London – BBC Worldwide has announced the commission of an original game show format One in a Thousand, co-developed by the BBC’s commercial arm BBC Worldwide, German public service television broadcaster ZDF and the joint venture between BBC Worldwide and ALL3Media Germany Tower Productions. The format, commissioned by ZDF, will be further developed by ZDF Entertainment department in collaboration with Tower. It has been created by Phil Schmid, Executive Producer, BBC Worldwide and Markus Templin, Head of Show, Tower Productions.

The ambitious event format sees 1000 contestants compete in each show over ten knock-out rounds to find the One in a Thousand. To succeed – and walk away with a large cash prize – candidates will need a huge range of skill sets as every round tests a unique combination of their physical, mental and emotional abilities.

One in a Thousand

Isabelle Helle, Director, German Speaking Europe, BBC Worldwide, said, “It’s a testament to thestrength of our partnership with ZDF that only a year after we first discussed the idea here at MIPCOM, we have created a completely original, ambitious and exciting primetime shiny floor entertainment format.”

Thorsten Haas, Head of Development Entertainment, ZDF, added, “I’m really happy about the creative and exciting co-development between ZDF, BBC Worldwide and Tower Productions. The first result will be a brand new entertainment show that has an international look and feel to it – but at the same time will be a close fit for our German audiences and ZDF’s needs in primetime entertainment.”

The show, to be produced by Tower Productions, is expected to premiere on ZDF across Germany in 2015 and to be launched to international buyers in 2015. BBC Worldwide will hold the international distribution rights of the format.