Unscripted lineup includes '70 Up,' the final chapter of the pioneering documentary series '7 Up'
ITV Studios has unveiled 10 new titles on its Mipcom formats slate, led by “The Chase Around the World,” and also revealed the unscripted lineup, which includes “70 Up,” the final chapter of the groundbreaking documentary series “7 Up.”
“The Chase Around the World,” a multi-country treasure hunt, is a spin-off of ITV’s game show “The Chase.” The series, comprising six hour-long episodes, is produced by Bright Entertainment for British broadcaster ITV.
The show sees six pairs of contestants attempt to track down some of the biggest brains in Britain – six individuals known as The Chasers – in undisclosed locations across Europe. Unravelling puzzles along the way, the winning pair will pit their knowledge against The Chasers in order to win a life-changing prize pot.
Also new to the slate is endurance experiment “Expedition Into the Wild.” The show had a very successful launch on Kanal 5 in Sweden, where it became the number 1 commercial title in its timeslot, outperforming the slot average by 60%, and has been commissioned for a second season. The show, which comprises 12 hour-long episodes, is produced by ITV Studios Sweden.
In the show, eight celebrity city dwellers with almost no survival skills are dropped into a remote natural environment for 18 days. Working in pairs, the contestants have only basic tools and limited food. They must build shelter, source supplies and tackle survival challenges.
“Celebrity Escape,” produced by Perpetual Entertainment for Three in New Zealand, sees seven comedians take on one of the most popular and fastest-growing activities in the world: the escape room.
Each hour-long episode of the show sees the comedians working as a team to navigate the puzzles, clues and scares of a new themed room, before voting out their competition.
All the while, another comedian, known as the Games Master, watches from the control room, chiming in to help or hinder as they see fit.
Over the six episodes, alliances shift, egos clash, and pressure builds as the group shrinks. In the finale, the last two contestants face a head-to-head escape where only one can win.
New food-entertainment series “Next on the Menu,” produced by South Shore for the U.K.’s Channel 4, sees four food superfans battle to create the next menu hit for a global brand, from Wagamama and KFC to Taco Bell and Krispy Kreme.
Each contestant must pitch, prototype and perfect their dream dish with their creations then stress-tested for taste, kitchen feasibility, and trialled with real customers, to win a place on the menu. The show is in four parts, with each episode an hour long.
Also new to the slate is “Apocalypse,” a new social experiment show from The Garden and ITV Studios Australia. It was the biggest unscripted original launch since 2024 for Binge, the Australian streaming service, and one of Channel 4’s biggest young-skewing entertainment launches of this year.
The series, which has eight hour-long episodes, sees 16 ordinary people enter an abandoned town that bears all the hallmarks of being ravaged by an apocalyptic event. With no running water, heating or electricity, they must survive for 28 days, scavenging for food and supplies and by reusing and repurposing anything they find.
“Secret Garden,” narrated by David Attenborough in the U.K., also joins the slate. The show, comprising five 60-minute episodes, is produced by Plimsoll Studios. It was the BBC’s biggest new factual series since 2025.
The series uncovers the wildlife stories hidden in the places we know best. Each episode follows one garden over an extended period, capturing animal behavior rarely witnessed by human eyes – from raising families and defending territories to hunting, courting and surviving the changing seasons.
Also on the slate is the reality format “How to Clean Up for Cash,” where loved ones secretly seek help for a family member or friend whose clutter has taken over their home.
While the unsuspecting homeowner is away for 48 hours, an expert team clears, sorts and values years of accumulated belongings, transforming the space that has become overwhelmed by clutter.
The six-parter, with each episode running for 30 minutes, is produced by MultiStory Media for ITV.
“Name That Tune,” which is based on the U.S. game show that debuted on NBC in 1953, is returning to the U.K. in 2027 after 29 years off air.
The show is a global staple of entertainment, with over 25 countries, including Australia, France, Germany and Italy, having produced localized versions across the last seven decades. Accompanied by the Name That Tune Live Band and led by a celebrity host, contestants race against the clock (and each other) to identify legendary tracks across various genres and eras.
The series, comprising nine 60-minute episodes, is produced by Bright Entertainment for ITV.
Also new to the slate is “The Ultimate Summer Star,” produced by Magga og Anders and ITV Studios Denmark for TV2 Echo. It is a sun-soaked spin-off of the smash-hit Norwegian format “The Ultimate Christmas Star,” which continues to deliver strong ratings with a 13% increase in total viewers from Season 2 to 3 in Norway, with a fourth season returning this December, a third season returning in Denmark, and a newly announced first season in Sweden.
Chaos unfolds as 24 celebrities head to a lakeside cabin to compete in a lineup of bonkers challenges. From laugh-out-loud antics to outdoor adventures, the tasks are silly, light-hearted and packed with warm-weather fun, as they compete to be crowned The Ultimate Summer Star.
And finally, there is “The Joy of Pets,” which is produced by Bandicoot for ITV. The show, which has five 60-minute episodes, is a warm-hearted factual entertainment format celebrating the bond between people and their animals.
This format travels across the country uncovering uplifting, emotional and often surprising stories of pets, their owners and the veterinary professionals dedicated to their care.
Each episode combines behind-the-scenes access to a local veterinary practice, a community roadshow featuring expert advice and audience interaction, and inspiring local stories that showcase the life-changing impact animals have on the people around them.
ITV Studios has also unveiled its full unscripted slate for Mipcom, led by “70 Up,” the final chapter of the groundbreaking series “7 Up,” the longest-running documentary series ever made.
“70 Up,” which comprises two 90-minute episodes, is produced by MultiStory Media for ITV.
The “7 Up” series, which follows the lives of 14 ordinary people, has been broadcast in 157 countries, including the U.S., Canada, Japan, China, Australia and France.
“70 Up” marks the culmination of this journey across seven decades. Building on the forensic questioning of the late director Michael Apted, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Asif Kapadia steps in to close the circle on a series that captures a lifetime from childhood through careers, marriage, parenting and beyond.
From Plimsoll Studios for ITV, comes the landmark natural history series “World’s Wildest Cities.” Across six hour-long episodes, the show follows a variety of urban animals to uncover the challenges of living alongside the human race. Each episode has a new cast of animals and focuses on one city: Rio de Janeiro, New York, Melbourne, Singapore and London, with the final episode revealing how the series was made, and the science behind the stories.
Another title looking at the changing world around us, “Ages of Ice,” which has three hour-long episodes, is produced by Northern Pictures for PBS and ABC Australia, and is narrated by actor David Tennant. It follows the brave scientists pushing the boundaries of exploration and human endeavor in Earth’s coldest corners to understand the changes of ice and what this means for our planet’s future. In the unforgiving grip of our planet’s polar regions, the series will follow these modern-day explorers as they try to understand how the fate of every place and every creature on our planet is tied to these frozen extremes.
New to the slate from Wonderhood Studios is a documentary series “Jesus Christ: The Man, The Mystery,” which has four hour-long episodes. Produced for the BBC, it draws on the latest historical research, archaeological discoveries, technological innovation and expert testimony to expand and sharpen our understanding of Jesus.
The story draws on the testimony recorded in the Gospel accounts, and elsewhere, to understand the world he inhabited and the foundations of the movement he inspired.
And finally, from Curious Films, there is “Spy Next Door: The Anna Chapman Story,” which is produced for Channel 4. It has all the ingredients of an espionage thriller, but is a true story, with access to people caught up in the Russian spy network as well as FBI operatives and former Russian insiders.
In 2010, 11 deep-cover Russian spies were arrested across the United States, sending shockwaves around the globe. At the center of it all was Anna Chapman (née Kushchenko) — the femme fatale turned media sensation. But before she became the face of the spy ring, she was recruited, trained and indoctrinated in the U.K. The series reveals how the actions of a few would trigger seismic, long-lasting and deadly consequences.
Variety spoke to Julie Meldal-Johnsen, executive VP global content and content strategy at ITV Studios, about the slate.
Referring to “70 Up,” she said, “I can’t think of another documentary project that is more ambitious, more far-reaching. There were so few filmmakers that could have done it justice [following the death of Michael Apted], but it’s incredible to be able to wrap up that endeavor, that vision, and bring back some people who haven’t been in it for a long time. Obviously, sadly, there have been a couple of deaths on the way. It is a feat of filmmaking that will be unparalleled. So that brings tears to my eyes every time, and we’re really, really, really proud of that.”
Turning her attention to “Jesus Christ: The Man, The Mystery,” she said, “It is very rare for us to have something in that space, but we were very keen. It’s a history documentary with archaeological discoveries thanks to new techniques, and some great expert testimony. We think this really will be a seminal documentary. And whether you’re Christian or not, I think it will be fascinating.”
She added, “ ‘World’s Wildest Cities’ features a different city every episode, and there are some really exotic animals, and this amazing drama that takes place in urban places. It’s quite a different approach to blue chip natural history.”
“Ages of Ice” has been three years in the making, she said. “We were excited to have it voiced by David Tennant, and the visuals on that are just stunning. It follows these polar-nauts to some of the most incredible and dangerous places on the planet, doing research to help us figure out how to manage water and changing climate.”
Talking about “The Chase Around the World,” a spin-off of ITV’s game show “The Chase,” she said, “What I love about ‘The Chase’ is taking the quizzes and the studio show and getting it out into the world. We say The Chasers are both beloved and feared, and to see them out of their environment – of a safe, comfortable studio – and out into the world is great. Some of the locations are just gorgeous. The photography in the series is really great too, and it’s fun, and it’s getting that scale – these wonderful locations – and I think it’s just a clever way of wrapping up a treasure hunt and bit of travel porn in a way.”
She also discussed “Spy Next Door: The Anna Chapman Story.” “I think there’s always a demand for stories about spies,” she said. “People are endlessly fascinated by spies, true or fictional, and it’s a remarkable story. And she was this glamorous woman, which just adds to the intrigue.”