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ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Wales, ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Network, and Creative Wales are joining forces to co-fund the development of a major new factual entertainment series.

We will be inviting production companies with a substantive base in Wales to pitch bold, original ideas that celebrate Welsh creativity while delivering unforgettable entertainment to audiences across the UK.

Up to four companies will be selected for a paid development opportunity, with the ambition to commission a series in 2026.

Further details including a timetable and information about how to pitch will be available soon.

Editorial brief

We’re looking for an ambitious, returnable format, that surprises, unites, and captivates. Whether live, studio-based, or built around a compelling narrative arc, your idea should reflect the humour, heart, and imagination that make Wales so unique but will appeal to audiences across the UK.

Think big. Think distinctive. Think built to resonate far beyond Wales.

We’re especially excited by:

Bold, fresh approaches to competitive formats. Ideas that reinvent the genre with originality and flair. Whether gamified or prestige-led, these reality concepts should grab viewers from the very outset.

Talent-driven quests, adventures and endeavours with editorial substance. Not travelogues or observational journeys, but formats with structure, stakes and storytelling that go beyond moving from place to place.

Visually intriguing worlds that offer escapism and emotional stakes.

Grabby hooks, like the visual opening to Sort Your Life Out, the nail-biting tension that Dragons’ Den delivers and the invitational world of The Great British Sewing Bee - we want bold ideas that have a clear sense of purpose.

The idea must contain authentic Welsh portrayal, through location, voices and production infrastructure. We want ideas that could only be born in Wales but have the power to travel far beyond it.

Below are some points you may wish to consider, but these suggestions are meant to ignite your imagination, not limit it. We want to be surprised, and welcome ideas that challenge our expectations and go in a completely new direction. Show us something we didn’t see coming!

What’s the next evolution of competitive entertainment? What’s a new approach to the traditional whittle-down? Shows like Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star and Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr are huge hits, but what could the next breakout format look like? How might you elevate the genre, twist it, or take it somewhere new?

• How can your format test people and explore human nature in new and exciting ways?
• How will you surprise and wrong-foot the audience?
• Can you bring us unexpected names, unconventional worlds, and surprising approaches?
• How will you mix humour, levity, stress, and pressure, in ways we haven’t seen before?
• What creative way can you blend and weave a strong sense of place into the idea?

We’re open to all shapes of ideas from long form narrative arcs, like Great British Menu, to a reimagination of closed episodes like Sort Your Life Out and Amazing Hotels. Don’t be afraid to push past the expected and give us something bold.

Development phase

This development phase is in partnership with which exists to drive growth across the creative industries, build on existing success and develop new talent and skills.

Up to four companies will be selected for the initial paid development phase, and receive:

• £10K per company (£5K from ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½, £5K from Creative Wales)
• a ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ commissioning editor

Selected companies will then be invited to develop a full proposal, deck, or sizzle.

The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ will then decide which idea to progress to a non-TX pilot or proof of concept. Indicative tariff: up to £400K per hour.

Eligibility criteria

To pitch, companies must:

• have a substantive base in Wales, as per
• employ Welsh-based talent and spend the majority of production budget in Wales
• have a track record in factual entertainment formats
• have experience producing for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Wales or ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Network
• be capable of delivering a project of this scale
• be eligible for a ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ PiCoS account

Collaborations between indies are welcome, especially where a strong idea needs additional production experience. We are also open to discussions around third-party funding.

How to pitch

Further information about how to pitch along with a commissioning schedule will be published soon and shared at a briefing event in November.

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