for the new show, which features Brian playing “The Controller” of all the action.
Contestants will pair up in a bid to pocket the ultimate prize of a million quid for winning — and there are nine couples taking part in the competition.
All they have to do is complete a series of dangerous missions in all sorts of amazing locations around the globe.
So even if they don’t win the money, at least they will get an adrenaline rush and experience the joy of travelling.
Dr Whohoo
GOOD Lord, new Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa seems to be having a good time in the new series of Sex Education, which starts on September 21.
His character, Eric Effiong , is seen getting some steamy action in a toilet cubicle, while his pal Otis Milburn played by Asa Butterfield appears to be starkers in another scene.
Meanwhile this fourth and final season also sees new mum Jean Milburn, played by Gillian Anderson, getting to grips with being a parent all over again.
Ncuti’s going to find playing The Doctor dull compared to all this.
Snog on for mum and dad
FANS of My Mum, Your Dad should brace themselves for the imminent arrival of first big snog of the series.
We see Paul and Natalie locking lips on the ITV1 dating show for parents, after several days of spending time together and clearly developing some chemistry.
The moving moment is teased at the end of tonight’s show, but the lead up can be seen in all its glory tomorrow.
If you’re wondering what they’re wearing too, it’s school uniform because the contestants take part in a school disco themed party.
Meanwhile, show host Davina McCall revealed on This Morning yesterday that presenter Josie Gibson has her eye on one of the contestants.
It turns out she has a soft spot for silver fox widower Roger . . . her and almost every other female viewer, apparently.
THE air date of the Great British Bake Off has been revealed by Channel 4.
The new series starts on September 26 with Alison Hammond making her debut on the show as host alongside returning presenter Noel Fielding and judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood.
Adam: Hit bits are missed
FORMER Love Islander Adam Collard reckons he knows why the ITV2 dating contest isn’t getting the same ratings it used to.
Talking on the Chloe Vs The World podcast, with fellow former Love Islander and Celebs Go Dating pal Chloe Burrows, he said: “All of the good bits of season four, the best kick offs, came from the Twitter challenge, the lie detector.
“All of them got stripped out now because it’s to look after people.
“In my personal opinion, if you sign yourself to be on that show you should be like, ‘This is what you have to handle now.’ And that’s why they’ll never get the same views as seasons four, five and six. Because it’s not as dramatic.”
A good point, surprisingly well made.
Big clue from Duty Jed
THE BBC has yet to confirm my exclusive story that there’ll be another series of Line Of Duty – but the show’s creator Jed Mercurio certainly seems to be dropping big hints.
Martin Compston, who plays central hero cop DI Steve Arnott on the BBC One cop thriller, revealed this while talking on the xxxx podcast.
He said: “We’ve got a WhatsApp group that was Line Of Duty 6, and then just a while ago Jed changed the name of it to Line Of Duty 7.”
But he seemed to carry out any damage limitation by quickly adding: “There absolutely is no immediate plans, because Jed’s on (the screenwriters’) strike, we’re all filming different stuff.”
Jed also gave fans encouragement saying: “We would love to, but at the moment there’s no news.
“But I think one of the points is that it’s important in terms of stuff getting out into the public domain that we play our cards close to our chest, and what we don’t do is tease.”
I’m not sure you’re a doing great job there, Jed.
ITV has confirmed the documentaries and bespoke content that will air on ITV1 and stream on ITVX next month as part of its Black History Month programming.
The shows include Our NHS with The Sun’s Dr Zoe Williams, Black In Fashion and For Crown and Country.
Ry tried King’s speech
RYAN REYNOLDS has been learning how to be the perfect British gent, not for a movie role – but to meet the King.
In the new series of Welcome To Wrexham, which has just dropped on Disney+, Ryan and co-owner Rob McElhenney – who bought the Welsh football club for £2 million in 2020 – hired an expert to mind their p’s and q’s.
They hoped impressing the royals might help secure £20m in government funding to buy a new stand for for the club.
King Charles and Queen Camilla do visit, but the plan fails and they’re baffled as to where to find the eight-figure sum now they’ve already spent millions buying players.
Ryan says: “I’ll sell one of my children. I have four now – I don’t even know their names.”